Product Development Initiatives Research Articles

Crowdsourcing capabilities: fueling new products? How firm size and business type matter

Crowdsourcing has emerged as a valuable tool for organizations seeking to access external knowledge and resources for their innovation processes. This study aims to investigate crowdsourcing capabilities in the context of new product development initiatives, with a focus on exploring the moderating effects of firm size and type. Structural Equation Modeling using Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) is used to analyze both the measurement and structural models, with data drawn from 217 owners and managers of diverse businesses in Indonesia. These businesses range from small to medium-scale enterprises across various types, including cafes, restaurants, fashion, culinary, and furniture. The findings reveal a positive and significant impact of crowdsourcing capabilities on new product development initiatives (β = 0.746, p = 0.000). Moreover, the relationship between crowdsourcing and new product development is moderated by firm size (whether small or medium) (β = 0.103, p = 0.045) and the type of business (β = 0.157, p = 0.012). The outcomes of this study are anticipated to enrich the body of knowledge and provide valuable guidance for enterprises seeking to harness crowdsourcing in their new product development processes, with specific factors like firm size and type taken into account. AcknowledgmentThis study was supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, and Technology Research in 2022: Research Grant Scheme “PDUPT”No. 124/LL1/LT/K/2022.

Synergizing Zoological Research and AI in Business: Unveiling Biological Strategies for Sustainable Innovation

This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between zoological research and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven business management, elucidating how their integration can unlock profound biological insights with transformative implications for various industries. With advancements in AI technologies and an increasing emphasis on sustainability, businesses are increasingly turning to interdisciplinary approaches to optimize operations and enhance decision-making processes. Leveraging insights from zoological research, which encompasses the study of diverse animal species and their ecological interactions, presents a novel avenue for innovation and strategic development in the business landscape. The integration of zoological research with AI-driven business management offers multifaceted benefits. Firstly, it provides businesses with a deeper understanding of complex biological systems, facilitating informed decision-making regarding resource management, product development, and sustainability initiatives. Zoological studies offer insights into the intricate interdependencies within ecosystems, shedding light on ecological dynamics, species behaviors, and evolutionary patterns. By integrating these insights into AI algorithms, businesses can develop predictive models to anticipate environmental changes, species migrations, and biodiversity trends, thereby enhancing resilience and adaptive capacity. Furthermore, the synergy between zoological research and AI enables businesses to optimize processes across various domains, ranging from supply chain management to customer engagement. For instance, by analyzing animal foraging behaviors and social structures, businesses can derive inspiration for efficient routing algorithms, inventory optimization strategies, and collaborative network designs. Moreover, AI-driven data analytics can streamline market research efforts by identifying consumer preferences, market trends, and emerging opportunities, drawing parallels with animal behavior studies that elucidate patterns of resource utilization and adaptation. In addition to operational enhancements, the integration of zoological insights with AI-driven business management fosters innovation and product development. By studying biological adaptations and evolutionary processes, businesses can derive inspiration for biomimetic design principles, leading to the creation of sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and biologically inspired innovations. Moreover, by leveraging AI techniques such as machine learning and natural language processing, businesses can analyze vast datasets of biological literature and ecological observations to identify novel bioactive compounds, genetic sequences, and ecological niches with commercial potential. Importantly, the incorporation of zoological research into AI-driven business management fosters a paradigm shift towards holistic and ethical business practices. By recognizing the interconnectedness of ecological systems and economic activities, businesses can develop strategies that prioritize environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, and social responsibility. Zoological insights inform businesses about the intrinsic value of biodiversity, highlighting the importance of preserving natural habitats, protecting endangered species, and mitigating anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems. Through AI-powered simulations and scenario analyses, businesses can assess the long-term consequences of their decisions on ecological integrity, societal well-being, and corporate reputation, fostering a culture of responsible innovation and sustainable growth. However, the integration of zoological research with AI-driven business management also poses challenges and ethical considerations. Ensuring the ethical treatment of animals in research and development processes, safeguarding data privacy and security, and addressing biases in AI algorithms are paramount concerns that require interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Moreover, fostering inclusivity and diversity in both scientific research and business leadership is essential for promoting equitable outcomes and fostering innovation. In conclusion, the integration of zoological research with AI-driven business management holds immense potential for unlocking biological insights and driving sustainable innovation in diverse industries. By bridging the gap between biological sciences and business practices, this interdisciplinary approach offers a pathway towards a more resilient, adaptive, and ethically conscious future. Through collaborative efforts among scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community stakeholders, we can harness the power of nature-inspired solutions to address complex challenges and create positive societal impact.

ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE WITHIN KENYA'S SUGAR INDUSTRY

This study investigates the influence of product development strategies on performance within Kenya's sugar industry. With the challenges facing the sugar sector in Kenya, including fluctuating market demands, competition, and regulatory pressures, the adoption of effective product development strategies becomes imperative for sustained growth and competitiveness. Through a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between product development initiatives and performance indicators such as market share, profitability, and customer satisfaction, this research aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of product development strategies within the Kenyan sugar industry. Drawing upon empirical data and industry insights, the study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the impact of product innovation, diversification, and differentiation on performance outcomes. The findings shed light on the critical role of product development strategies in enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the sugar industry in Kenya.

A Study on Consumer Profile and Preference for Virgin Coconut Oil in Bangalore City

Aim: This research endeavors to examine the fundamental factors driving consumer preferences and actions concerning Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) in Bangalore City. It seeks to assess the impact of demographic variables, health perspectives, and brand recognition on consumer choices and behavior toward VCO.
 Study Design: A quantitative, descriptive research design.
 Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out in Bangalore City, during June and July of 2023. The primary data were collected from a random sample of Sixty respondents.
 Methodology: A diverse group of participants were surveyed, spanning different age groups, educational backgrounds, and occupations. The survey encompassed aspects such as age, gender, education, occupation, income, and family size. Conjoint analysis facilitated the measurement of attribute importance scores, providing insights into consumer preferences for factors including price, brand, and health benefits.
 Results: Analysis of the collected data unveiled noteworthy trends The majority of the respondents (61.7%) were males, and a significant proportion (43.3%) held master's degrees. Employed individuals constituted the largest occupation category (58%). Conjoint analysis revealed that health benefits held the highest importance score (39.979), followed by price (37.011) and brand (23.010).
 Conclusion: This study accentuates the pronounced role of health benefits in driving consumer choices regarding VCO. The findings illuminated the demographics of VCO consumers in Bangalore City and emphasize the need for targeted marketing strategies aligned with health-conscious consumer preferences. Insights gained from this research can significantly guide product development and branding initiatives, fostering a competitive advantage in this potential market. Further exploration and validation of these predictors are warranted to enhance the efficacy of marketing strategies and cater effectively to the evolving consumer landscape.

Footwear as product‐service systems: Toward sustainable alternative consumption scenarios

AbstractThe existing footwear ecosystem is not environmentally friendly and thus poses a threat to sustainability. In this article, our objective is to take a product‐service systems approach to propose alternative footwear consumption scenarios from a sustainability viewpoint and investigate the perspective of Indian consumers toward the proposed scenarios. To this end, we initially conducted a comprehensive literature review to explore alternative consumption scenarios in the realm of fashion products. This step led to the development of 10 alternative footwear consumption scenarios that focus on maintenance and repair, takeback, assembly, customization, personalization, advice and consultancy, rent, sequential share, swap, and functionality. Next, we adopted the focus group interview methodology to investigate the perception of Indian consumers toward the 10 alternative footwear consumption scenarios, which can inform the footwear industry's product development, marketing strategies, and sustainability initiatives. Our results indicate that while the participants found the consumption scenarios to be interesting and practical, they feel that the proposed scenarios may prove to be more feasible for comparatively expensive footwear products because of the associated logistics costs. Furthermore, the participants pointed out a few cultural as well as hygiene‐related issues that may hinder the adoption of certain alternative footwear consumption scenarios.

Core dimensions of food-related lifestyle: A new instrument for measuring food involvement, innovativeness and responsibility

Segmentation is crucial for targeting product development initiatives and marketing communication nationally as well as internationally. In this paper we use the Food Related Lifestyle instrument that has been applied in the food arena for many years as a ‘stepping stone’ to develop a contemporary, targeted and smaller version of the Food Related Lifestyle instrument, still following the original theoretical framework. In particular we focus on three dimensions that have proven to be of core value in segmentation: food involvement; food innovativeness; and, food responsibility. Based on data collection in six countries (DK, AU, HU, UK, USA and NZ) across two rounds from 2017 to 2019 (total N = 3396), we propose a new core instrument consisting of 15 items that have been tested for cross-cultural validity. Next, we used these three dimensions for segmentation across the six countries by applying multi-level latent class analysis. A solution leading to five different segments could be identified; the foodies, the moderates, the adventurous, the uninvolved and the conservatives. The segments were profiled by means of Schwartz’s ten value domains and measures of self-reported food-related behaviour to check for nomonological validity. We conclude that the 15 items were cross-culturally valid, could be used for segmentation across six countries, and that segment profiling by means of Schwartz values and behavioural items were in line with the theoretical background.

Leveraging sustainable design practices through supplier involvement in new product development: The role of the suppliers' environmental management capability

Firms often aim to develop new products in an environmentally sustainable fashion, while at the same time ensuring profitability. While firms may aim to do so themselves through internal sustainable design practices, what has increasingly become prevalent is to leverage the expertise of suppliers in such endeavors. With this framing and by relying on the resource-based view and its extensions reflected in the natural resource-based view of the firm, this study develops a conceptual model theorizing how internal resources in the form of sustainable design practices enable a firm to improve the environmental and economic performance associated with new product development initiatives. Further, we propose that (external) supplier involvement in new product development complements a firm's internal efforts to reap benefits from sustainable design practices, with this complementary effect however being contingent on the suppliers' environmental management capability. The results from testing this model with empirical survey data provide important academic and managerial insights regarding how firms should best manage their efforts to develop environmentally friendly new products through the leveraging of both internal (firm) and external (supplier) resources.

Ethical Considerations for Pediatric Placebo-Controlled Trials: FDA Outcomes and Perspectives.

Placebo-controlled trials are the most rigorous method of evaluating the safety and efficacy of investigational treatments, yet the use of a placebo control in pediatric drug development is challenging and potentially controversial. Regulations provide additional protections for children participating in human subject research and limit the amount of risk to which children may be exposed without benefit (21 CFR 50, subpart D, Additional Safeguards for Children in Clinical Investigations). The objective of this paper is to describe the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) experience with placebo-controlled trials conducted as part of pediatric drug development programs including compliance with 21 CFR 50, subpart D. Pediatric drug development programs conducted under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) or the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) between 2012 and 2018 were reviewed. Trials that utilized a placebo control were identified and trial characteristics and risk mitigation strategies were extracted from publicly available sources. During this time frame, a total of 266 products were studied under pediatric product development initiatives. Of those, 67 products (25%) were studied in 96 individual placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients. The majority of these studies included approaches to minimize risk to children in the placebo arm, including 49 trials that utilized placebo as an add-on to known effective therapy for the disease and 48 trials that included rescue therapy in the study protocol. When designed and conducted appropriately, placebo-controlled trials meet requirements under current US federal regulations for the protection of children in research.

Introducing Constraints to Improve New Product Development Performance

Overview: Cross-functional integration is vital to help new product development initiatives succeed. We conducted a qualitative study of the new product development process for electrified cars with a focus on the interface between design and manufacturing. We considered engineering, business, and sociological perspectives to address cross-functional integration from different viewpoints and identified shortcomings of existing theory. We developed a new method to introduce constraints to facilitate cross-functional integration. The constraints introduced serve as stimuli for designers to consider their cross-functional counterparts’ requirements during the design process. Introducing constraints positively impacts cross-functional integration and creativity. Practitioners can use constraints with intention to steer their design processes in a purposeful direction.

Leveraging Sustainable Design Practices through Supplier Involvement in New Product Development: The Role of Suppliers’ Environmental Management Capability

Firms often aim to develop new products in an environmentally sustainable fashion, while at the same time ensuring profitability. While firms may aim to do so themselves through internal sustainable design practices, what has increasingly become prevalent is to leverage the expertise of suppliers in such endeavors. With this framing and by relying on the resource-based view and its extensions reflected in the natural resource-based view of the firm, this study develops a conceptual model theorizing how internal resources in the form of sustainable design practices enable a firm to improve the environmental and economic performance associated with new product development initiatives. Further, we propose that (external) supplier involvement in new product development complements a firm’s internal efforts to reap benefits from sustainable design practices, with this complementary effect however being contingent on the suppliers’ environmental management capability. The results from testing this model with empirical survey data provide important academic and managerial insights regarding how firms should best manage their efforts to develop environmentally friendly new products through the leveraging of both internal (firm) and external (supplier) resources.

The Conflicted Role of Purchasing in New Product Development Costing

As organizations are increasingly challenged to find new sources of profit improvement, cost reduction becomes a top priority on the business agenda. Expectations for cost reductions are ongoing and influence both new and existing products and services. The costs for new product and service introductions are managed differently than ongoing cost reductions. Purchasing plays a central role, with different goals, in cost control for new products and services versus ongoing cost savings. This research uses a case study methodology to understand the conflict purchasing faces in managing both new product costs and ongoing cost reductions. Due to goal incongruence between new product development and ongoing savings initiatives, purchasing may act in its own best interest, rather than in the best interest of the organization or team. This is both a contracting and an information uncertainty problem, creating an opening for passive opportunism by purchasing. Thus, agency theory and information processing theory (IPT) are combined to examine how information uncertainty can be reduced and contractual goal alignment improved in these situations. The outcome of this research is to expose potential goal misalignment between new product development cost processes and ongoing cost savings, and suggest theoretically grounded methods for reducing the potential conflict.

Investigating Factors Influential on the Success of Social Product Development initiatives

Abstract Social Product Development (SPD) is represented by tenants including crowdsourcing, open innovation, cloud-based design and manufacture (CBDM) and mass collaboration that either individually or in concert contribute to the democratization of design, manufacture and innovation. Although widely and very successfully used in thousands of documented case studies [1], these tenants have not yet fully arrived within the domain of professional and commercial industrial product development. Amongst the reasons for this are a lack of clear definitions as to what these tenants are and clear guidelines or procedures that outline how they can be used to aid the various phases of the product development process. In this paper, the authors investigate how success for each of the tenants or any combination thereof can be influenced. The tenants of Social Product Development can be mapped according to three factors; proximity to other participants (Pa), proximity to leading organization (Po) and the number of participants (N). In this paper, the authors hypothesize that these three variables are related to the success of SPD tenants. An analysis study is then conducted with expert researchers to test this hypothesis and determine whether these variables are influential on SPD success. The expert researchers determined that only one relationship, between open innovation success and organizational proximity existed, therefore rendering all other relationships non-existent and disproving the hypothesis. Results and limitations of the study are discussed before aims for further research are highlighted. These include clarifying definitions of success for Social Product Development, providing success factors for the tenants and supporting practitioners in applying SPD tenants.

The fallacy of “trickle-down” product sustainability

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how big-picture sustainability strategies are translated into tangible product development efforts. The authors assert that most sustainable products currently remain confined to niche markets and do not permeate the mainstream. The authors propose that there is a missing link between strategic sustainability goals and operational product development initiatives. The authors establish a path to bridging this gap.Design/methodology/approachThe manuscript is based on a qualitative research design with a sample of 32 companies. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with product developers as well as secondary data analysis.FindingsThe authors delineate three empirically derived approaches firms from the sample pursue to develop sustainable products. The authors identify a phenomenon that the authors’ call the fallacy of trickle-down product sustainability. The authors find that only one of the three approaches – codification – is equipped to successfully turn strategic sustainability targets into authentic sustainable products.Practical implicationsThis study provides an actionable guide to executives and product developers with respect to bridging the gap between often elusive sustainability aspirations and tangible product improvements via the process of rigorous codification.Originality/valueThis study provides a novel and unique perspective into strategy, sustainability and product development. The authors synthesize the extant literature on sustainable product development, juxtapose the emergent structure with primary interview data, and elaborate the resource-based view (RBV) to provide theoretical and practical implications. The authors establish scalability as the missing RBV capability of many attempts toward mass–market compatibility of more sustainable products.

The role of intellectual capital in new product development: Can it become a liability?

ABSTRACTGiven the increasingly high cost of new product development (NPD), it is important for firms to terminate unsuccessful NPD projects as soon as possible. This article investigates the role of intellectual capital in the discontinuation of NPD projects. The three dimensions of intellectual capital (human, structural, and social capital) are posited to decrease the likelihood of discontinuation of NPD projects, while contextual factors such as the firm's discontinuation experience and the size of the drug development portfolio are expected to affect this relationship. The research model is tested using a unique data set of 1,168 drug discovery and development projects. The results suggest that NPD projects rich in all three dimensions of intellectual capital are less likely to be discontinued. The size of the firm's drug development portfolio, however, is found to mitigate these effects, while discontinuation experience enhances the relationship between intellectual capital and discontinuation duration. As only a fraction of new product development initiatives result in success, timely discontinuation of unsuccessful projects is critical for sustained performance of organizations. Our findings make an important contribution to this stream of work. By highlighting the role of intellectual capital in the discontinuation process, we offer an interesting twist to the literature that invariably assumes intellectual capital to be important for innovation.

Understanding implicit and explicit consumer desires for protein bars, powders, and beverages

AbstractThe objective of this study was to assess the implicit and explicit qualities of protein products that consumers find attractive. To do so, an Adaptive Choice‐Based Conjoint (ACBC) survey and a Constant Sum (CS) survey were conducted. Participants (n = 457) were the same for both studies and results were compared on both aggregate and individual levels. Additionally, ACBC utility scores were used to calculate “Share of Preference” scores so that each attribute level could be directly compared to CS. Attribute importance scores were relatively similar between methods, with the exception of the platform, sweetener claim, and sweetener type, which were different (p < 0.05) between surveys. Overall, both techniques agreed that the ideal protein product was a chocolate‐flavored protein bar with 20–29 g of primarily whey protein, all‐natural, and naturally sweetened by stevia. Additionally, both methods agreed on relative scaling of levels within each attribute. ACBC resulted in smaller standard deviations for shares of preference ratings than the CS survey. Differences in results between the surveys suggest that protein product consumers have differences in implicit and explicit preferences. Exploration of where these preferences disagree may provide insight on product development initiatives for select consumers.Practical applicationsThis study found that there are subgroups of protein product consumers who express different ideals and desires. Furthermore, these preferences exist both explicitly and implicitly within individual consumers, and differences in those preferences may influence subsequent segmentation of consumer groups. Understanding the benefits and shortcomings of these different survey methods, and reviewing the sentiments each method captures, may help manufacturers and product developers reach new consumer groups and satisfy existing consumers to a greater extent.

Wild Plants Potentially Used in Human Food in the Protected Area "Sierra Grande de Hornachos" of Extremadura (Spain)

Natura 2000 is a network of protected spaces where the use of natural resources is regulated through the Habitat Directive of the European Union. It is essential for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe, but its social perception must be improved. We present this work as a demonstration case of the potentialities of one of these protected areas in the southwest (SW) Iberian Peninsula. We show an overview of the catalog of native wild plants of the place, which have nutritional and edible properties, having been used in human food by the peasant local population over the last century, and whose consumption trend is being implemented in Europe mainly through the haute cuisine and ecotourism sectors. What is offered here is a study of the case of what kind of positive contribution systematized botanical or ethnobotanical scientific knowledge can make toward encouraging innovative and sustainable rural development initiatives. A total of 145 wild plants that are potentially useful for leading tourism and consumers toward haute cuisine, new gastronomy, enviromentally-friendly recipes, and Natura 2000 Conservation are retrieved. The methodology used for our proposal is based on recent proposals of food product development and Basque Culinary Center initiatives.

The Evolution of the UK Wine Market: From Niche to Mass-Market Appeal

This article is an historic narrative account of the emergence of the mass-market wine category in the UK in the post-World War II era. The role of the former vertically-integrated brewing industry in the early stages of development is described from the perspective of both their distributional effects and their new product development initiatives. Significant in the narrative is the story of Babycham, the UK’s answer to Champagne that was targeted to the new consumers of the 1950s; women. Then a specially-developed French wine, Le Piat D’Or, with its catchy advertising campaign, took the baton. These early brands were instrumental in extending the wine category, as beer continued its precipitous decline. That the UK is now one of the largest wine markets globally owes much to the success of these early brands and those that arrived later in the 1990s, with Australia displacing France as the source for mass-market appeal.

Examining the State of Risk Management Research in New Product Development Process

New products are major sources of competitive advantage and success for a manufacturing enterprise. However, not all new product development (NPD) initiatives result in a successful product and are therefore a major cause of wasted resources. Furthermore, NPD processes are becoming increasingly complex and risky due to today’s globalized market and customers’ desire for technologically advanced products. While there has been a significant interest in academia about NPD risks, the existing literature is spread across multiple outlets, making it difficult for any practitioner or researcher to synthesize the current work. This article aims to minimize that gap by providing a comprehensive overview of current research activities in the field of risk management in NPD process in one place. The research design is based on mapping and classification of the existing body of knowledge into the domains of NPD risk analysis and management. The article analyzes the contemporary NPD risk analysis methods on three fronts: risk identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation. Based on the review, the article then identifies and discusses several key areas for future research significant to engineering management practices. Finally, an integrated framework is presented to provide a holistic approach toward risk management in the NPD process, followed by the practical implications for engineering managers and practitioners.

Organizational Enablers for NPD Portfolio Selection

Despite substantial research that advocates the “right” portfolio of new product development initiatives for the firm, one important aspect has been overlooked: Creating a portfolio of new product development initiatives is not equivalent to choosing from a menu of initiatives. Rather, these initiatives are defined by and within the organization. Thus, portfolio selection rests upon two challenges: 1) the cross-functional nature of collaborative tasks; and 2) the role of explicit and implicit incentives on innovative outcomes. This paper explores how these factors ultimately determine the initiatives an organization pursues. We abstract a new product development organization as two functional managers who report to senior management and analyze the strategic interactions between all three stakeholders. Senior management decides whether to empower the functional managers to define the initiative and how to reward them contingent on the outcome. We evaluate how the asymmetry of information regarding each function's capability, and the explicit and implicit rewards and penalties imposed on the functional managers affect the upfront resource allocation. We find a profound effect of the information asymmetry: the set of initiatives the firm deems profitable is reduced, thus impeding the organization's potential to innovate. To counter such a shortcoming, senior management may optimally misalign the objectives of the stakeholders.

Stimuli of Collaboration in Product Development: A Case Study in a Project Manufacturing Company

AbstractThere is already a wide acceptance on the importance of involving supplier and customer companies in product development. Decent understanding prevails on the relationship-oriented approach to product development including various collaboration forms. However, there is less research on the factors explaining the decision of attending to joint product development. In addition, less studies have examined the integrated role of both suppliers and customers in product development initiatives. This study searches answers to the following research questions: 1. What is the role of different actors in product development initiatives? 2. What factors motivate suppliers and customers to participate in product development? The research is carried out as an in-depth qualitative single case study in a large project manufacturing company. It takes the perspective of a focal company striving for product improvements. The first part of the empirical study consists of 15 semi-structured interviews. The second part includes two discursive workshops and builds upon the results of the interviews. This study contributes to the existing research by explaining the challenges and conditions facilitating joint product development with supplier and purchaser companies. The results highlight the role of customers in improving the effectiveness of product development. As a practical contribution, the paper reports the application of workshop method as a facilitator of collaboration between supplier, purchaser (focal company) and customer companies.