Model for technological innovation integration and new product development in firms under innovation discontinuities

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to a new planning policy in the development of innovative products. To do so, it presents a new modelling proposal to integrate technological innovation and new product development in a company of the traditional pewter sector in Portugal, under innovation discontinuities, carried out according to the following stages: Phase 1: Modelling of the information needs in product development process; Phase 2: Determining of technology integration dimensions to the product; and Phase 3: Evaluating the performance of technology integration dimensions to the product. A case study was conducted in a company of traditional tin sector in Portugal. The investigation was helped by the intervention of specialists. In order to reduce the subjectivity in the obtained results, the methods of Categorical Judgment Law, Artificial Neural Networks, the multi-criteria Electre III methods, compromised programming and Promethee II, multivariate analysis and the neuro fuzzy technology were used. The results were satisfactory, validating the present proposal. Keywords: Modelling proposal, planning, integration, technological innovation, new product development, traditional pewter sector.