Technology Stage-Gate™: A Structured Process for Managing High-Risk New Technology Projects

Abstract

Akiyama 1996) assume that there is little uncertainty associated with the technologies to be utilized. However, the inability to manage high-risk technologies as part of product development is frequently the cause of canceled or significantly delayed new product development projects. Unlike product development, the ultimate outcomes of technology development efforts are unpredictable. Prematurely introducing a technology into the product development process when there is high uncertainty that the technology will ever meet the desired specifications often leads to project delays, project uncertainty, and project cancellation. We have found that a different management process, the technology Stage-Gate ™ (TechSG) process, is needed to manage technology development efforts when there is high uncertainty and risk. TechSG, initially described by Eldred and Shapiro (1996) and Eldred and McGrath (1997), brings a structured methodology for managing new technology development without thwarting the creativity needed in this early stage of product development. The overall objective of this chapter is to provide the reader with more insigh