Experimentation Matters

Mechanical Engineering, Jan 2004

Experimentation Matters. Stefan H. Thomke. Harvard Business School Press, 60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02-163. 307 pages. 2003. ISBN 1-57851-750-8. $35.

In a difficult economy, companies seek new solutions to gain a competitive advantage and cut costs. Author Stefan H. Thomke demonstrates why experimentation is crucial to growth and shows organizations how to fully integrate state-of-the-art new technologies into their experimentation process-whether a company offers products or services to its customers. In the past, the costs were prohibitive to all but large organizations in fields like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, he says. Now many others are realizing huge benefits as well. He cites some interesting examples, including BMW and Bank of America, that have benefited from innovative techniques.