“Do Better Projects and Do Projects Better – seems like a simple recipe to increase the velocity of new product development and drive long-term growth for any company. Thankfully, Dalton provides the critical ingredients for that recipe to set your organization up to successfully drive needed change. This book is easy to read and more importantly, easy to apply as he coaches and guides you through the process. Highly Recommended!”
— Sean Craig, Global VP Product Management and R&D
–Maxcess International
“As engaging as any novel; internalizing Mike’s simple but insightful concepts will definitely result in shortening your NPD cycle and maximizing the value of your innovation portfolio.”
— Asim Syed, Director, Global Technical Service R&D
—Dow AgroSciences
“I had the pleasure to implement a new way of working in our organization together with Mike. The results speak for themselves–we have improved our project throughput remarkably without adding more resources. This book very nicely illustrates the process we have been through, step by step. Definitely worth reading–either before or during the change management process you intend to take your organization through.’’
– Luise Bang, Global Head of PMO – Danfoss A/S
“A deft application of Lean thinking and concepts to the NPD process—time and again, these concepts are key to improving productivity in every process.”
—Darryl Nazareth, SVP Global Operations and R&D
—Ansell Healthcare
“Adroitly describes the central challenges facing project management in the New Product Development area and offers a solution set which is simultaneously pragmatic and effective. The myths about project management are, in my estimation, universal – as are the nine accelerators outlined herein. This is a must-read book for anyone serious about improving New Product Development.”
—Bill Flood, VP of Engineering, Advanced Technology and New Business Ventures–Moog Aircraft Group
“Rare is the person that possesses the depth of understanding needed to “Crack the Code” on new product innovation. Rarer still is the person that can effectively teach, coach, and communicate sound solutions and practices to address this vexing business issue. Mike Dalton is that rare expert, and this book shares that expertise in a way that all business people can learn from.”
— Nick Maris, President & CEO–Somna Therapeutics
“Unlocking Innovation Productivity Dalton addresses a somewhat neglected but very important topic for innovation – how to efficiently move projects through the funnel and to commercial success.”
—Timothy Pratt, Chief of Staff & Chief Strategy Officer
—Applied Materials
“Dalton understands how critical innovation is to company success and provides succinct reasoning and actionable steps to overcome innovation challenges. Short and easy to read, making it perfect for any team member.”
— Jim Estill, CEO—Danby Appliances
“A prescription for what ails product development in a concise integration of lean, constraints-based methods along with a career’s worth of practical insight and practices.”
— Joe Pfaff, VP Off-Highway Engineering—Husco International
“Distills decades’ worth of new product development experience and success into deployable and easy-to-understand strategies. Mike’s approach is both counterintuitive and pragmatic, offering senior executives both a sense of affirmation related to NPD struggles and a direction for a more productive future.”
— Jeff Kerlin, President & CEO—Tailored Label Products
“A practical, easy to follow guide to more productive new product development. Dalton’s methods are proven, and his writing style brings clarity and just the right amount of detail to the reader.”
— Joe Wright, President—Concept Metals
“Masterfully challenges the traditional thinking that’s holding you back with solid examples and proven results. No matter the maturity of your innovation process, you will get value from these strategies for upping your innovation game.
— Wayne Laning, VP Engineering & Quality—Bemis Manufacturing
“An easy and insightful read that shares a proven formula for driving successful Innovation. Mike expertly navigates the reader along the pathway to outstanding NPD results by leveraging Theory of Constraints and pointing out the potential pitfalls along the way.”
— Doug Brown, Vice President Engineering—VSG-Dover
“A quick read for business leaders who want to see their new product and innovation results break away from the pack. Dalton emphasizes strategies and critical areas of focus which will enhance speed, reduce risk, and improve return.”
— Mike Zedalis, President —Tingley Rubber Inc.
“Combines the well-established principles of lean business and Theory of Constraints with pragmatic strategies for an actionable roadmap that business leaders can use to increase project portfolios returns. A must-read for professionals at every level of the organization.”
– Amit Sachdeva, Director, Product Management—Danfoss
“Mike Dalton has a deep understanding of the theory of constraints and critical chain which used in combination with his background and great communication skills has allowed him to develop an innovation process that is practical, systematic, and powerful.”
— Carlos Andres Arroyave Carvajal, CEO—Colorquimica SA
“Challenges common practices for NPD project and portfolio management with a practical application of the Theory of Constraints and a fresh approach to prioritization that unlocks organizational capacity with a bias toward delivering value.”
— Lisa Franklin, Director, Global Product Strategy & Portfolio Mgmt
—Johnson Controls Power Solutions
“One of the greatest signs of subject mastery is the ability to condense complexity to actionable clarity. Mike Dalton does just that with the challenge of delivering Innovation results. Rarely has 141 pages yielded so much benefit. Mike’s “doing better projects/doing projects better” approach promises to maximize your commercial impact with the resources you have and transform your effort into productive effort. Isn’t that what we all want? Making the most cash positive impact possible for our organizations, Unlocking Innovation Productivity offers a powerful weapon in that quest.”
– Collin G. Moore, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Innovation and Open Innovation Studio – Avery Dennison
“You don’t get paid for the new products you work on. You only get paid for the new products that you successfully launch. As you read this, you are shaking your head yes – of course. But realistically, is that how your company runs its NPD process? If not, this book is for you – it delivers a framework of real-world, practical processes that will enable your team to build an effective NPD structure in your company.”
– Paul Byrne, VP & GM Building Specialties
–Bradley Corporation
“Concisely articulates the root causes of product development problems along with a methodical approach for how to select the best new projects, streamline workflows, engage cross-functional teams, and build a learning organization. Ultimately, he demonstrates how his easy-to-understand improvement strategies can lead to customer value creation and profitable growth.”
– Dan Glusick, VP Innovation Center & Rexnord Business Systems
–Rexnord Corporation