AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF IMPORTANT DIMENSIONS OF NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NEW ZEALAND

作者：Metikurke S^*; Shekar A

来源：International Journal of Industrial Engineering-Theory Applications and Practice, 2011, 18(2): 83-91.

• product development dimensions
• SMEs
• best practices

This paper presents results from the research on New Product Development (NPD) in New Zealand, based on a similar survey conducted in the US, UK and Ireland by Kahn, Barczak and Moss in 2006. Kahn et al.'s study identified seven dimensions of NPD practices - strategy, process, research, project climate, company culture, metrics and commercialisation. The survey measured the relative importance of each of the dimensions, and listed characteristics under each dimension for poor to best practices. Strategy was ranked the highest among the seven dimensions followed by commercialisation, research, company culture, process, project climate and metrics. The results were broadly consistent with those from the US, UK and Ireland, with strategy the highest and metrics the lowest ranked. Commercialisation was ranked the second most important dimension among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Further results are analysed, discussed and recommendations for effective practices are made. The characteristics of SMEs in New Zealand are outlined, in order to better understand their product development practices, the results of this study, and to be able to compare these with the characteristics of large organizations published in the literature.

• 出版日期2011