They organize their material within three Parts: Laying the Foundation for Innovation, A Guide for Venturing, and Capturing Strategic Value. Following the Afterword by Gordon Bell (author of High-Tech Ventures: The Guide for Entrepreneurial Success), there are seven especially valuable appendices whose subjects range from "VBO Business Plan Elements" to "Partner Profile Template." The acronym VBO refers to "Venture Business Office" which, as the authors explain in the Preface, is a demilitarized zone" which "connects the big company, the outside venture community, and start-ups. whether they emerge from inside or outside the corporate walls. The VBO is the logical conduit between [and among] these very different yet potentially synergistic worlds."
The authors provide in this single volume a comprehensive, cohesive, and cost-effective (four-stage, step-by-step) process by which to derive maximum value from the aforementioned "convergence." Along the way, they include dozens of charts ("Figures"), micro-case studies which illustrate various innovation initiatives, checklists, summaries, "Key Lessons," and (in the appendices) just about everything anyone would need to know about the design, establishment, and development of a VBO. Presumably, many of those who read this brilliant book are involved with organizations (including corporations) which either do not need or cannot afford a VBO worthy of the name. Nonetheless, there is an abundance of information and advice which would be of great value to them. I also highly recommend this book to others now involved in start-ups or not-yet--mature organizations as well as to venture capitalists, management consultants, and other service providers (e.g. bankers, attorneys, and accountants) who can -- and indeed should -- be included in venturing initiatives.
In their Preface, Mason and Rohner suggest that "there is an opportunity to learn from the successes of venturing and create tools, organizational structures, processes, and -- most important -- a point of view that will make venturing work for most companies that are willing to take the matter seriously -- as one that may ultimately amount to corporate life or death." They realize that a VBO may not be appropriate for many organizations. Make no mistake about it: Venturing worthy of the name requires rigorous and sustained communication, cooperation, and collaboration as well as sufficient resources. In that event, however, venturing not only permits but indeed assures innovation of a nature and to an extent otherwise unattainable.
To further develop your view on the topic of facilitating innovation in your organization I would recommend 'Webs of Innovation' by Alexander Loudon and 'Radical Innovation' by Leifer et.al.
I also recommend the reader concentrate on the chapter, "Battling Corporate Antibodies". The greatest barrier is often from your own team, the "middle-manager" which will require much more time and effort to emotionally educate than is ever expected. Excellent insight is provided in dealing with the numerous approval stages and cultural hurdles that a new venture proposal must overcome within a corporation to survive beyond just an idea.
I do recommend this book for those brave innovators within a corporation and the bravest, those outside the safe womb of a corporation seeking to build a new idea into a business.