One final thought:

The word 'process' is used throughout this article, and many times the word conjures images of bureaucracy, piles of paperwork and unreasonable constraints on innovation. This can happen by choice or from inattention, but it does not need to. "We treat innovation as if was magical, not subject to guidance or nurturing, much less planning. If we study history, however, we know it's simply untrue…"¹

As we have seen, innovation has its place in the product development process, as does planning and control. And as shown herein, a good product development process can optimally manage innovation and control bureaucracy to an acceptable level while allowing optimizing a product's chance of success.

Product development is a planned, managed process but, if you don't care, then… as a wise Native American once said, "If you do not know where you are going… then any path will do."²

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¹ Samuel J, Palmisano, Chairman, President and CEO of IBM; Business Week, 17 Dec 2003, pg. 34
² As Blackfoot Chief Bird Rattle told my Grandfather, R.H. Willcomb circa 1929

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Literature References:

• The Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, by Rhonda Abrams
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to New Product Development, by Edwin E. Bobrow, CMC
• Successful Marketing Research, by Edward L. Hester
• The Perpetual Enterprise Machine: seven keys to corporate renewal through successful product and process development, by H. Kent Bowen
• Integrating Design and Manufacturing for Competitive Advantage, by Gerald I. Susman
• How To Develop Successful New Products, by Jerry Patrick
• Rules for Revolutionaries: The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating New Products and Services, by Guy Kawasaki

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only and do not represent the views of the Techman/Kanata or of any of its directors, officers or employees. The author, Mr. Richard (Dick) Haney, can be reached at RichardMHaney@cs.com