Publications

February 1996
Supplement

Active Coatings, Inc. (B): Challenges in Managing Product Development

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

2008
Working Paper

Product Development and Learning in Project Teams: The Challenges are the Benefits

By: Amy C. Edmondson and Ingrid M. Nembhard

The value of teams in new product development (NPD) is undeniable. Both the interdisciplinary nature of the work and industry trends necessitate that professionals from different functions work together on development projects to create the highest quality product in... View Details

Keywords: Competency and Skills; Learning; Management Skills; Product Development; Projects; Groups and Teams; Conflict Management; Social and Collaborative Networks

1994
Chapter

The Product Development Imperative: Competing in the New Industrial Marathon

By: K. B. Clark and T. Fujimoto

Keywords: Product Development; Competitive Advantage

May 2021
Article

Private and Social Returns to R&D: Drug Development and Demographics

By: Efraim Benmelech, Janice Eberly, Dimitris Papanikolaou and Joshua Krieger

Investment in intangible capital such as R&D has increased dramatically since the 1990s. However, productivity growth remains sluggish in recent years. One potential reason is that a significant share of the increase in intangible investment is geared toward consumer... View Details

Keywords: Drug Development; Research and Development; Investment Return; Demographics; Pharmaceutical Industry

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Article

Reflections: Toward a Normative and Actionable Theory of Planned Organizational Change and Development

By: Michael Beer

A normative and actionable theory of planned organizational change and development is proposed based on fifty years of engagement by the author as a scholar-consultant. Five principles are central features of the theory and practice proposed: 1) Organizations are... View Details

Keywords: Consultant; Process; Systems; Silence; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leadership; Learning; Management Teams

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September 2018
Article

An Exploratory Study of Product Development in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Medical Device Testing in India

By: Budhaditya Gupta and Stefan Thomke

Recent research has studied innovation in emerging economies. However, microlevel product development processes in these economies are relatively unexplored, and the mechanisms by which the emerging economy context might affect such processes are still unclear. In this... View Details

Keywords: India; Product Development; Emerging Markets; Situation or Environment; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; India

November 1992
Case

Process Control at Polaroid (B)

By: H. Kent Bowen and Steven C. Wheelwright

The plant manager of a film production operation wants to create and implement a new approach to quality within the next 12 months. Issues of personnel (and their roles), production processes (and their control), and quality standards must be addressed. View Details

Keywords: Employee Relationship Management; Job Design and Levels; Management Practices and Processes; Production; Quality; Mathematical Methods

4 Apr 1998
Conference Presentation

Responding to Changing Customer Needs: The Design of a Flexible Development Process

By: Alan MacCormack

Keywords: Customer Satisfaction; Design; Production

2020
Book

Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity

By: Joseph Allen and John D. Macomber

By the time you reach 80, you will have spent 72 years of your life indoors. Like it or not, humans have become an indoor species. This means that the people who design, build, and maintain our buildings can have a major impact on our health.
Ever feel tired... View Details

Keywords: Architecture; Real Estate Development; Air Pollution; Air Quality; Public Health; Productivity Gains; Buildings and Facilities; Health; Pollutants; Performance Productivity; Construction Industry

August 1981
Background Note

Types of Processes

By: David A. Garvin

Provides a general introduction to the major types of production processes, their differences, and the implications that those differences have for management. View Details

Keywords: Management; Production; Business Processes

May 2003
Article

Managing the Sources of Uncertainty: Matching Process and Context in Software Development

By: Alan MacCormack and Roberto Verganti

Keywords: Management; Risk and Uncertainty; Applications and Software; Research and Development; Technology Industry

November 1992 (Revised January 2002)
Case

Process Control at Polaroid (A)

By: H. Kent Bowen and Steven C. Wheelwright

Describes the initial efforts at a film production plant to shift from a traditional QC inspection mentality to a worker-based process control mentality. Students can prepare SPC charts, propose actions needed, and combine steps into an overall action plan. View Details

Keywords: Management Systems; Operations; Quality; Factories, Labs, and Plants; Business Processes; Change Management; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry

September 1974 (Revised July 1979)
Background Note

A Note on Process Analysis

By: Paul W. Marshall

Provides an introductory note to production processes and the use of flow diagram. View Details

Keywords: Production; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques

July 1990
Case

Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (B)

By: Kim B. Clark and Brent D. Barnett

Ceramics Process Systems (CPS) is an advanced ceramics company facing problems with lead time in product/process development, and late delivery of prototype parts to its customers. Engineering is confronted with difficult technical problems and multiple objectives... View Details

Keywords: Product Development; Business Processes; Management Practices and Processes; Supply Chain Management; Machinery and Machining; Goals and Objectives; Resource Allocation; Customer Satisfaction; Customer Value and Value Chain; Manufacturing Industry

14 May 2013
Blog Post

The Self-Discovery Process

After spending two very busy but very productive months in my career search process, I am amazed at the evolution I have experienced. I have done several exercises to define my career vision. I have attended many company presentations to... View Details

Keywords: Consulting

August 2018
Article

Creative Sparks or Paralysis Traps? The Effects of Contradictions on Creative Processing and Creative Products

By: Goran Calic and Sébastien Hélie

Paradoxes are an unavoidable part of work life. The unusualness of attempting to simultaneously satisfy contradictory imperatives can result in creative outcomes that simultaneously satisfy both imperatives by inducing search for, and selection of, novel and useful... View Details

Keywords: Creativity; Cognition and Thinking; Business or Company Management; Performance

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1995
Book

The Product Development Challenge: Competing through Speed, Quality, and Creativity

By: K. B. Clark and S. C. Wheelwright

Keywords: Product Development

2005
Working Paper

Strategic Management As Organizational Learning: Developing Fit and Alignment Through a Disciplined Process

By: Michael Beer, Sven C. Voelpel, Marius Leibold and Eden B. Tekie