A strategy of product excellence : Lean principles ensure that highly innovative products deliver commercial success

Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – Scans the top 400 management publications in the world to identify the most topical issues and latest concepts. These are presented in an easy‐to‐digest briefing of no more than 1,500 words. Findings – Product innovation is now increasingly accepted as one of a business's key levers for creating competitive advantage. However, just as focusing solely on manufacturing efficiency is unlikely to create long‐term success for a business, it is equally vital that the ability to create world‐leading products is not compromised by poor production practices. One company that has recognized the critical nature of this balance, and taken major steps to ensure product excellence is matched by manufacturing excellence, is Oxford Instruments Superconductivity (OIS) Ltd. Practical implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.