Misplaced Scientist
Finds the Freedom to Innovate

Situation:

A technology-driven company could not deliver products to its customers on time or complete new product development projects. The company's leaders believed that these problems came about because their Vice President of Product Development was a brilliant scientist but a poor manager. However, simply replacing the person was not an option since he still developed industry-leading innovations that their customers still wanted, even if the delivery was unreliable.

Actions:

We conducted a 360° assessment of the individual including external customers, and spent some time with him discussing what he wanted his legacy to be. Then we recommended that the company move the person into a Chief Scientist position, with only two trusted direct reports, where he could focus on the technology development that was his strong suit. His engineering teams would get consolidated under another Vice President who had already demonstrated the ability to lead a development organization successfully, and who was ready for additional responsibilities.

Results:

The company implemented these suggestions over the next months, and declared it a win-win-win for the individual, the company and its customers.

Knowledge Brief of the Week

Each week, I publish a new Knowledge Brief to the Lean Product Development Resource Center. Here are the next three topics

February 10:
Lean Product Development for Advanced R & D:
Steps Towards the Fully-Realized Lean Product Development Organization

February 17:
Lean Leaders Have Their Own Problems to Solve:
Middle Managers in the Lean Product Development Organization

February 24:
Process Flow Variants:
Value Stream Maps Aren't The Only Game in Town

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Ready for More?

Katherine Radeka helps you get your ideas to market faster. When you are ready to get serious about putting lean product development into practice to help you shorten time to market, increase R & D capacity or lower costs, she is ready to help.

She knows how to tailor lean product development to meet the needs of companies ranging from the Fortune 100 to family firms earning $10 - $50 million per year, in a wide variety of industries.

Her clients say that she is tough where it counts, but easy to work with and deeply knowledgeable.

Learn more about how she works at Whittier Consulting Group, Inc.