Session Summary

Session Number:849
Session ID:S492
Session Title:Enhancing the Mature Firm's Capacity for Breakthrough Innovations: Results of a Four Year Longitudinal Multi-Case Study
Short Title:Capacity for Innovation
Session Type:Division Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt West
Floor:LL3
Room:Stetson E
Time:Wednesday, August 11, 1999 12:20 PM - 2:10 PM

Sponsors

TIM  (Deborah Dougherty)doughert@business.rutgers.edu (973) 353-1664 

General People

Chair Leifer, Richard  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leifer@rpi.edu (518)-276-6831 

Submissions

Project Overview, Intent, Rationale, and Methodology 
Presenter Leifer, Richard  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leifer@rpi.edu (518)-276-6831 
Triggering Radical Innovation Projects 
Presenter Rice, Mark P. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ricem@rpi.edu 518-276-8398 
Leadership, Management and Organizational Levers for Radical NPD Success 
Presenter Leifer, Richard  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leifer@rpi.edu (518)-276-6831 
Operational Levers for Radical New Product Development Success 
Presenter McDermott, Christopher M. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute mcderc@rpi.edu (518)-276-4816 
Mananging Technology Development in Radical Innovation 
Presenter Peters, Lois  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute peterl@rpi.edu (518)-276-2977 
Discussion, Conclusions, and Implications 
Presenter Johnson, Douglas  Hewlett Packard Dougj@fc.hp.com 970-206-8065 

Abstract

A six faculty multidisciplinary team followed 12 technology-based radical innovation projects in 10 large, mature companies over a four year time period. Radical innovation has not received the attention that incremental innovation has in the literature, so this study was more theory building than hypothesis testing. A radical innovation promises the potential for 5-10 times improvement in product performance, an entirely new set of product performance features, or a significant (>30%) reduction in cost. The four presenters in this symposium are members of the research team and will present results from their perspectives. These include: triggering radical innovation projects; leadership, management and organizational levers for radical NPD success; technology development and the role of alliances; operational levers for radical NPD process success.