Remarkable accounts of impossible visions made possible by human endeavor. The authors examine the creativity, determination, special skills, politics, and perceptions that opened the way to new processes and products that changed the way millions of us do things.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Tracing 13 commercial breakthroughs, from concept to realization, that have created new industries and markets affecting millions of lives, Ketteringham and Nayak, senior consultants with the Arthur D. Little management firm, find few common denominators or patterns characterizing the breakthrough process or specific conditions favoring it. Often a combination of ideas, persons, resources, circumstances, timing and serendipity are needed to produce such innovations as Walkman, CAT scan, the ulcer-healing drug Tagamet, microwave ovens and Federal Express. As these engrossing stories testify, some breakthroughs came about because of a need perceived and fulfilled by an individual such as the 50-year-old Arthur Jones whose fervent desire to develop his muscles led to the invention of the Nautilus exercise machines. Other breakthroughs resulted from the shared visions of a team of scientists or engineers and the efforts of several competitive companies like those in Japan that contributed to the development of the VCR. Every breakthrough, the authors conclude, is rooted in someone's obsessive urge to solve a problem.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
This book stems from a project launched by Arthur D. Little, Inc. in observance of its centennial. A team of A.D. Little consultants set out to examine the creative processes in individuals and organizations which have resulted in commercial project breakthroughs. The results are reported in in-depth analyses of the development and marketing of such products as the Walkman, Post-it pads, Chemlawn, and the Cat scanner. Breakthroughs differs from other recent books in this area in the expertise of its authors and in the thoughtful consideration they give to the subject. Recommended for public and academic library business collections. Elin B. Christianson, Library Consultant, Hobart, Ind.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent stories about items we take for granted,
By A Customer
This review is from: Breakthroughs! How the Vision and Drive of Innovators in Sixteen Companies Created Commercial Breakthroughs that Swept the World (Hardcover)
This was an excellent book about innovations that are common today but were thought to be failures as originally conceived. The stories cover Post-It Notes, the JVC/Sony VHS vs. Beta battle, the Sony Walkman and others.Don't do as I did and loan it out; you'll never get it back!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating and enlightening,
By
This review is from: Breakthroughs! (Hardcover)
This is the story about the people and companies behind fourteen of the most successful 20th century commercial breakthroughs: the VCR, the Post-it note, ChemLawn, Tagamet, the Walkman, The CAT Scanner, the microwave oven, Toyota manufacturing system, Nike, Nautilus, propylene, Federal Express, Club Med, and the compact disk.]The authors, who were consultants with Arthur D. Little at the time, wanted to find out if these successes could help them develop a magic "how to" formula for others to follow. Strangely enough for consultants, they admit that there is no such universal formula. Instead, they offer us many highly valuable myths and instructive lessons. Each of these fourteen fascinating stories is a case study that shows innovation at work. But through these stories we build the idea that a commercial breakthrough is less about the invention of the product itself and more about how market visionaries and savvy business people transform inventions into commercial breakthroughs. All major breakthroughs were indeed the results of great teamwork between the key techical, visionary, and business players. Seldom are these skills and interests present in a single individual. The book is also an illustration that breakthroughs happened not because of what management does but in spite of it. It takes people of courage to fight the tape and it takes great companies to allow them to do it. The book is out of print; so the only way to get iy is to buy a used one. I hope the publisher could bring a new edition because there is no other books that cover so much in a single volume. Highly recommended.
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