logologologo
  • Home
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Guide for contributors
  • Themes
    • Roadmapping
    • Open Innovation
    • Managing the R&D pipeline
    • Technology Strategy
    • Managing international R&D
    • Ideation and creativity in R&D
    • Impact of digital technologies
    • The resurgence of frugal innovation
  • Tools
  • News
  • Resources
  • Papers
  • Case Studies
  • Events
  • R&D Conference
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Guide for contributors
  • Themes
    • Roadmapping
    • Open Innovation
    • Managing the R&D pipeline
    • Technology Strategy
    • Managing international R&D
    • Ideation and creativity in R&D
    • Impact of digital technologies
    • The resurgence of frugal innovation
  • Tools
  • News
  • Resources
  • Papers
  • Case Studies
  • Events
  • R&D Conference
  • Contact

The other side of innovation

R&D is full of i-words: Innovation, Ideas, Incubation, Inspiration and so on. But the most important one, Implementation, is often given too little emphasis.

This book by Govindarajan and Trimble aims to redress the balance. It is aimed at managers of innovation projects in general but the lessons are thoroughly applicable to R&D projects, especially the more innovative ones. It’s a very accessible book, relatively short at 180 pages, plus appendices, and very clearly written. There are plenty of short case studies that illustrate the key points. I found it refreshing and well worth reading.

other side of innovationThe book has three main themes. The first is the importance of managing the interface between the project and the rest of the organisation, which they call The Performance Engine. This term emphasises that the primary job of companies is to serve customers by providing goods and services in a reliable, efficient and repeatable way. This is what most of the people in a company spend their time doing, and they are quite properly measured and targeted on their ability to deliver. Any innovation project will divert attention and resources away from this so there is a conflict that must be managed. This is perhaps not a big issue for incremental product upgrades but it certainly can be for more radical changes.

The second theme is that innovative projects are fundamentally to do with learning rather than with doing. It is very important to clarify the questions to be answered and the hypotheses to be tested, and to set up the project accordingly. And the project manager should be judged and rewarded not on whether the project delivers what was hoped for but on whether they conduct an effective investigation. But yet there must also be extra rewards for actually getting the idea to work.

The third theme is about selecting the right team and giving it appropriate oversight.

The authors stress that an exploratory project must have a different type of oversight and evaluation from one that has clear and achievable aims. They also emphasise that a project sponsor from higher management is particularly important, especially when it comes to terminating the project or when it has a major impact the Performance Engine.

This book is really about projects that break new ground so it is not directly relevant for incremental improvements. But it is very relevant for projects that depart from the run-of-the-mill, for example by requiring new ways of manufacture or selling, or changes to the business model; as many R&D projects do.

The Other Side of Innovation by Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble (Harvard Business Review press 2010)

Review by Rick Mitchell October 2016

innovation implementationInnovation management
Previous PostCoffee Time Conversations: Brainstorming
Next PostPortfolio management at GlaxoSmithKline
Search R&D Today
Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
Filter by Article Type
Papers
Events
Tools
Funding Articles
Case Studies
Resources
Opportunities
Theme Editor Blogs
Filter by Categories
Business model innovation
Ideation and creativity in R&D
Latest news
Managing international R&D
Managing technology platforms
Managing the R&D pipeline
Open innovation
Outsourcing R&D
Project valuation and selection
R&D strategy
Roadmapping
Stage gate processes
Technology intelligence
Theme Editor Blogs
  • A 360-degree perspective of connected innovation
  • Coworking spaces a resource for inspiring R&D innovation
  • Whole value chain approach to open innovation
Associated Papers
  • Managing the Front End of Innovation – could Goal Orientation hold the key?
Resources
  • Innovation Management: Learning for the experiences of companies in European countries
  • Managing for Innovation – online course with Leeds University Business School and IBM
  • Top 20 Innovation Blogs of 2016
Related Posts
  • Don’t believe the technology hype – track at R&D Management Conference
  • The Cost of Time in R&D projects
Tools
  • Innovation Fitness Test - a tool to help scoring
    John Bessant recommends this tool developed by colleagues in Canada which helps with using...
  • 'How to' statements
    A useful tool in creative problem solving is the ‘how to’ statement which provides...
  • portfolio tools
    Portfolio management tools and approaches
    The aim of portfolio management is to ensure that a sensible set of innovation...
  • Creating compelling objectives to deliver strategic growth platforms
    Leaders want their teams to think beyond the day-to-day and create thriving visions for...
  • Most useful R&D Management tools survey
    Most useful tools for R&D Management
    Ask which are the most useful tools for R&D Management and you will find...
Have Your Say…

Have Your Say / Follow Us

R&D Today is the outreach site for the Research and Development Management Association, a charitable organisation that supports research, best practice and innovation.  www.radma.net

Click here to sign up to our newsletter, and click here to view our newsletter archive.

Copyright R&D Today 2020. All rights reserved.