Improving the product development process 349 Company history, philosophy, knowledge development efficiency Product development effectiveness Product development evaluation Product development improvement Fig 8.1 Evaluating and improving product development. indicated by the company top management Product development effectiveness nd efficiency are inextricably linked 8.1 Key messages There is no single recipe for successful product development. During the previous chapters, a number of basic principles were identified which are common to all successful product development as shown in Table 8.1 8.1.1 Link to overall business strategy Doing the right things must always be central to any product development effort. The product development strategy must be in harmony with the overall business strategy. It should both receive and provide direction to the business strategy. The balance of reactivity to proactivity will depend on the nature of the organisation and its overall goals Table 8.1 Basic principles of product development Link to overall business strategy Balanced product development portfolio learly defined product development strategy Appropriate systems rocesses for project management and physical resources Committed and rive organisational climate Understanding the consumer, customer, market and societyindicated by the company top management. Product development effectiveness and efficiency are inextricably linked. 8.1 Key messages There is no single recipe for successful product development. During the previous chapters, a number of basic principles were identified which are common to all successful product development as shown in Table 8.1. 8.1.1 Link to overall business strategy ‘Doing the right things’ must always be central to any product development effort. The product development strategy must be in harmony with the overall business strategy. It should both receive and provide direction to the business strategy. The balance of reactivity to proactivity will depend on the nature of the organisation and its overall goals. Fig. 8.1 Evaluating and improving product development. Table 8.1 Basic principles of product development Link to overall business strategy Balanced product development portfolio Clearly defined product development strategy Appropriate systems and processes for project management Appropriate human and physical resources Committed and supportive organisational climate Understanding the consumer, customer, market and society Improving the product development process 349