Title: The impact of an intermediate stage between the research stage and the development stage on the performance of integral architecture products

Authors: Hiroki Kamoda; Shigetoshi Sugawa; Akio Nagahira

Addresses: Graduate School of Engineering, Management of Science and Technology Department (MOST), Tohoku University, 6-6-11-812, Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-8579, Japan. ' Graduate School of Engineering, Management of Science and Technology Department (MOST), Tohoku University, 6-6-11-812, Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-8579, Japan. ' Graduate School of Engineering, Management of Science and Technology Department (MOST), Tohoku University, 6-6-11-804, Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-8579, Japan

Abstract: We found through a questionnaire survey of Japanese manufacturing companies, the 'Technology Development (TD) stage' as an intermediate stage (hereinafter called the 'TD stage') between the research and the product development stages. In the TD stage, project leaders try to tie an innovative technological result to a new product. We examined 33 projects during the TD stage in a company that produces industrial control equipments. By means of a chi-square test and in-depth interview survey, we found that both the involvement of a business division and the management skills of project leaders during the TD stage are key factors for success.

Keywords: integral architecture products; intermediate stage; research stage; NPD; new product development stage; project leaders; Japan; manufacturing industry; technology development stage; industrial control equipment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2012.047264

International Journal of Product Development, 2012 Vol.16 No.1, pp.63 - 76

Accepted: 23 Dec 2011
Published online: 30 Dec 2014 *

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