Product Strategy for High-Technology Companies: How to Achieve Growth, Competitive Advantage, and Increased Profits

by Michael E. McGrath

Product strategy is the most important determinant of success for high-technology companies. It defines the products on which a company bases its business and shapes the way those products will win or lose against the competition. Yet even in high-technology companies, very few executives understand how to conceive and shape successful product strategy. Product Strategy for High-Technology Companies shows how to formulate product strategies that lead to successful products. This comprehensive guide covers everything high-tech companies should consider in developing their strategies, including timing, technological change, globalization, product differentiation, cost and price, and contingency planning, as well as marketing and financial considerations. Product Strategy for High-Technology Companies offers more than strategic guidance. Through more than 250 examples, you'll discover how product strategy has been used at such companies as Microsoft, IBM, Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard, and many others. Through their trials, errors, and successes, and through the book's expert insights, you'll have a complete framework for building your own innovative, competitive product strategy.

Genres: Business, Technology, Nonfiction, Management, Startup, Buisness

298 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Michael has established a reputation as a strong decision-maker and credits much of the success in his life to making better decisions. He also studied decision-making for more than 25 years and developed practical decision-making techniques that he has shared with others. He created DecideBetter! to further develop successful decision techniques and promote these through books and other media to help others. Michael has a B.S. in computer science from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. His books have been translated into Japanese and Chinese. In addition, he has published more than 500 articles and given more than 1000 speeches at conferences, industry association meetings, and client seminars."

Reviews

[Carl Manion · Rating 2 out of 5]

The content is outdated.

[Amr]

recommended by magnus / prdocutbeats (chapter 8 about pricing)

[Irfaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty useful framework for separating out products and platforms

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

A ponderous text and most of the examples are a bit dated. Useful as a review for the concept of "product/technology platform" as a necessary underpining of product and competitve strategy. Definitely no Drucker when it comes to writing style.

[Jarkko Turunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foundation for Product Managers

This is a must read for any product manager. It explains the basic strategic concepts behind successful products. The book ties the concepts together into a process that is easy to understand.

[Robert Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually technology based books have a short shelf life as the industry changes quickly, however, this is not the case with this book. The framework offered in this book is still very much applicable to product strategy.

I highly recommend this book.

[Eduard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to get ideas for product vision and strategy, not the easiest read.
However worth your time if you are looking for framework and tools to use to set a strategy for your product