AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON CSFs FOR PRE-DEVELOPMENT PROCESSESS IMPLEMENTATION AT SMEs IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

New product development processes and product innovation in manufacturing organization is promoting an environment of competitive advantage for organization that can make adequate use of the processes. However, Malaysian SMEs is facing with huge obstacles in implementing various product innovation activities particularly the pre-development processes due to scarce financial resources, manpower, knowledge, and expertise. In fact, the previous research result shows that more focus were given to the discussing about critical success factor for pre-development process implementation in large organizations compared with SMEs. In reality, SMEs having different characteristics compared with large organizations. Primarily, this study is performed, to identify the critical factors which are able to increase the successful implementation of pre-development in SMEs. In achieving the research objective, Delphi techniques have been used for confirmation to identify critical factors based on previous literatures, whether those factors are suitable with the characteristics and surrounding nature of SMEs. The survey form were sent to 35 respondents whose expertise are in the field of pre-development process. However, the researcher managed to interview 20 expert panels. The result of the research showed that ttop management factor, team leaders and members of the team were the main contributors leading the successfulness of the pre-development process in the SMEs organization worthwhile training program factor’s effect is low.