Title: Defining the path to value innovation

Authors: Paul Coughlan, Mary Ann Fergus

Addresses: School of Business, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. ' School of Business, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

Abstract: This paper proposes a definition of the path to value innovation as a sequence of steps taken by a company to look methodically across boundaries of industry competition and to exploit opportunities for superior customer value at lower producer cost. The steps combine the concepts of the value chain, value discipline and value migration. Taking the steps is facilitated by cycles of action research. The paper is based a two-year action research programme in a company. The paper contributes to the area of overlap between three paradigms of manufacturing strategy: competing through manufacturing, strategic choices in manufacturing and best practice.

Keywords: value innovation; operational improvement; action research; value chain; value discipline; value migration; manufacturing strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2009.022434

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.16 No.3, pp.234 - 249

Published online: 05 Jan 2009 *

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