https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Factory-Great-American-Innovatio...
I pretty much focused on 3 different entities: DARPA, Xerox PARC, and Bell Labs. These are the books I read to try to answer that question:
[1] Dealers of Lightning. https://www.amazon.com/Dealers-Lightning-Xerox-PARC-Computer... [2] The Department of Mad Scientists. https://www.amazon.com/Department-Mad-Scientists-Remaking-Ar... [3] The Idea Factory. https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Factory-Great-American-Innovatio...
I personally thought that having access to a diverse set of disciplines & skills and a reasonable budget were two of the more important things.
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Factory-Great-American-Innovatio...
I don't have a copy of The Idea Factory[1], where I recall reading this handy, but that's my best recollection.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Factory-Great-American-Innovatio...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Idea-Factory-American-Innovation/d...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Idea-Factory-American-Innovation/d...
Some argue that you can again, but I just don't see how it is possible. See, e.g., http://www.amazon.com/The-Idea-Factory-American-Innovation/d...
[1] http://www.amazon.com/The-Idea-Factory-American-Innovation/d...
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and how much I learned. There were amazing minds at Bell Labs who were given free reign to innovate (as a direct result of AT&T's huge monopoly and revenue stream) and ended up laying the groundwork for many ideas and concepts we take for granted today.
The book is so dense with information and anecdotes but I'd still consider it a page-turner. I highly recommend it.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Factory-Great-American-Innovatio...