PITTSBURGH, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovation moves at
a rapid pace. Yet few companies know how to keep the process
effective, efficient and repeatable. Jonathan Cagan and Craig
M. Vogel, authors of "Creating Breakthrough Products,"
identify that innovation in the 21st century is spurred
by the integration of technology with lifestyle desires. The result
is integrated product-service ecosystems that connect activities
across spectrums of use.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020422/CMULOGO)
The happy interaction of technology and lifestyle plays out
repeatedly throughout their book, which is designed to offer a
roadmap for identifying the key factors associated with successful
innovation.
"Great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. Our book shows
readers the importance of design and how the goal of companies
should be to not only develop successful new products but sustain
that innovation," said Cagan, a professor of mechanical engineering
at Carnegie Mellon.
Their book presents insights and methods that break innovation
into its fundamental components. Vogel, a professor of design at
the University of Cincinnati, argues
that "methods create clarity and allow for communication and vision
that produces the emotional element to inspire people to do great
things."
"Creating Breakthrough Products" is based on the notion that
there is a critical need to explain how to navigate the "fuzzy
front end" of product development. A second edition was released
Sept. 30, 2012, and is published by
FT Press, an imprint of Pearson Education.
The authors also showcase case studies of successful companies
and their products and describe the importance of managing diverse
workplace teams. They say innovation can happen anywhere by anyone
if they gain insights and follow a rigorous process that identifies
real needs and desires, and deliver products and services that make
a difference in people's lives.
Consumers have seen a revolution in what they use and how they
use it: from integrated financial systems to multi-faceted sensor
technology that integrates into our lives. Whether a high-tech
product or a meeting at a coffeehouse, everyone seeks ways to
maximize the value they derive from the products and services they
use.
"We feel these changes in everything we do, and that's why our
research and case studies in 'Creating Breakthrough Products' are
so essential for every business leader and company to emulate,"
Cagan said. "The best advice for anyone in business is to keep it
focused on the customer. And the best way to do that is to find
people's needs, wants and desires and deliver them in the products
and services your company develops."
About Carnegie Mellon
University: Carnegie Mellon
(www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research
university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology
and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More
than 11,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges
benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education
characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions
for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
A global university, Carnegie Mellon's
main campus in the United States
is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has
campuses in California's Silicon
Valley and Qatar, and programs in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico. The university is in the midst of
"Inspire Innovation: The Campaign for Carnegie
Mellon University," which aims to build its endowment,
support faculty, students and innovative research, and enhance the
physical campus with equipment and facility improvements.
About FT Press: FT Press (www.ftpress.com), an imprint of
Pearson, publishes high quality books in the areas of General
Business, Finance and Investing, Sales and Marketing, Leadership,
Management Strategy, Human Resources and Global Business. Our brand
is built on the concept of signing and publishing the world's best
minds on the most relevant topics.
About Pearson Education: Pearson Education
(www.pearsoned.com) is an international media company and the
global leader in education services and technology. Pearson is home
to such respected publishing brands as FT Press (www.FTpress.com),
Pearson Prentice Hall, Peachpit
Press, Addison-Wesley Professional, Cisco Press, Exam Cram, IBM
Press, Que and Sams Publishing, which has as their online
publishing arm, InformIT (www.informit.com). The Trusted Technology
Learning Source, Pearson (NYSE: PSO) primary businesses include:
Pearson Education, Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.
SOURCE Carnegie Mellon
University