Title: Effects of multi-functional new product development teams and overlapping approach on development time: an empirical study

Authors: Beatriz Minguela-Rata, Francesco D. Sandulli, Jose Ignacio Lopez-Sanchez, Antonio Rodriguez-Duarte

Addresses: Departamento de Organizacion de Empresas, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain. ' Departamento de Organizacion de Empresas, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain. ' Departamento de Organizacion de Empresas, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain. ' Departamento de Organizacion de Empresas, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This paper studies the influence of basic principles of concurrent engineering (autonomous multi-functional teamwork and execution of activities under an overlapping approach) on development time. A linear regression model was performed on a sample of electronic components manufacturing firms in Spain. Results seem to indicate that both autonomous multi-functional teams and execution of activities under an overlapping approach is related positively with shorter development times.

Keywords: new product development; NPD; autonomous multi-functional teams; teamwork; overlapping; development time; concurrent engineering; simultaneous engineering; electronic components manufacturing; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2006.010686

International Journal of Business Environment, 2006 Vol.1 No.2, pp.234 - 252

Published online: 18 Aug 2006 *

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