This book is the product of over a decade of research, teaching, and consulting on the nature of innovation success and failure. During this time I have had the incredible good fortune to work with a stunning array of learning partners—my students at Tuck and INSEAD, executives at scores of companies and workshops, and colleagues, mentors, and coauthors in the academic world. They have created the environment, the opportunity, and the impetus to test and refine these ideas in a multitude of settings. I am deeply grateful for their contributions, direct and indirect, to my own understanding and to this undertaking.
In writing the book I have benefited tremendously from the support, advice, and critical feedback of a host of individuals who gave generously of both their time and their insight: Howard Anderson, Julia Batavia, Diane E. Bilotta, Manish Bhandari, Adam Brandenburger, Colin Blaydon, Michael Brimm, Clayton Christensen, Sarah Cliffe, Rudi Coetzee, Dr. Richard J. Comi, Donald Conway, Richard D’Aveni, Yves Doz, Gregg Fairbrothers, Javier Gimeno, Ronny Golan, Vijay Govindarajan, Lars Guldbaek Karlsen, Morten Hansen, Peter Hanson, Hal Hogan, Natalie Horbachevsky, Bob Howell, Barak Hershkovitz, Chris Huston, Chan Kim, Jim Komsa, Kim LaFontana, Karim R. Lakhani, Raphael La Porta, Dan Levinthal, Julien Lévy, Donna McMahon, Halli Melnitsky, Ashok G. Nachnani, John Owens, Heidy Paust Kelley, Subi Rangan, Lone Reinholdt, Silvija Seres, Todd Shuster, John S. Taylor, Chris Trimble, Bernard Tubiana, Joaquin Villareal, David Wu, Enver Yucesan, and Peter Zemsky. Special thanks go to Rahul Kapoor, my coauthor on the lithography studies that are at the core of Chapter 6, and to the intrepid students in my Research to Practice seminars at Tuck.
I am grateful to Paul Danos and Bob Hansen, Dean and Associate Dean, for creating at the Tuck School an exceptional environment for research and teaching that allowed these ideas to blossom; Syd Finkelstein for support and advice on both macro and micro challenges; Kim Keating for tireless effort and encouragement; Will Vincent for generous counsel and critical input throughout the book-writing process; Steve Stankiewicz for masterfully transforming every exhibit in this book; and Alexia Paul for the invaluable effort, assistance, and insights that were the key to keeping this book on track and on time.
Esmond Harmsworth, agent extraordinaire, was a valued guide and counselor at every stage of the journey. At Portfolio, Adrian Zackheim and Will Weisser were incredibly supportive from the start, and patient and flexible to the end. Brooke Carey, my wonderful editor, was a model of balance and perspective as she helped shape and develop this manuscript.
Greatest thanks go to my family, without whom none of this would matter.
Ron Adner
Hanover, New Hampshire
November 2011