ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes design features and a principal finding outlines the background to the case investigations. It examines whether firms which are experienced at developing new products organise themselves in a way which is different from that of less experienced firms. Suffice it to say, by way of introduction, that important differences were found in the way experienced product innovators organise. The book also describes the organisational practices of three experienced product innovator firms. The three experienced firms are acknowledged leaders in product innovation in the instrument industry with a long and successful record of introducing new products on to the market. The book provides the key to interpreting the narrative material contained in the case investigations. It discusses the nature and causes of product innovation.
