Blockbusters: The Five Keys to Developing GREAT New Products

By Richard R. Reilly, Gary S. Lynn, Richard R Reilly

Book Overview

How Do Companies Create Blockbusters? Do They Know Secrets That Others Don't?

Great products are the lifeblood of great companies, yet approximately 60 percent of new products fail in the marketplace, after major investments and huge risks. Why? Gary Lynn and Richard Reilly now offer advice that will radically change the way new products are developed and launched: a plan for companies to survive -- and thrive -- in today's competitive and turbulent times. Blockbusters shares the results of a ten-year research study of more than 700 teams illustrated by the inside stories of nearly fifty of the most successful products ever launched -- true "blockbusters," familiar to consumers everywhere. These include Colgate's Total toothpaste (now the market leader after Crest dominated for thirty years ), the Iomega Zip Drive, the Handspring Visor, the PowerShot staple gun, the Polycom SoundStation conference phone, the Apple IIe computer, and many others.

Lynn and Reilly reveal and explain in detail the five keys to blockbuster success that companies ignore at their peril: the responsibilities of senior management, a compelling vision of the product, the role of prototyping, the collaboration of people under pressure, and the process of information exchange. In this book, the authors prove that without these crucial elements a blockbuster new product is virtually impossible

Blockbusters uses both winning and losing case studies to explode established myths and to chart a course for implementing the surprising strategies of history-making development teams. A must for senior managers, entrepreneurs, and team leaders alike -- and for any reader curious about how great products are created -- this heavily researched and groundbreaking book promises to become a classic in the fields of product development and organizational renewal.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060084731
• ISBN13: 9780060084738
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Harper Business
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Solid "How To" Book

Based on conclusive research, the authors teach you how to apply the keys they discovered for radical "blockbuster" products. The research component extended over a decade. Some of the things they found reinforce what one would expect, other finds show assumptions to be inaccurate. For example, having a specific "due date" pushed teams members to find a way to get things done. Positive interpersonal relations among team members, however, was not found to be that significant. Lynn and Reilly do not advocate "management by walking around." Their research indicates that senior executives who are passionately involved in the day-to-day decisions of bringing a new product to market get the job done, not those who have a passive, casual interest in the team's efforts. Therefore, they say it involves a lot more than just popping in occasionally to see how things are going. Particularly useful is the discussion they have on creating products so radical that customers don't even know they want them because nothing comparable exists. In such cases, they describe how to be your own customer in bringing such products into being. They cite a couple of examples of people who did so, and because very wealthy.

A rare book combining "how-to" with real world examples

Blockbusters is one of those rare business books that once you start reading, you just can't stop. I read this book in maybe 2 sittings, because each chapter created a strong curiosity to learn quickly, "what is the next key step." I couldn't wait to finish so I could go into my company and begin implementing some of these steps.Like most business books, Blockbuster has theory, but backed by solid data and many years of research; however, unlike other business books, it written in a very practical manner, particularly for the working business profressional.The authors, Drs. Lynn and Reilly, seem to have a very good understanding of what goes on inside companies when teams work together to design and launch new products. In my opinion, they were able to successfully identify the key areas that all business leaders must be aware of if they are to be successful in product launches. The case histories of real product successes, both industrial and consumer, showed me the power of having a solid product development process.I highly recommend Blockbusters to senior management or anyone that is involved in the new product development process, whether the products are consumer, industrial, or services.

Great for MBA students

It is difficult to find a well-written book that addresses the real-world application of New Product Development and "blockbusters" - Drs. Lynn and Reilly solved this problem! Whilst their work is based on in-depth surveys and an extensive analysis, they convey the success factors to practitioners in an easy-to-read and understandable format. "Bottom-line" information is found here. My MBA students (New York) are intolerant of all theory and no practical application - they love this book!

A Blockbuster in itself!

Blockbusters brings home the key elements of bringing a true winner to the market. You will not be suprised at the elements they bring to your attention, but will be pleasantly reminded of the fundamental points that you often forget. Excellent business analogies make the reading not only informative and educational, but also enjoyable. Knowing the problems that some of these larger companies faced and overcome helps put other business problems into perspective. I have already implemented their Dirty Dozen questions into the team plan and I am building the War Room as we speak. I think they have created their own blockbuster and I look forward to further work from these authors

A Blockbuster in itself!

Blockbusters brings home the key elements of bringing a true winner to the market. You will not be surprised at the elements they bring to your attention, but will be pleasantly reminded of the fundamental points that you often forget. Excellent business analogies make the reading not only informative and educational, but also enjoyable. Knowing the problems that some of these larger companies faced and overcome helps put other business problems into perspective. I have already implemented their Dirty Dozen questions into the team plan and I am building the War Room as we speak. I think they have created their own blockbuster and I look forward to further work from these authors