Dalton's innovative approach can help any company find the 80/20 spike needed to drive new product growth. --Richard Koch, bestselling author of The 80/20 Principle
A Theory of Constraints approach to the process of innovation was long overdue. Production, project management, supply chain, and policy constraint analysis have all been comprehensively addressed. But until now, no one has thought to examine the ramifications of constraint theory on the challenge of innovation. Michael Dalton's novel was worth waiting for. Simplifying Innovation synthesizes innovation best practices and the focusing step framework to create a powerful new application of TOC. Let it stimulate your imagination as it did mine. --H. William Dettmer, author of Strategic Navigation
Simplifying Innovation offers an elegant solution for any company trying to get more out of their R&D investment. A refreshingly original approach that is a must for any executive's library. --Matthew E. May, author of In Pursuit of Elegance and The Elegant Solution
Organic growth is hard work, but there is much you can learn from Mike Dalton's years of practical experience. If you are committed to maintaining the discipline required, Simplifying Innovation offers a refreshing, common sense approach for improving your new product results and creating profitable growth. I'd recommend it for any business leader's bookshelf. --Dr. James D. Hlavacek, Chairman of the Corporate Development Institute and author of Profitable Top Line Growth for Industrial Companies
Now that's innovative - a business book that's entertaining too. The powerful lessons that Dalton shares inside are like jet fuel for companies that want to propel their growth. --Ed Petkus, VP - New Products & Engineering,Hawker-Beechcraft Aviation
Inside a fascinating business novel, that I literally couldn't put down, Mike Dalton has created a hands-on field manual to extending the Theory of Constraints to innovation - I only wished I had the benefit of his insights during my days as an R&D leader in Bell Labs. --Dr. Matthew W. Sagal, co-author of The Strongest Link
I highly recommend that business leaders read Simplifying Innovation and am already looking at how to put Dalton's approach to project prioritization to work in my company. Just as Cash Machine and Release the Hostages did with sales and customer support, Simplifying Innovation brings a practical approach to effectively managing R&D with TOC. --Richard Klapholz, co-author of Cash Machine and Release the Hostages
After having spent much of his early career at a leader, like SC Johnson, it's no surprise that Dalton has come up with an innovative new way to simplify and drive improvements in the new product process. He hits the mark with an easy reading style and key pointers to focus the organization from top to bottom and deliver profitable, value-creating growth within your existing resources and budgets. --Robert F. Brands, author of Robert's Rules of Innovation
I wish that I had the benefit of Dalton's insights about innovation bottlenecks years ago. The book is fast paced, interesting, and gives us the key concepts in a well-written story. He also provides a great summary of the important Theory of Constraints in the last chapter-- more than worth the price of the whole book! --Vern Burkhardt, author of IdeaConnection.com
Simplifying Innovation distinguishes itself in the business category by being both incredibly informative, and extremely entertaining. The business novel format, if you haven't already, is one you should experience. And Mike Dalton does it as well as anyone out there with writing that's concise, intelligent and provocative. If innovation and product development is important to your livelihood, read this book. Not only will you gain keen insights - you'll enjoy the lessons immensely. --Keith Harmeyer, Principal, SmartStorming
Simplifying Innovation distinguishes itself in the business category by being both incredibly informative, and extremely entertaining. The business novel format, if you haven't already, is one you should experience. And Mike Dalton does it as well as anyone out there with writing that's concise, intelligent and provocative. If innovation and product development is important to your livelihood, read this book. Not only will you gain keen insights - you'll enjoy the lessons immensely. --Keith Harmeyer, Principal, SmartStorming
The difference between TOC companies and non- TOC companies is now too significant to ignore. While the current economic conditions provide an easy excuse for companies failing around the world, TOC companies are not only surviving but thriving under the same conditions. Mike Dalton has creatively taken these same tools and applied them to new product innovation - itself a remarkable innovation! --Carol Ptak, co-author of Necessary but not Sufficient
Mike Dalton is the founder of Guided Innovation Group, whose simple mission is helping companies turn their new product innovation into bottom-line impact. Guided Innovation's unique TOC-based approach to rapid innovation improvement is helping companies slash time to market in half and nearly double new product profits.
Dalton's innovation improvement framework was sharpened over 24 years of product development, marketing and executive leadership at the multi-billion dollar SC Johnson family of companies. He has grown new and existing businesses as a general manager and in marketing, business development, and manufacturing leadership roles.
Mike is the author of Simplifying Innovation and speaks on innovation and growth for trade and executive groups and has spoken on Open Innovation at the National Academy of Sciences. He holds an MBA in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago and a degree in chemical engineering and energy technology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He lives in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin with his wife, Carol, and their rescue pitbull terrier.
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