RESOLVING THE INNOVATION DILEMMA - CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY-BASED PRODUCT LINES AND BUSINESSES

The 'Innovation Dilemma' arises from the needs of most corporations eventually to develop major product lines and businesses that are distant from their current base strengths in markets and technologies. Yet their attempts to innovate are marked by high failure rate, especially in unrelated market-technology zones. An assessment of the major alternative strategies for technology-based business development highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. 'The Familiarity Matrix' aligns these strategies with their appropriate use in seeking product line and business innovation.