Description
The Chase is a business novel, which is based on a real case study. Its intended audience included the general public, management and administrators, students and teachers in business and engineering schools, and consultant practitioner. This book is unique because it targets the product development aspect of the product productions process. Almost every book written in similar topics concentrate on the manufacturing end of the process. That happens because manufacturing is tangible and visible, while engineering is intangible and invisible. However, the fact remains that 85 percent of the money in any product producing and service industry is committed in the first 5 percent of the process, which is the engineering. The Chase follows Greg, a chief engineer at Michigan Motor Corporation (MMC) through the difficult task of improving the company’s product development process. Greg approaches the problem by defining product, process of creation of the product, process intent and selections of the vehicle (tools) to create the product. The title refers to the continuous task of balancing between Cost, Quality and Time. The improvement of these three characteristics of the product in the design area is an uncanny task. Due to the nature of design and engineering most of the processes needed for product development are intangible. The first thing Greg has to do is to make the system and the processes visible. Greg is guided through the next three challenging years by Damon, a professor and change implementer in the industry. The key concepts that Damon helps Greg to understand are:
- System Design Principles
- Organizational Learning Principle
- Process Models
- Methods, Algorithms, Tools
- Team Technology Each concept includes a full complement of useful ideas.
System design principles for instance are:
- Little’s Law of Response
- Capacity Constraint Theory
- Leverage Principle
- Whole and Parts Principle
- Value Adding Principles Personal and organization politics are critical — but sometimes overlooked — factors in implementing change in any organization. The novel’s chief character, Greg is guided through handling these aspects of improvement smoothly as well. In short, The Chase presents not only what to do to improve product development, but also how to do it successfully.
Book Reviews:
Alexander – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable lessons for professionals, students, and educators
May 27, 2025
This book was an easy read. It was a good blend of real case study insights that provided valuable guidance on balancing costs, quality, and time in the early stages of a project. I can see how the principles it offered can improve how I approach project management.
Sydney – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Changed my perspective on product development
June 7, 2025
Reading The Chase was a turning point for how I think about product development—not just as a stage in a process, but as the stage where the most impact happens. As someone who has spent more time focusing on manufacturing efficiency and downstream improvements, this book completely shifted my mindset.
What struck me immediately was how real the challenges felt: unclear definitions, misaligned goals between departments, tool selection that didn’t support the actual process—things I’ve seen firsthand in my own work. But instead of falling into frustration or blaming the system, the book walks through a clear, thoughtful approach to identifying and solving problems.
What resonated most with me was the idea that 85% of costs are committed in the first 5% of the process. I’d heard versions of that before, but this book really made it click. It helped me see that chasing improvements only at the manufacturing level is like trying to adjust the sails when the boat was pointed in the wrong direction from the start.
Lisa – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
This book was an easy read of a real-life scenario that shows a successful way to improve product development. I would suggest this book to any business owner willing to learn and improve their processes.
Amazon Customer – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Constant Pursuit for Improvement
May 23, 2024
Very easy to read and understand. The book overall took 2 to 2 1/2 hours to read. This is a great story with the profound insight into the product development environment. It also captures issues concerning the implementation of Lean Thinking and organizational learning.
Samantha – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Brings a thought-provoking focus on real life processes!
November 3, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a smooth walkthrough into a real-life scenario that shows how processes in the workforce are important. We get stuck in our assumptions of what is supposed to be without realizing how the world evolves. Reading about the growth of each character and how they learn new ways to gain productivity was fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone. It brings a whole new aspect to the world when we can see how to plan things before they happen and how we can improve processes before they start. Great read!
Erinne – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Improving Product Development
February 4, 2025
“The Chase” is a great read for anyone looking to understand and improve product development processes. Unlike most business books that focus on manufacturing, this one dives into the critical early stages where the biggest impact is made. The story format makes it easy to follow, and the real-world lessons on system design, process improvement, and organizational change are incredibly valuable. If you’re in engineering, management, or just love learning about making businesses more efficient, this book is worth your time.
Amazon Customer – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Constant Pursuit For Improvement
May 23, 2024
Very easy to read and understand. The book overall took 2 to 2 1/2 hours to read. This is a great story with the profound insight into the product development environment. It also captures issues concerning the implementation of Lean Thinking and organizational learning.
Samantha – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Brings a thought provoking focus on real life processes!
November 3, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a smooth walkthrough into a real life scenario that shows how processes in the workforce are important. We get stuck in our assumptions of what is suppose to be without realizing how the world evolves. Reading about the growth of each character and how they learn new ways to gain productivity was fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone. It brings a whole new aspect to the world when we can see how to plan things before they happen and how we can improve processes before they start. Great read!
Brie – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Insightful
May 23, 2024
This isn’t the first book that I’ve purchased written by Dr. Perry. Each read has given new insight on improving processes within a business. This book really helped me understand what to do to improve product development and how to do it well. I really liked how this book used real life examples, with the main character Greg to make this an engaging and easy read.
Alissa – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
May 21, 2024
The Chase does a wonderful job of highlighting the importance of process management within any production environment. Many do not realize how important this concept is because it is not what makes a company money nor is it a tangible item. The reader is able to follow the story of the main character, Greg, as he dedicates himself to the daunting task of improving engineering processes and keeping the necessary balance between work, quality, and time.
Matt – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read
August 2, 2025
Being able to read a story like this, where I could put myself into the character’s shoes as they went through the challenges, is really mind opening. I found it to be more inspiring and has helped me retain the information more than reading a standard educational book, where everything is written out as it is defined. Having the realistic events in this book creates a better connection to what is being said and has allowed me to think about what the author is teaching on a more personal level. I have learned so much from this book and highly recommend it to anyone else who is involved in product development.
Reader – ★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information for Business Owners
December 23, 2024
Received the book several months ago and it has changed how I run my own business. Setting up processes have helped make my business run much smoother. If you are running your own business, I highly recommend it.
