Title: Product development activities over technology life-cycles in different generations

Authors: Marzieh Shahmarichatghieh; Janne Härkönen; Harri Haapasalo; Arto Tolonen

Addresses: Faculty of Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014, Finland ' Faculty of Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014, Finland ' Faculty of Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014, Finland ' Faculty of Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014, Finland

Abstract: This study aims to capture changes and priorities in product development activities over technology life-cycles. The product development activities are observed through the targets of performance maximising, cost reduction and customisation. Seven models of technology life-cycles are considered to keep track of technology changes over time by following patterns for product development activities. The empirical part of the study is based on analysing a high-tech infrastructure provider on four technology generations. This study depicts different trends of product development activities over technology life-cycles. Different technology generations can have positive and negative interactions which can be strategically beneficial. The managerial implications of this study include comprehensive insights of concurrent technology generations in the context of technology life-cycles which can be beneficial for companies product development planning.

Keywords: product development; technology life cycle; cost reduction; customisation; technology generations; growth; maturity; declining technology; embryonic technology; technology gap; high technology; high tech products; technology changes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2016.078861

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2016 Vol.9 No.1, pp.19 - 44

Received: 24 Nov 2015
Accepted: 06 Jun 2016
Published online: 03 Sep 2016 *

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