Title: New product development operational performance and its influential factors: cross-national comparison between Japan and China

Authors: Jingjing Gong; Norio Irikura; Sadami Suzuki

Addresses: Tokyo Institute of Technology, W9-61, 2-12-1, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan ' Polytechnic University, 2-32-1, Ogawanishi-machi, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo, 187-0035, Japan ' Tokyo Institute of Technology, W9-61, 2-12-1, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552, Japan

Abstract: This research intends to explore the influential factors which constitute the successful new product development (NPD) in Japan and China. In order to investigate it, the new product development scorecard (NPDSC) has been utilised as a self-evaluation tool for participated companies in these countries. There are 454 data samples from Japan and 99 from China. The scores in each assessment area are compared between Japan and China. The result shows that Japanese NPD performance level is better than Chinese. Subsequently, factor analysis has been conducted by using the result of NPDSC in order to identify the significant factors which establish the operational performance of NPD in each country. The result of factor analysis indicates that the NPD structures in Japan and China are considered differently. Finally, correlation analysis has been conducted between extracted factors and financial bottom, which indicates that improving NPD performances brought a positive impact on financial outcomes.

Keywords: NPD operational performance; financial bottom line; factor analysis; correlation analysis; Japan; China; new product development; NPD scorecard; NPD performance; financial outcomes.

DOI: 10.1504/AJMSA.2014.064311

Asian Journal of Management Science and Applications, 2014 Vol.1 No.3, pp.237 - 260

Received: 27 Jan 2013
Accepted: 29 Oct 2013

Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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