This book will take the reader through a systematic examination of the factors involved in process innovation. It starts with the considerations to be initiated in the boardroom and at group management level and develops into a hands-on guide for middle management and professional engineers directly involved in the innovation of process technology. The book initially puts process innovation in a corporate perspective, providing a framework for the development of a corporate process innovation strategy. Some new methodological tools are also introduced which support the targeting and proper roadmapping of improved process capabilities, and the progression of customer and end-user product demands, into raw-material specifications in a well-managed supply and demand chain.Various aspects of the design of a process innovation organisation are reviewed in a later section. In the context of the development of process technology, this book advocates the importance of delineating and clarifying corporate work processes. Various environments for development work are discussed, from initial test work to pilot-plant testing and the use of demonstration facilities to achieve lean process innovation. The importance of an open collaborative approach is stressed. This includes involving external equipment manufacturers at an early stage as well as collaborative development of customers' use of the products in their production processes, with a view to excellence in future application development.Process innovation will not, however, generate profit or reduce operating costs until the new or improved process technology is operating well in the plant. Best practice for start-up of new process technology and process plants is examined, starting with a fresh outlook on technology transfer in general. This often-neglected area of management of process innovation is, in fact, of an importance equivalent to that of a product launch in the development of new products. The final part of the book closes the circle, discussing how to implement and measure the strategic intent of process innovation. Improving the general performance of corporate process innovation is then covered by going through success factors and key performance indicators, and their aggregation on a corporate level.

This book is for directors, consultants, practitioners, and professionals aspiring to effectively manage operations, but is targeted at applying innovation to the management of operations, including supply chains. It is appropriate for those establishing a career in innovation and operations management. This book will: Equip readers with understanding of the nature of innovation, operations management concepts, business models, methods and tools; Explore best practices and most commonly used operations and innovation business models, methods, and tools used by successful organisations; Consider particular operational issues directly impact the competitiveness of organisations

Not solely covering new products, Innovation Management focuses on new services and new business models; in doing so, it provides an introduction to new business development. The book follows the logic of the innovation process, from idea development via selection to implementation, and discusses these topics both on the level of the company and individual projects. Its content is evidence-based, but with many practical examples. This textbook ensures up-to-date subject knowledge by providing a contemporary approach: novel methodologies such as design thinking, lean innovation and open innovation are included. Exercises and discussion questions at the end of each chapter enable self-testing and reflection. Comprehension of new topics is aided by an in-margin glossary and further multimedia links on the companion website - bloomsburyonlineresources.com/innovation-management. It is an essential resource for undergraduate students seeking a rigorous and science-based, yet accessible and manageable, overview of innovation management.

In order to stay efficient, companies need to improve their existing business processes on a continuous basis. To ensure competitive edge, it is essential for companies to adapt radically to new business opportunities and when external demands change. However, experience and research show that companies have difficulties managing both the continuous improvement of the existing system and radical change at the same time. By using TQM and BPR to represent the two approaches to change Tor Tønnessen contributes to the understanding of the challenges of this integration and shows ways to accomplish a successful synergistic combining of the two approaches.

In today's highly competitive industrial climate, and in times of limited company resources and a continual need to improve company performance in all areas, the use of effective and efficient tools and development methodologies for research and development (R&D) is one interesting avenue to follow. Thus, the question is not really whether they should be deployed or not, but rather which methodologies and best-practices should be used, and why, when and how they should be deployed.Contemporary Quality Function Deployment for Product and Process Innovation: Towards Digital Transformation of Customer and Product Information in a New Knowledge-Based Approach introduces the reader to the industrial use of the Quality Function Development (QFD) methodology in product and process innovation. Customer, product, and production data related to each product family will be digitized in the matrix structures used in this methodology, and be made accessible, more transparent, and visible, thus facilitating a holistic product information perspective. Moreover, using this information in the creation of Integrated Knowledge Platforms (IKPs), supporting more digitalized product and process innovation work processes, will speed up product development and capture vital information to be used in your next-generation product innovation projects. From an overall company perspective, the well-proven ability of the QFD methodology to stimulate cross-functional product innovation will guide product innovation towards a new knowledge-based approach in its enhanced digital transformation and use of integrated customer, product, and production informationUsing the QFD methodology, you will learn how to create a retrievable and accumulated digitized company knowledge base, coupled with improved company communication. You will get better decision support, assisting in the development of better product specifications, and resulting in better products, and ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction. The adoption of the QFD tool and matrices in building such well-structured knowledge-based platforms (IKPs) related to individual products or product families is the heart of the matter and the 'hidden gem' of QFD methodology use.The book aims to serve as a manual introducing the methodology and how to use it, offering a guiding framework, and being a handbook for the methodology's industrial use for both newcomers and product developers. Furthermore, it offers new perspectives on a more efficient and effective use of the QFD methodology for the seasoned practitioner. This book can also serve as a textbook for students in all disciplines of the natural sciences, innovation management, product design, and engineering. Each part of the book concludes with a number of questions that can be used as learning instruments in lecturing and for more advanced tutorials.

This book describes the phases for innovative metallurgical process development, from concept to commercialization. Key features of the book include: • Need for process innovation • Selection and optimization of process steps • Determination of the commercial feasibility of a process including engineering and equipment selection • Determination of the environmental footprint of a process • Case-study examples of innovative process development

Market research has never been more important. As organizations become increasingly sophisticated, the need to profile customers, deliver customer satisfaction, target certain audiences, develop their brands, optimize prices and more has grown. Lively and accessible, Market Research in Practice is a practical introduction to market research tools, approaches and issues. Providing a clear, step-by-step guide to the whole process - from planning and executing a project through to analyzing and presenting the findings - it explains how to use tools and methods effectively to obtain reliable results. This fully updated third edition of Market Research in Practice has been revised to reflect the most recent trends in the industry. Ten new chapters cover topical issues such as ethics in market research and qualitative and quantitative research, plus key concepts such as international research, how to design and scope a survey, how to create a questionnaire, how to choose a sample and how to carry out interviews are covered in detail. Tips, and advice from the authors' own extensive experiences are included throughout to ground the concepts in business reality. Accompanied by a range of online tools, templates, surveys and guides, this is an invaluable guide for students of research methods, researchers, marketers and users of market research. Online resources include a range of tools, templates, surveys and guides.

A step-by-step approach to applying high-impact innovation principles in any organization Innovation is an important force in creating and sustaining organizational growth. Effective innovation can mean the difference between leading with a particular product, process, or service—and simply following the pack. Innovation transforms mediocre companies into world leaders and ordinary organizations into stimulating environments for employees. Applying Innovation combines the key ingredients from areas including innovation management, strategic planning, performance measurement, creativity, project portfolio management, performance appraisal, knowledge management, and teams to offer an easily applied recipe for enterprise growth. Authors David O′Sullivan and Lawrence Dooley map out the main concepts of the innovation process into a clear, understandable framework—the innovation funnel. Unlike other texts for this course, Applying Innovation goes beyond methodologies and checklists to offer an invaluable step-by-step approach to actually applying high-impact innovation in any organization using a knowledge management systems, whether for a boutique firm or one comprised of thousands of individuals. Key Features: Adopts a practical approach to overseeing innovation that focuses on useful tools and techniques rather than on theory and methodologies Offers student activities within the text for immediate application of key concepts, reinforcing retention and comprehension Teaches students to build and apply effective innovation management systems for any organization successfully, regardless of the firm′s size or structure Intended Audience: Applying Innovation is designed for undergraduate and graduate courses such as Innovation Management, Project Management, Strategic Planning, and Performance Management in fields of business, science, and engineering. This book appeals to instructors who want to reduce the "chalk and talk" and increase the hands-on practicality of their courses in innovation management.

There continues to be much interest in the business and academic communities in the concept of strategic competencies or core capabilities, in other words, how organisations define and differentiate themselves. More recently, this field has fragmented into a number of related disciplines with subtle differences in focus:Knowledge management — how organisations identify, share and exploit their internal competencies, in particular the knowledge of individuals.Organisational learning — the relationship between individual and organisational knowledge and how organisations ‘unlearn’ past competencies and acquire new competencies.Strategic management — how competencies can be assessed, and how these contribute to performance.Innovation management — how such competencies are translated into new processes, products and services.This book aims to integrate strategic and knowledge management approaches to capability building with the development of competencies by bringing together the latest research and practices from international experts in the field. This third edition has been fully updated with five new chapters./a