Resource management process framework for dynamic NPD portfolios

Abstract

This paper presents empirical results from a research on how companies developing products reconfigure their resources (we refer to human resources) as changes continuously occur to their new product development (NPD) portfolios. Although resource scheduling and allocation methods have received a wide attention in academic literature, the systematic and holistic resource management processes that support the whole organization's portfolio are still not understood. We have adopted an action research approach and worked together with different project teams of a multi-national company. This research approach has allowed us to get close contact with the difficulties faced by its managers, imposed by the need to quickly respond to the frequent changes in a coordinated manner. This research contributes to an improved understanding of the context in which resource management decisions are made. For practitioners, this proposes a process framework for organizations to effectively manage their resources in the context of dynamic NPD portfolios.