Knowledge Perspectives of New Product Development

Presenting industrial case studies from semiconductors, software development and toy safety, and drawing on knowledge management, sociology, and organizational behavior, this book highlights critical success and failure factors in new product development. New Product Development (NPD) is about the ideation, formulation, and implementation of new and superior solutions in the market. Beyond the obvious need for organizations to innovate in order to compete, embedded in any NPD program are knowledge, technological expertise, and the social networks that convert these capabilities into offerings that create value at every level—for customers, industries, communities, and regions. This volume provides an array of knowledge perspective in NPD across multiple levels of analysis and geographic regions, including Europe, the United States, China, Japan, and India, to explore the dynamics of NPD in today’s global environment. Presenting case studies from such industries as ICT services, semiconductors, software development, bio-technology, higher education, and even safety for children’s toys, and drawing from a variety of theoretical perspectives, including technology and knowledge management, sociology, economic geography, and organizational behavior, the authors highlight critical success and failure factors in NPD. Among the topics covered: New product development teams, including multi-functional and multi-site teams De-localization and off-shoring of tasks and processes Individual competencies and organizational capabilities University-industry interactions, high-tech clusters, and technology transfer Technology policy New Product Development (NPD) is about the ideation, formulation, and implementation of new and superior solutions in the market. Beyond the obvious need for organizations to innovate in order to compete, embedded in any NPD program are knowledge, technological expertise, and the social networks that convert these capabilities into offerings that create value at every level—for customers, industries, communities, and regions. This volume provides an array of knowledge perspective in NPD across multiple levels of analysis and geographic regions, including Europe, the United States, China, Japan, and India, to explore the dynamics of NPD in today’s global environment. Presenting case studies from such industries as ICT services, semiconductors, software development, bio-technology, higher education, and even safety for children’s toys, and drawing from a variety of theoretical perspectives, including technology and knowledge management, sociology, economic geography, and organizational behavior, the authors highlight critical success and failure factors in NPD. Among the topics covered: New product development teams, including multi-functional and multi-site teams De-localization and off-shoring of tasks and processes Individual competencies and organizational capabilities University-industry interactions, high-tech clusters, and technology transfer Technology policy