Powerful Products: Strategic Management of Successful New Product Development

Rating:
Summary: A blueprint for thoughtful new product devopment
Review: Although I first read this book (on a recommendation) in 2000, I really didn't have the need for, or appreciate the significance of its foundation and approach to Product Development. However product innovation is now a hot topic, and successful product development is definitely on my radar screen. Accordingly, after having just re-read Powerful Products, I can say in my mind, these guys have it right-on. For anyone who is serious about understanding and managing new product development, this book is a good blueprint for success. The book is an easy read, well laid out and full of 'nuggets' that I will continue to lift and use, verbatum. It starts with a Product Development Process Overview and then proceeds to walk you through the process, including some very useful analysis and screening templates, avoidable pitfalls, etc. I now plan to read their followup book, The Business of Innovation.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of Theory - Short on Practicality
Review: In my opinion, this is one of the worst books I have ever read on new product development. Why ANACOM, a good publisher, went to press with this is a mystery to me; I suppose the editors that they used didn't understand what it takes to be successful with new products.

To its credit, the book accurately presents most requisite strategic thinking points for successful new products. Moreover, it does so in the order of occurrence in the development of a new product, but that's where the benefits of this book stop.

The linkage between strategic thinking and "real world" applications is weak, confusing or non-existent for the most part. The authors treat with almost equal significance major, minor and relatively insignificant strategic points causing at least confusion if not outright misleading the reader. Moreover, while the book often points out where to apply the strategy, rarely does it make clear how this can be implemented. The book is grossly lacking examples and case studies to clarify points.

Finally, the book is fine for strategic over-thinkers. But, if you want a good, practical information on corporate strategy for new products consider Cooper, Wheelwright or Gruenwald.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of Theory - Short on Practicality
Review: In my opinion, this is one of the worst books I have ever read on new product development. Why ANACOM, a good publisher, went to press with this is a mystery to me; I suppose the editors that they used didn't understand what it takes to be successful with new products.

To its credit, the book accurately presents most requisite strategic thinking points for successful new products. Moreover, it does so in the order of occurrence in the development of a new product, but that's where the benefits of this book stop.

The linkage between strategic thinking and "real world" applications is weak, confusing or non-existent for the most part. The authors treat with almost equal significance major, minor and relatively insignificant strategic points causing at least confusion if not outright misleading the reader. Moreover, while the book often points out where to apply the strategy, rarely does it make clear how this can be implemented. The book is grossly lacking examples and case studies to clarify points.

Finally, the book is fine for strategic over-thinkers. But, if you want a good, practical information on corporate strategy for new products consider Cooper, Wheelwright or Gruenwald.

Rating:
Summary: as useful as they come
Review: what i really liked about this book is the elegant simplicity with which it walks through what can be one of the more complex business problems; facilitating innovation, from the issues of strategy formulation through implementation. these guys have obviously "been there." nice simple graphics and models, too. really useful.