Title: Frame conditions for implementing design methods in the product development industry

Authors: Melissa Pozatti; Maurício Moreira e Silva Bernardes; Darli Rodrigues Vieira; Milena Chang Chain

Addresses: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil ' Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil ' University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada ' University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada

Abstract: Although the systematic use of design methods is critical for improving product development, its acceptance by industries has been lower than expected. The purpose of this study is to establish the frame conditions for implementing design methods for product development in the consumer goods industry. The research strategy consists of analysing the implementation of design methods in five large Brazilian product development companies in different segments. The implementation of the design methods was through workshops with departments related to product development activities, and the evaluation was based on the observations of the process, responses to questionnaires and interviews with the participating employees. The key findings of this study are 11 factors that influence an industry's adoption of product development design methods. These findings include not only methods-related suggestions, such as guidelines for the selection and the form of application of the design methods, but also suggestions for actions that should be taken at the cultural and structural levels of the companies. The main contribution of this study to design research is that it elicits discussion about the product development aspects that are often the main factors of failure and/or divergence in an implementation.

Keywords: companies; design methods; design practice; guidelines; implementation; industry; innovation; product development; product-service system; strategies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2020.113158

International Journal of Product Development, 2020 Vol.24 No.4, pp.297 - 319

Accepted: 23 Oct 2020
Published online: 22 Feb 2021 *

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