home
what we do
NPD Blog
seven D's of iNPD
iNPD Bookstore
biz links & feeds
the team
partners
resources
contact
iNPD Bookstore  

 

Recommend reading list on New Product Development, Marketing, Management, Technology  and General Business

Title, Author and Overview

Store Link

The Product Manager's Desk Reference, Steven Haines

A go-to reference for understanding the critical processes, concepts, management practices, and tools in defining, developing and delivering successful new products to the market. Finally a comprehensive reference that is written for product managers and developers that presents the body of knowledge in a clear and organized framework.

In addition to using this reference for my own internal product development practices, I recommend the book to all my colleagues, clients and students who are looking for a comprehensive reference on how to create and launch successful new products and manage the development process from start to finish. This reference is practical and loaded with best practice implementation strategies and tactics.

Written primarily for product managers for larger enterprises, the core fundamentals, process and tools are applicable to any professional at any level who is involved with new product development and launch in any size organization. If you are tasked to either create or improve a new product development launch system, this reference is a great starting point.

Steven provides a comprehensive framework based around the “Product Management Life Cycle Model” (PMLCM) that maps the key concepts, work activities, and deliverables over the core development stages and decision points through the PMLCM. From ideation, screening, feasibility and justification, development process and launch, through post launch activities; the book goes into great detail on what is needed and how to implement solutions.

I highly recommend “The Product Manager’s Desk Reference” as a book all product managers and product developers should have in the core reference library. ;

Free: The Future of a Radical Price, Chris Anderson

The notion of the free economy (giving everything away) seem baffling on the surface. However, the argument goes that companies aren’t really giving everything ;

 

Sound crazy? Maybe not. In his book “Free” Chris Anderson provides examples as to how free models can work. I recommend "Free" as a good starting point to understand how and why "free" can make business sense.

 

Product Leadership, Robert G. Cooper:

 

Product Leadership provides a good integrated approach to new product development from strategy, to portfolio management, people and culture and process. Cooper consolidates his prior work on the NPD body of knowledge into this single volume.

 

   

Product Design and Development, Karl T. Ulrich & Steven D. Eppinger

 

Great reference for understanding the process of going from ideas to final product

Made to Stick - Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, Chip Heath & Dan Heath

 

Some times new products fail because they simply aren't understood. Heath and Heath provide a framework for marketers in getting ideas across simply and effectively.

The authors provide a simple mnemonic to remember their stickiness formula, and the basic principles may be applied in any situation where persuasiveness is an asset. The book is a fast read peppered with exercises to test the techniques proposed.

Total Access: Giving Customers What They Want in an Anytime, Anywhere World, Regis McKenna

Marketing as we know it is disappearing, declares industry legend Regis McKenna. As marketers focus on advertising and promotion, the chief information officer is automating their core functions. As they obsess over brand, the chief strategy officer is dispersing their responsibilities throughout the organization. And as they squabble over whether marketing is an art or a science, McKenna argues that they're completely overlooking what marketing has become: a technology.

 

Technology Adoption and Diffusion of  Innovation

 

A series of books that explain the problem of introducing new to world products. Sometimes the market simply isn't ready to accept a new innovation. These books will help you understand adopotion theory and provide ideas on how to manage the adoption process.

 

 

© copyright 2008 | iNPD Center, Inc. | all rights reserved