Innovation Portfolio Management: Linking Strategy to Execution - Softcover

Sobelman, Noel

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798895741306

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing, 2026

Synopsis

STRATEGY SETS THE AMBITION. THE PORTFOLIO DETERMINES THE OUTCOME.<br> <br>Most leadership teams commit to innovation-led growth, yet struggle to translate that ambition into consistent results. Portfolios become overloaded, resources are spread too thin, and incremental work crowds out higher-potential opportunities. The connection between strategy and execution breaks, often without leadership fully realizing it.<br> <br>In <i>Innovation Portfolio Management: Linking Strategy to Execution</i>, Noel Sobelman provides a practical, field-tested approach for closing this gap. Drawing on more than two decades of experience working with global organizations, he shows how leaders can translate strategy into disciplined investment decisions, improve resource allocation, and build a repeatable system for innovation-driven growth.<br> <br>Featuring interviews and case studies from leaders at Becton Dickinson, Carrier, Edwards Lifesciences, Tenneco, Novartis, Microsoft, and Garmin, the book brings real-world context to the challenge of managing innovation at scale. Sobelman also addresses one of the most overlooked barriers to success: overcoming organizational resistance and embedding the behaviors required for sustained adoption.<br> <br>Readers will learn how to:<br><ul> <li>Align innovation investments with strategic priorities</li> <li>Structure and manage portfolios for clarity and accountability</li> <li>Improve cross-functional decision-making and resource allocation</li> <li>Run effective portfolio reviews that drive real decisions</li> <li>Build the discipline and culture required to sustain results</li></ul> <br>Ideal for executives, R&amp;D and product leaders, portfolio and PMO leaders, and advisors, this book provides a clear foundation for turning innovation from aspiration into execution.

About this title

About the Author

Noel Sobelman is a senior advisor and recognized authority in innovation and project portfolio management, with over 30 years of experience helping organizations drive growth through disciplined, practical innovation systems. He has advised CEOs, boards, and senior leadership teams across industries and developed the innovation portfolio management methodology featured in his book, which he has implemented in more than 20 global companies. Noel is a frequent keynote speaker and lecturer at companies and business schools, a regular guest on innovation-focused podcasts, and a published thought leader in outlets including Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry, PDMA Knowledge Hub, and The Marketing Journal. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona. He lives in San Diego, California.

From the Back Cover

Despite record investment in innovation, many organizations struggle to turn strategy into results. Promising projects stall, resources are spread too thin, and leaders lack a clear view of which investments will drive meaningful impact.

Innovation Portfolio Management: Linking Strategy to Execution shows how leaders can address this challenge by building innovation portfolio management as a core business capability. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Noel Sobelman provides a practical, field-tested approach for aligning strategy, investment decisions, governance, and execution across the enterprise.

Unlike theory-heavy innovation books, Innovation Portfolio Management focuses on the "how." It offers clear frameworks and actionable guidance that leaders can apply to prioritize investments, allocate scarce resources, and improve decision-making under uncertainty.

For organizations ready to move beyond innovation as aspiration and bring discipline to execution, this book lays out a practical, proven path forward.

From the Inside Flap

Despite record investment in innovation, many organizations continue to struggle to translate strategy into consistent, scalable results. Leadership teams set ambitious growth targets tied to innovation, yet portfolios become overloaded, resources are spread too thin, and incremental work often crowds out higher-potential opportunities.

The underlying issue is not a lack of ideas or intent. It is the absence of a structured, repeatable way to align innovation investments with strategic priorities—and to manage those investments as a coordinated system.

In Innovation Portfolio Management: Linking Strategy to Execution, Noel Sobelman presents a practical, field-tested approach for closing this gap. Drawing on more than two decades of experience working with global organizations, he outlines how leaders can design and implement innovation portfolio management as a core business capability—one that connects strategy, investment decisions, governance, and execution.

Featuring interviews and case studies from leaders at Becton Dickinson, Carrier, Edwards Lifesciences, Tenneco, Novartis, Microsoft, and Garmin, the book brings real-world perspective to the challenges of managing innovation at scale. It also addresses one of the most persistent barriers to success: overcoming organizational resistance and embedding the behaviors required for sustained adoption.

Focused on application rather than theory, this book provides clear frameworks and actionable guidance for leaders responsible for innovation, growth, and portfolio decisions. Whether building capability from the ground up or strengthening an existing system, readers will gain a practical foundation for turning innovation from aspiration into execution.

Edition details

• Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798895741306
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 250