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The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms
Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2008
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| _version_ | 1867614053926436864 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van Zyl, Wiehann |
| author2 | Schutte, C. S. L. |
| author_browse | Schutte, C. S. L. Van Zyl, Wiehann |
| author_facet | Schutte, C. S. L. Van Zyl, Wiehann |
| author_sort | Van Zyl, Wiehann |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2767 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:56.159Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publishDateRange | 2008 |
| publishDateSort | 2008 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2767 The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms Van Zyl, Wiehann Schutte, C. S. L. Von Leipzig, Konrad University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. Product development Best practices Small business Framework Dissertations -- Industrial engineering Theses -- Industrial engineering New products Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. The aim of this research was to investigate new product development practices for application to small businesses. Although larger companies, in general, have well-established practices from which smaller companies can benefit, product development in smaller businesses tends to be less formalised and less well described. Hence, this research is aimed at breaching this gap and addressing the need of the small business environment. The first few chapters of the study describe the investigation of product development in its general form. This provides an overview of what product development and the execution of the process in particular entails. Control mechanisms that are used to counter and manage unwanted behaviours that may occur during the process are also discussed. A generic product development process is then discussed in detail, based on research carried out on small- and medium-sized enterprises. The initial literature discussion in the first few chapters thus highlights the need to control and manage product development, and shows where pitfalls occur that could be detrimental to product success. This is followed by an investigation to establish the extent to which companies realise the impact the development process could have on product success. As the focus of this study revolves around small businesses that are growing, the use of phase review criteria as it pertains to companies with well-established product development practices was investigated, together with the role of product development in other business activities. The most important aim of this study was to develop a new product development framework that could be used in the small business environment. Seven key best practices were eventually identified, which are discussed in turn, together with their key underlying and component principles. The results are summarised and used to draw up the framework. The framework is summarised in a way that provides concise detail, which makes it useful even without any accompanying information. The last part of the study was aimed at validating the results of the framework. This was done by means of a survey and one-on-one interviews with a group of carefully selected participants who were involved in small businesses developments. The participants completed a questionnaire indicating the relevance of the framework for their enterprises. Useful information was obtained through this feedback and this yielded positive results. Having validated the framework for application in the small business environment, the thesis ends with the proposals for improving the framework. 2008-06-24T10:15:06Z 2010-06-01T08:57:44Z 2008-06-24T10:15:06Z 2010-06-01T08:57:44Z 2008-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2767 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Product development Best practices Small business Framework Dissertations -- Industrial engineering Theses -- Industrial engineering New products Van Zyl, Wiehann The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms |
| title | The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms |
| title_full | The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms |
| title_fullStr | The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms |
| title_full_unstemmed | The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms |
| title_short | The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms |
| title_sort | new product development process small firm success by studying larger firms |
| topic | Product development Best practices Small business Framework Dissertations -- Industrial engineering Theses -- Industrial engineering New products |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2767 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanzylwiehann thenewproductdevelopmentprocesssmallfirmsuccessbystudyinglargerfirms AT vanzylwiehann newproductdevelopmentprocesssmallfirmsuccessbystudyinglargerfirms |