A specific area of product innovation that I feel is often over-looked is performance metrics.Over recent years there has been an increase in emphasis on performance metrics being used as a basis for learning and continuous improvement, specifically with tools like the balanced scorecard. My personal view from my own experience, and from what I have seen in the PDMA's Outstanding Corporate Innovator winners, is that truly successful companies are generally those that focus on continuous improvement: ensuring that all staff have a good understanding of what is required for product innovation success; having metrics related to all areas that contribute to success; learning from successes and failures; and communicating this across the organization. I'd love to hear from anyone with specific stories or case studies that demonstrate learning metrics in practice.
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Allan Anderson
Emeritus Professor of Product Development
Massey University
Palmerston North
New Zealand
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