The author presents a compelling look at how innovation transforms
industries, raising the fortunes of some firms while destroying others.
The book draws on the rich history of innovation by inventors and
entrepreneurs--ranging from the birth of typewriters to the emergence of
personal computers, gas lamps to fluorescent lighting, George Eastman's
amateur photography to electronic imaging--to develop a practical model
for how innovation enters an industry, how mainstream firms typically
respond, and how--over time--new and old players wrestle for dominance.
Utterback asserts that existing organizations must consistently abandon
past success and embrace innovation--even when it undermines their
traditional strengths. He sets forth a strategy to do so, and identifies
the responsibilities of managers to lead and focus that effort.
Mastering the Dynamics of Innovation offers a pioneering model for how
innovation unsettles industries and firms, and features fascinating
histories of new product developments and strategies for nurturing
innovation. "The most valuable book I've read in years. . . . The
analysis is brilliant."--Tom Peters. Available August 1996.