How many times have your heard that new product innovation is the lifeblood of a company?
Before it moved its headquarters to San Diego, Sony's consumer electronics group was housed in a multi-story building in New Jersey. Urban legend had it that when Sony had a hit product (such as WalkMan, WatchMan and Trinitron) it would put a new product development team on the floor directly below. The new team's mission? Put the other team out of business!
Then why didn't Sony invent the iPod?
It would seem that Sony's management team lost track of the ruthless (yes, ruthless) necessity of continually putting its top portable audio products out of business with even better products. They were masters of consumer technology plus they owned an icon brand and Sony Entertainment (content). They, more than anyone, should have understood the opportunity presented by merging proprietary gizmo with content and marketing it under a powerful brand.
If a company is missing the fire, drive and product development model to continually put itself out of business (before someone else does) it will eventually lose the war.
When our clients ask us to come in and sort out product development or product management we make sure we're firing up the team as we help build the new product development model. We show them where to find the best resources for new product ideas. We help realign the team with the very best, up-to-date methods of product development and show them how to shave time off their current commercial release schedules. We help re-instill the spirit of winning.