Pioneering the combined use of agile and stage-gate models in new product development–cases from the manufacturing industry

Stage gate models have long been the norm in manufacturing industries. Whereas agile models, such as scrum, are standard amongst software industries. These two models have been traditionally been pitted against one another, each with its own advantages and limitations. A new trend is being observed, where gated models are becoming more agile, and agile models more gated. This trend indicates a need to combine the models, recognizing the limitations of both. We explore a number of cases where the models have been combined, very much based on trial and error, with adaptions being made as needed. The findings are relevant to product- and engineering design theory and education as stage gate models are commonly seen as the basis for modeling and teaching design. Certain qualities of agile are expected to be integrated into stage gate models, from which new process models might emerge. Such processes are expected to integrate more interdisciplinary collaboration along different stages of product development, facilitate more flexibility in setting requirements and allowing change. This article offers managers the possibility to understand how to combine stage gate and agile models and why, based upon cross company learning, hence fast tracking this process

Identifying design requirements for emerging markets

The manufacturing industry’s interest in emerging markets has been increasing dramatically during the recent decades as their economy is growing. Western companies are making efforts to develop products for emerging markets but are also facing various challenges in the process of doing so. One major challenge is the identification of reliable and valuable design requirements. This study aims at investigating the influence of the emerging market context on the practice of identifying design requirements. A survey among Danish industry was conducted with 130 responses collected. 92 answers provided an insight into design requirement identification in a western context, whereas 62 provided an insight into both emerging and western contexts. The results indicate the importance of design requirement identification when developing for emerging markets. Requirement elicitation and analysis are the most challenging phases in a design requirement identification process for both western and emerging markets. For Danish companies, identifying design requirements for emerging markets is more difficult than that for western markets, particularly when considering user needs, governmental regulations and organizational infrastructures

Method Use in Behavioural Design: What, How, and Why?

Behavioural design is an important area of research and practice key to addressing behavioural and societal challenges. Behavioural design reflects a synthesis of design and behavioural science, which draws together aspects of abductive, inductive, and deductive reasoning to frame, develop, and deliver behaviour change through purposefully designed interventions. However, this synthesis creates major questions as to how methods are selected, adapted, and used during behavioural design. To take a step toward answering these questions we conducted fifteen interviews with globally recognised experts. Based on these interviews we deliver three main contributions. First, we provide an overview of the methods used in all phases of the behavioural design process. Second, we identify behavioural uncertainty as a key driver of method use in behavioural design. Third, we explain how this creates a tension between design and scientific concerns— related to interactions between abductive, inductive, and deductive reasoning—which must be managed across the behavioural design process. We bring these insights together in a basic conceptual framework explaining how and why methods are used in behavioural design. Together these findings take a step towards closing critical gaps in behavioural design theory and practice. They also highlight several directions for further research on method use and uncertainty as well as behavioural design expertise and professional identity