Planning Design Iterations

Companies developing new products have a wide variety of product development (PD) processes from which to choose. Each process offers a different method of iteration to manage risk. Companies must therefore consider the nature and level of risks they face in order to determine the most appropriate iteration and PD process. This paper identifies principles of risk and iteration inherent in product development and then explains how several different PD processes manage risk through iteration. It explains current research on PD decision criteria and concludes by proposing a framework to help companies better select PD processes.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

E-cigarettes/electronic nicotine delivery systems: A word of caution on health and new product development

This paper describes the introduction, development, and proliferation of new electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The use of non-combustible tobacco products is considered a means for improving public health and reducing the mortality attributed to cigarette smoking. The effects and use of ENDS are described, with studies to date indicating that, despite differences in toxicity, there is insufficient evidence that ENDS leads to smoking cessation. Finally, research questions are proposed to address key unanswered questions about the effects of such systems

Product development process design : improving development response to market, technical, and regulatory risks

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology, Management, and Policy Program, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-191).Engineering companies frequently face product development challenges. Competitive pressures, industrial or societal innovations, and government regulations are some of the many factors that drive the need for new or better products. Companies respond to these drivers and changing needs by developing new products and employing product development processes (PDPs) to coherently manage the risks inherent in their development. Well-designed PDPs reduce development time, create better products, generate profit, and increase market share. In contrast, poorly-designed PDPs can severely harm both product lines and the companies that manufacture them. Many companies seek guidance in making important PDP design decisions. This thesis introduces PDPs as risk management frameworks. The research investigates the relationship between PDPs and risk management and seeks to help companies improve PDP design. It begins by discussing the drivers and risks of product development and then describes different PDPs. The traditional stage gate process is compared with the modified waterfall process, evolutionary prototyping, evolutionary delivery, design to schedule/budget process, the spiral process, and several other PDP variations. The research then proposes several iteration- and review-based metrics by which PDPs can be more effectively identified and compared. Ten company case studies exemplify a wide variety of actual PDPs, demonstrate the utility of iteration and review metrics in distinguishing PDPs, and illustrate how different processes manage different risks. Case study findings indicate that software development companies face rapidly-changing markets, generally perform quick integrations and tests, and are likely to employ flexible PDPs.(cont.) In contrast, manufacturing companies that face greater integration difficulties and technical risks are likely to employ more rigid PDPs. Integration and risk are both instrumental in determining the applicability of different PDPs. The research employs case study lessons to propose a method for improved PDP design based on risk and integration. To demonstrate the method, it is applied to one company. The thesis concludes that PDPs vary more than previously documented; that the proposed metrics are useful in distinguishing PDPs, their different integrations, and their different risk management methods; and that companies facing different risks can more thoughtfully tailor their PDP designs to suit their own unique circumstances.by Darian W. Unger.Ph.D

Comparing Product Development Processes and Managing Risk

Product Development Processes (PDPs) require careful design to reduce development time, create better products and manage the risks of bringing new products to market. This paper investigates the relationship between product development risk and PDP management. We begin by identifying risks and proposing several iteration- and review-based metrics by which PDPs can be effectively identified and compared. Data from ten company case studies demonstrate the utility of the proposed metrics and exemplify how different PDPs manage different risks. The cases also show that software companies face different risks and employ more flexible PDPs than manufacturing companies. We conclude that PDPs vary more than previously documented, that the proposed metrics are useful in distinguishing PDPs and that companies can tailor their PDP designs to suit their unique risk profiles