TY - JOUR

T1 - Global product development

T2 - The impact on the product development process and how companies deal with it

A1 - Hansen,Zaza Nadja Lee

A1 - Ahmed-Kristensen,Saeema

AU - Hansen,Zaza Nadja Lee

AU - Ahmed-Kristensen,Saeema

PB - Inderscience Publishers

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Globalisation has enabled companies to globalise their product development process. Today, everything from manufacturing to R&D can be globally distributed. This has led to a more complex and disintegrated product development process. This paper investigates the impacts companies have experienced as a result of this, and how they have been addressed. Data was collected through case studies of five Danish multinational corporations. The findings showed that the companies experienced several challenges when they globalised their product development process. They consequently implemented various operational solutions to counteract the negative impacts with varying degrees of success. This paper presents a unique look into global product development through an investigation of its impact on the organisation, the product development process, and the product. Furthermore, it shows the solutions companies employ to minimize the risks of globalisation and the limitations of these solutions. Finally, this paper provides information on the likely causes for these limitations with the current industry solutions, and suggests how these can be addressed.

AB - Globalisation has enabled companies to globalise their product development process. Today, everything from manufacturing to R&D can be globally distributed. This has led to a more complex and disintegrated product development process. This paper investigates the impacts companies have experienced as a result of this, and how they have been addressed. Data was collected through case studies of five Danish multinational corporations. The findings showed that the companies experienced several challenges when they globalised their product development process. They consequently implemented various operational solutions to counteract the negative impacts with varying degrees of success. This paper presents a unique look into global product development through an investigation of its impact on the organisation, the product development process, and the product. Furthermore, it shows the solutions companies employ to minimize the risks of globalisation and the limitations of these solutions. Finally, this paper provides information on the likely causes for these limitations with the current industry solutions, and suggests how these can be addressed.

KW - collaborative design

KW - case study/studies

KW - offshoring

KW - human factors

KW - global product development

JO - International Journal of Product Development

JF - International Journal of Product Development

SN - 1477-9056

IS - 4

VL - 15

SP - 205

EP - 226

ER -