The aim of the thesis is to create a comprehensive material that covers the basic knowledge of theory and practices necessary to understand the whole complexity of the Responsive Web Design (RWD). This thesis first focuses on the RWD origin and its two approaches. Furthermore, the work deals with technical solutions of the RWD and technologies that enabled its creation or were found useful for it. This part also mentions tools which simplify the work with given technologies. The next part is devoted to Responsive CSS Frameworks as being the base for creating responsive websites and shows layout examples where two different approaches and frameworks were used. At last an issue of testing responsive websites is discussed.

Denna rapport söker att utforska ett nytt sätt att organisera front-end innovation. Därmed förbättra modeller av aktuell forskning som ger belägg för framgångsrika sociala nätstrukturer eller heterogenitetförhållanden, målet med denna studie är att hitta idealiska personlighetskonstellationer inom projektteam - för att göra dem kraftfulla och användbara. Det finns begränsad forskning som beskriver hur individers personlighetsdrag i team påverkar förmågan att innovera, dock vet man att personligheten är en absolut nödvändigt för att matcha ihop rätt personer för att skapa rätt resultat. Inledande research påvisade fyra idénytto- dimensioner som gör en idé värdefull; kundorientering, genomförbarhet, marknadsmöjligheter och strategisk passform. Den teoretiska referensramen tyder på att var och en av de fyra personlighetsarketyperna (rationals, guardians, idealists och artisans) är naturligt benägna för att producera idéer inom dessa dimensioner. Att känna till den dominerande typen av idéer som enskilda personer producerar möjliggör organisering för att  förbättra flödet av idéer. En noggrann metodik har genomfördes där ett initialt personlighetstest med 96 deltagare genomfördes, följt av en idégenereringssession i skräddarsydda personlighets-team med de nämnda deltagarna, det medförde att 179 idéer producerades. Samarbeten med externa yrkesmän underlättade kategorisering av idéerna enligt de fyra idé-nytto-dimensionerna. Vid korrelation- och regressionsanalys av datan påvisades att personligheter har en prediktiv effekt, som kan utnyttjas. Arketypen rationals, var benägna att producera genomförbara och kundorienterade idéer. Fortsättningsvis kan idealister och artisanier porträtteras som motsatser, eftersom deras idéer var mindre genomförbara men rik på möjligheter på marknaden. Ett företag kan därför vertikalt översätta en kortsiktig lågrisk innovationsstrategi genom att sysselsätta rationella arketyper lämpligt. Likaså idealister och artisanier spelar in för att passa en långsiktig framtidsorienterad innovationsstrategi. / This report embarks to explore a new way to organise front-end innovation. Enhancing the models of current research that conclude to beneficial social network structures or heterogeneity ratios, this study aim to find ideal personality constellations within project teams - to make them powerful and useful. There is limited research given to how an individual’s personality traits in the context of a team impacts the potential of that team to innovate, yet it is vital to match up the right individuals in order to create desirable outcomes. Initial exploration provided insights to the key dimensions that makes an idea valuable; customer orientation, feasibility, market opportunity and strategic fit. The theoretical framework suggests that each of four personality archetypes (rationals, guardians, idealist and artisans) is naturally prone to produce ideas within one or more of those specific dimensions. Knowing the predominant type of ideas, which teams produce will allow for a better organisational structure to improve the flow of ideas. A meticulous methodology was designed to supply the quantitative and qualitative data needed for such conclusions. A personality test with 96 participants, followed by an ideation session granted for a sample of 179 ideas to be produced. Collaborations with external industry professionals facilitated for the categorisation of ideas according to the four idea utility dimensions. The empirical data was analysed within correlations and regressions to show that personalities have, in fact, a predictive impact that can be exploited. The archetype of rationals, on the one hand, was prone to produce feasible and customer orientated ideas. Alternatively, the idealist and artisan archetypes portrayed to opposite as their ideas were less feasible but rich in market opportunities. A firm can therefore vertically translate a short-term, low risk innovation strategy into tasking rationals appropriately. Likewise, idealists and artisans come into play to suit a long-term and future oriented innovation strategy.

The development of new technology has made it possible for new ways of shopping. By providing more digital services in the physical stores, there is a possibility for the stores to provide a more ubiquitous and smart shopping experience for its customers. The report will present an iOS application prototype, as part of an ubiquitous store system concept, which will turn an iPhone into a temporary, integrated part of a smart store system concept. The purpose of the system is to enhance the shopping experience by reducing known non-technical issues such as perceived low level of service, lack of product information and the slow speed of the shopping process, with the use of technology based solutions, such as self-scanning with the use of an iPhone and indoor localization for easier navigation and faster service. The developed iOS application enables a user to scan any product, with a barcode, in the store and get further information about availability, color options and so forth. It will enables the user to request products from the staff members if sizes are not available in the actual store. It also provides easier and faster service with the use of indoor localization and positioning, to find the user or find product sections in the store faster. The focus of the report was the development of the iOS application prototype, and a case-study was used to evaluate the prototype in a retail store setting. The evaluation included a case scenario where participants were asked to perform three tasks related to a general shopping scenario, as well as the identified problems. The time difference to finish each task was observed and measured to determine the actual impact in time on each task, together with a survey to determine the perceived impact of the developed application prototype on each task. 83,3 % of the participants found it easier to navigate in the store, as well as getting product information with the use of the application. 66,3 % found that the application did not fully compensate the services generally provided by the store staff, but was a good complement. The overall experience of the application was positive, with emphasis on the scanning possibility in store, as well as the great concept with having indoor location. Further, a total time improvement of 31,6 % for the full scenario was achieved with the use of the application. The thesis conclude that an application can be designed to reduce some common time-related issues, such as low level of service, lack of product information and the slow speed of the shopping process. Although the proof of concept is deemed satisfactory, further work and test are needed to fully implement and integrate the prototype and store system concept in reality. / Utvecklingen av ny teknik har möjliggjort nya sätt att shoppa. Genom att förse de fysiska butikerna med fler digitala lösningar skapas det möjligheter för butiker att tillhandahålla en mer ubikvitär och smart shoppingupplevelse för sina kunder. Rapporten kommer att presentera en iOS-applikation prototyp, som en del av ett ubikvitär butikssystemskoncept, som kommer att göra en iPhone till en tillfällig integrerad del av ett smart butikssystemkoncept. Syftet med systemet är att förbättra shoppingupplevelsen genom att minska kända icketekniska problem som uppfattad låg servicenivå, brist på produktinformation och låg hastighet på shoppingprocessen, med hjälp av tekniskt baserade lösningar, som självskanning, med hjälp av en iPhone, och inomhuslokalisering för enklare navigering och snabbare service. Den utvecklade iOS-applikationen möjliggör för en användare att skanna en produkt, med streckkod, i butiken och få mer information om tillgänglighet, färgalternativ och så vidare. Den gör det även möjligt för användaren att begära produkter från personalen om storlekar inte finns tillgängliga i den aktuella butiken. Applikationen möjliggör också enklare och snabbare service med användning av inomhuslokalisering och positionering, för att hitta användaren eller hitta produktsektioner i butiken snabbare. Rapportens inriktning var utvecklingen av iOS-applikation prototypen, och en fallstudie användes för att utvärdera prototypen i en simulerad butikmiljö. I utvärderingen ingick ett scenario där deltagarna ombads utföra tre uppgifter relaterade till ett generellt köpescenario, samt de identifierade problemen. Tidsskillnaden för att slutfora varje uppgift observerades och mättes för att bestämma den aktuella effekten i tid för varje uppgift, tillsammans med en enkätundersökning för att bestämma den upplevda effekten av den utvecklade applikationsprototypen på varje uppgift. 83,3% av deltagarna fann det lättare att navigera i affären, samt att få produktinformation med användningen av applikationen. 66,3% fann att applikationen inte fullt ut kompenserade för de tjänster som allmänt tillhandahålls av butikspersonalen, men den ansågs vara ett bra komplement. Den övergripande upplevelsen av applikationen var positiv, med tonvikt på möjligheten att skanna varor själv i butiken, såväl som det bra konceptet med inomhuslokalisering. Vidare uppnåddes en total tidsförbättring på 31,6% för hela scenariot med användning av applikationen. Arbetet drar slutsatsen att en applikation kan utformas för att minska vissa vanliga tidsrelaterade problem, såsom låg servicenivå, brist på produktinformation och inköpsprocessens långsamma hastighet. Trots att “proof of concept” anses vara tillfredsställande krävs ytterligare arbete och tester för att fullt ut kunna implementera och integrera prototypoch butikssystemskonceptet i verkligheten.

Cette recherche se place dans le domaine de l’ingénierie industrielle, plus exactement aux premières étapes du processus d´innovation (Fuzzy Front-End). Aujourd´hui dans un monde globalisé, où la technologie est à la portée de tous, les entreprises cherchent de nouvelles techniques permettant de se distinguer de la concurrence, et offrent de nouveaux et meilleurs produits ou services ; une manière de conserver leurs avantages comparatifs ou d’en acquérir de nouveaux, pour des clients toujours plus exigeants, et dont les besoins changent constamment. Partant de ce constat, l’innovation se définit comme un processus long et continu, au sein duquel s’utilisent différents modèles. Du fait de la complexité du processus, il n’existe pas de modèle unique réunissant tous les besoins des clients. C’est pourquoi le processus d’innovation, implique différents acteurs de l’entreprise et de son environnement. Ces acteurs, dont l’importance varie, sont souvent d’origines diverses et possèdent des compétences variées. Ils ont des besoins différents, et sont soumis à des contraintes de travail différentes (ressources technologiques et financières, réglementations, etc...). Il paraît ainsi essentiel pour l’entreprise de créer un modèle unique, capable d’identifier les besoins de toutes les parties prenantes, avant d’entamer le processus de développement de nouveaux produits. C’est pour l’entreprise une manière de renforcer le processus d’innovation, et de réduire le taux d´échec lors du lancement de nouveaux produits. Ainsi l’objectif de cette étude est de proposer une nouvelle méthode d’analyse des impacts de l’innovation (A.I), afin de permettre aux entreprises d’identifier les besoins dynamiques des acteurs. Celles-ci pourront ainsi mieux définir leurs nouveaux produits et s’adapter plus facilement aux évolutions du marché. Cet outil fait partie d´une méthodologie de gestion des projets innovants, et doit être utilisé avant la définition des caractéristiques fonctionnelles du nouveau produit. Ceci nous ramène aux premières phases du développement, avant la conception du produit, qui comprennent toutes les étapes depuis la définition des besoins et opportunités pour l´innovation, jusqu’à la prise de décision pour le développement du nouveau produit, appelée Fuzzy Front-End. L’apport théorique de notre travail : Il n´existe pas de définition des impacts de l’innovation (I_n), nous avons donc fait un travail bibliographique sur le concept d’impact. Celui-ci a permis d’explorer les différentes définitions d´impact au sein de différentes disciplines (ingénierie, écologie, psychologie, etc.). Nous avons proposé de cette manière, notre propre définition de l’impact adaptée au contexte de l´innovation. Cette recherche bibliographique, nous a aussi permis d’identifier les différents types d´impacts et de justifier l´utilisation de différentes méthodologies. La contribution méthodologique : l’approche proposée pour l´analyse des impacts de l´innovation (A.I) se décompose en deux étapes. La première vise à modéliser l’« écosystème d´innovation », sur la base des relations, de l´importance et des besoins individuels de chacun des acteurs face au nouveau produit. Ceci grâce à une Analyse des Besoins Dynamiques (A.B.D), qui permettra d´obtenir les besoins agrégés permettant de représenter le système complet, sans considérer les possibles perturbations du milieu extérieur ou les impacts de la même innovation. Pour bien identifier et décrire les besoins des acteurs, nous avons basé la méthodologie sur l´observation de leurs activités. Ainsi, nous avons pu identifier les différents besoins des acteurs de l´innovation sur la base de l’analyse RAR (Ressources, Activités, Résultat), ensuite nous avons classifié les besoins grâce au modèle de KANO et ses améliorations réalisées par Tontini. Une méthode originale d’agrégation des besoins de tous les acteurs est proposée.[...] / This research belongs to the industrial engineering field, focusing on the first stages of the innovation process (Fuzzy Front-End). In a globalized world, where the technology is near to everyone, enterprises are looking for new technologies to be different from their competitors, offering new and better products / services as a strategy to keep or acquire new competitive advantages. Moreover, innovation is a large and continuous process, where different management models are used. But, because of the complexity of the process, no general model is suitable for situations and projects. Thus, the innovation process involves different stakeholders from the company and its environment. These individuals come from different origins (field of knowledge), have different needs, abilities, importance and work under different restrictions (technological or financial resources, work rules, etc.). Consequently, it is essential for the enterprise to identify all the needs of the parts involved in the products. And, a model is required in order to identify the stakeholder’s needs before starting design tasks. This model aims at more robustness in the new product development process and at the reduction of the failure rate when launching new products. Thus, the objective of this PhD thesis is to propose a new method to analyze the impact of the innovation, allowing companies to identify the dynamic actors' needs, to improve the definition of their new products and to adapt to the possible changes of the market. This tool is part of an innovative projects management methodology, used before the elaboration of the functional specifications of a new product. This locates the research in the first stages of development called Fuzzy Front-End: before the genesis of the product. Fuzzy front ends integrate among others the opportunity / needs identification for innovation to the development of the new product decision taking. The proposed approach for the innovation impact analysis (A.I) consists of two stages: the first one intends to model an innovation ecosystem, integrating the relations, the importance of each stakeholder and their individual necessities in regard to the new product. Through a Dynamic Needs Analysis (A.B.D) it will be possible to get the global needs, which represent the whole system, without considering the disturbances of the environment or the impact of the same innovation. Thus, the second stage of the model, through the generation of innovation impact scenarios (S.I.I), evaluates the impact of the innovation the new product may face at its market launching. Due to a new product emergence changes emerge: actors’ performance, their interrelations, the importance and their own needs about the product [...]

Many companies have been trying to shift their business core from offering products to offer product-service systems (PSS), what requires not only a shift in the business model, but also in the culture and mindset. Using user-centered methods to support the PSS development process is a way to support this shift and to enhance perceived value of PSS offerings. One possible approach to support PSS development on becoming more user-centered is design thinking (DT). It is a user-centric approach used by many leader enterprises to support innovation and described by several methodologies with practical focus. However, it is not clear in literature how to integrate DT and development process models already used by companies, leading to cases where practitioners may replace complete phases, or even the whole development process, by DT. This replacement does not seem appropriate, since DT may lack aspects that are considered by PSS development processes. The main objective of this work is to identify how the DT approach can be applied in PSS development processes. The methodology of this research combines the following methods: case research, corpus linguistics, frame semantics and matrix-based methods. One of the results of this work is the characterization of DT based on the linguistic analysis, which was derived from content extracted from more than 1500 pages of 8 DT methodologies. This analysis resulted in 46 recurrent activities, associated with 458 specific guidelines, and the identification of 182 relevant activities that synthetize the DT methodologies. Those activities were compared to 14 PSS development process models from literature, concluding, among other findings, that DT cannot replace the PSS design process models, and that the compatibility for integration of DT into PSS development process models is greater on the front-end of innovation (FEI). FEI activities from 14 PSS and 7 product development process models were compared with DT recurrent and relevant activities to provide understanding on how DT can be integrated into PSS development process models. Finally, the findings of this last comparison led to the creation of a 4-step method for integrating DT into PSS development process models based on activities similarity. / Diversas empresas têm tentado migrar da oferta de produtos para a oferta de sistemas produto-serviço (PSS), o que requer uma mudança não só do modelo de negócios, como também da cultura e da mentalidade. Utilizar métodos centrados no usuário é uma forma de auxiliar nessa mudança cultural e no aumento de valor percebido do PSS ofertado. Uma abordagem capaz de apoiar o processo de desenvolvimento (PD) de PSS em se tornar mais centrado no usuário é o design thinking (DT). Trata-se de uma abordagem centrada no usuário utilizada por diversas empresas de sucesso para apoiar a inovação e descrita por várias metodologias de foco prático. No entanto, não está claro na literatura como DT pode ser integrado a modelos de PD já utilizados pelas empresas, levando a casos onde fases, ou mesmo todo o PD, são substituídos por completo pelo DT. Essa substituição não parece apropriada, dado que DT pode não conter aspectos considerados pelos PDs de PSS. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é identificar como a abordagem do DT pode ser aplicada nos PDs de PSS. A metodologia desta pesquisa combina os seguintes métodos: estudo de caso, linguística de corpus, semântica de frames, e métodos baseados em matrizes. Um dos resultados deste trabalho é a caracterização do DT baseada em análise linguística, a qual foi derivada do conteúdo de mais de 1500 páginas de 8 metodologias de DT. Essa análise resultou em 46 atividades recorrentes, associadas com 458 diretrizes específicas, e a identificação de 182 atividades relevantes que sintetizam as metodologias de DT. Essas atividades foram comparadas a 14 modelos de PD de PSS da literatura, concluindo, entre outros achados, que o DT não é capaz de substituir o PD de PSS, e que a compatibilidade para integração do DT ao PD de PSS é maior no front-end da inovação (FEI). Atividades do FEI de 14 modelos de PD de PSS e 7 de produto foram comparadas com as atividades relevantes e recorrentes do DT para prover o entendimento em como o DT pode ser integrado aos modelos de PD de PSS. Finalmente, as conclusões dessa última comparação levaram à criação de um método de quatro passos para integração do DT aos modelos de PD de PSS, baseado na similaridade das atividades.

Many companies have been trying to shift their business core from offering products to offer product-service systems (PSS), what requires not only a shift in the business model, but also in the culture and mindset. Using user-centered methods to support the PSS development process is a way to support this shift and to enhance perceived value of PSS offerings. One possible approach to support PSS development on becoming more user-centered is design thinking (DT). It is a user-centric approach used by many leader enterprises to support innovation and described by several methodologies with practical focus. However, it is not clear in literature how to integrate DT and development process models already used by companies, leading to cases where practitioners may replace complete phases, or even the whole development process, by DT. This replacement does not seem appropriate, since DT may lack aspects that are considered by PSS development processes. The main objective of this work is to identify how the DT approach can be applied in PSS development processes. The methodology of this research combines the following methods: case research, corpus linguistics, frame semantics and matrix-based methods. One of the results of this work is the characterization of DT based on the linguistic analysis, which was derived from content extracted from more than 1500 pages of 8 DT methodologies. This analysis resulted in 46 recurrent activities, associated with 458 specific guidelines, and the identification of 182 relevant activities that synthetize the DT methodologies. Those activities were compared to 14 PSS development process models from literature, concluding, among other findings, that DT cannot replace the PSS design process models, and that the compatibility for integration of DT into PSS development process models is greater on the front-end of innovation (FEI). FEI activities from 14 PSS and 7 product development process models were compared with DT recurrent and relevant activities to provide understanding on how DT can be integrated into PSS development process models. Finally, the findings of this last comparison led to the creation of a 4-step method for integrating DT into PSS development process models based on activities similarity. / Diversas empresas têm tentado migrar da oferta de produtos para a oferta de sistemas produto-serviço (PSS), o que requer uma mudança não só do modelo de negócios, como também da cultura e da mentalidade. Utilizar métodos centrados no usuário é uma forma de auxiliar nessa mudança cultural e no aumento de valor percebido do PSS ofertado. Uma abordagem capaz de apoiar o processo de desenvolvimento (PD) de PSS em se tornar mais centrado no usuário é o design thinking (DT). Trata-se de uma abordagem centrada no usuário utilizada por diversas empresas de sucesso para apoiar a inovação e descrita por várias metodologias de foco prático. No entanto, não está claro na literatura como DT pode ser integrado a modelos de PD já utilizados pelas empresas, levando a casos onde fases, ou mesmo todo o PD, são substituídos por completo pelo DT. Essa substituição não parece apropriada, dado que DT pode não conter aspectos considerados pelos PDs de PSS. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é identificar como a abordagem do DT pode ser aplicada nos PDs de PSS. A metodologia desta pesquisa combina os seguintes métodos: estudo de caso, linguística de corpus, semântica de frames, e métodos baseados em matrizes. Um dos resultados deste trabalho é a caracterização do DT baseada em análise linguística, a qual foi derivada do conteúdo de mais de 1500 páginas de 8 metodologias de DT. Essa análise resultou em 46 atividades recorrentes, associadas com 458 diretrizes específicas, e a identificação de 182 atividades relevantes que sintetizam as metodologias de DT. Essas atividades foram comparadas a 14 modelos de PD de PSS da literatura, concluindo, entre outros achados, que o DT não é capaz de substituir o PD de PSS, e que a compatibilidade para integração do DT ao PD de PSS é maior no front-end da inovação (FEI). Atividades do FEI de 14 modelos de PD de PSS e 7 de produto foram comparadas com as atividades relevantes e recorrentes do DT para prover o entendimento em como o DT pode ser integrado aos modelos de PD de PSS. Finalmente, as conclusões dessa última comparação levaram à criação de um método de quatro passos para integração do DT aos modelos de PD de PSS, baseado na similaridade das atividades.

The first phase of new product development (NPD) is today commonly referred to as the Front End (FE) of NPD. The phase has received a decent amount of attention during the recent years, nevertheless insufficient considering its ability to influence a project’s outcome. The phase begins when an idea is born, and ends when a formal meeting decides whether to invest in the idea or not. The investment then leads the project to enter a formal phase. During the FE, a large number of issues occur, which are believed to be the result of deficient processing of information. If the issues are not managed correctly, the NPD procedure will not be efficient. When information is being processed into knowledge, sometimes an uncertain, equivocal, or complex situation arises, which leads to delays, additional costs, and wasted efforts. These information processing problems (IPPs) need to be managed by firms in order to reduce their negative repercussions. Depending on a firm’s perception of the novelty towards a product, the project is considered to be either radical or incremental. Depending on that novelty, it is theorized that the IPPs will have different dispersions, and pose differently significant challenges to the project. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the differences of the significance and dispersion of the IPPs, during the FE, when comparing radical and incremental NPD projects. For this purpose, a case study approach was deemed appropriate. In order to collect data concerning the IPPs, seven case studies were conducted. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, with respondents that possess' an extensive experience from working with NPD within Swedish firms. The data analysis from the seven interviews proved that indeed there is a difference in how the IPPs vary, dependent on whether the project is of a radical or incremental nature. All the IPPs showed higher levels of significance in the FE in radical projects, than in incremental ones. Uncertainty proved to be the IPP that differed the most and therefore possessed the greatest significance difference. This means that differentiated approaches in radical respective incremental projects are needed in order to reduce uncertainty. Equivocality represented the IPP with the least difference in significance, meaning that the FE in radical and incremental projects require rather similar design in how to prevent equivocal problems. By understanding the differences in dispersion and significance, one can create differentiated management approaches during the FE, that fit the level of novelty of the product at hand. For some products, preventive actions must be taken to a larger degree compared to others. By doing so, the lead time of the FE can be shortened as less problems will arise, creating a faster and smoother process. The resources saved could be spent on improving activities, instead of being wasted on repairing unnecessary problems. The study contributes to the research field of NPD by adding newknowledge, aiding the collective effort of increasing firm’s proficiency in how to manage the FE.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6457.pdf: 3485036 bytes, checksum: 29d5a25444712bfd366a4807cf19ff2c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-12 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Pre- development phase and corresponds to the activities ranging from identifying opportunities to generate product concepts. Throughout these activities there is a dynamic and complex flow of information about business strategies, requirements and market trends, technological alternatives and resource allocation. At this stage important decisions are made, and if misleading may result in failures in the performance of the new product. The subject has gained importance in recent years, however, there is still not an understanding on how to coordinate the activities of the predevelopment or which results are expected in this phase, therefore being a gap in the literature. This thesis aims to identify and analyze the practices, technical and tools what are adopted in front-end development in a sample of manufacturing firms. Through systematic literature review identified ten reference models for the front end development. These were published between 1988 and 2013 and seek to systematize the activities of pre-development and guide managers in conducting phase, proposing technical and management support tools. 57 different techniques have been identified. Through multiple case studies it was observed that all studied companies adopt referential models for conducting the activities of front end development. As in literature these models followed by companies differ mainly in relation to the number of stages or activities, but adopt some techniques and tools as well diffused in the literature. We observe that the most common practices in all companies can be grouped into early, middle and end activities, which divide the front end development in three distinct phases. For every moment of the predevelopment can be selected a set of techniques and support tools. These techniques and tools do not necessarily have to be adopted together because they have different natures, but are a "package" of suggestions to be considered. In addition, internal and external factors in the companies affect such practices. It was also possible to identify, in the companies analyzed, finding it difficult to measure the performance of the activities of the pre-development phase itself, and the PDP as a whole, so some possible performance indicators for this phase were suggested. Another difficulty associated with the use of these techniques and tools is that they require financial and time resources, and all require the skills of those who lead. Therefore, the most modern and best potential for achieving results technique can be ineffective if conducted by people who do not have necessary skills and appropriate technical support. / O pré-desenvolvimento corresponde a fase e as atividades que vão da identificação de oportunidades à geração de conceitos de produtos. Ao longo destas atividades existe um fluxo dinâmico e complexo de informações sobre estratégias de negócios, requisitos e tendências do mercado, alternativas tecnológicas e alocação de recursos. Nesta fase importantes decisões são tomadas, e se equivocadas podem resultar em falhas no desempenho do novo produto. O tema ganhou importância nos últimos anos, no entanto, ainda não existe um entendimento sobre como coordenar as atividades do pré-desenvolvimento ou sobre quais resultados se esperarem desta fase, sendo, portanto uma lacuna na literatura. Esta Tese objetiva identificar e analisar as práticas, técnicas e ferramentas de pré-desenvolvimento adotadas em uma amostra de empresas industriais. Através de revisão bibliográfica sistematizada foram identificados dez modelos referenciais para o pré-desenvolvimento. Estes foram publicados entre 1988 e 2013 e buscam sistematizar as atividades do pré-desenvolvimento e orientar os gestores na condução da fase, propondo técnicas e ferramentas de apoio ao gerenciamento. Foram identificadas 57 diferentes técnicas. Por meio de estudo de múltiplos casos observou-se que todas as empresas estudadas adotam modelos referenciais para condução das atividades do pré-desenvolvimento. Assim como na literatura, estes modelos adotados pelas empresas diferenciam-se, principalmente, em relação ao número de fases ou atividades, mas adotam algumas técnicas e ferramentas bem difundidas pela literatura. Observa-se, deste modo, que as práticas mais comuns em todas as empresas podem ser agrupadas em atividades iniciais, intermediárias e finais, que dividem o prédesenvolvimento em três momentos distintos. Para cada momento do pré-desenvolvimento podem ser selecionadas técnicas e ferramentas de apoio. Estas técnicas e ferramentas não necessariamente devem ser adotadas em conjunto, pois possuem naturezas distintas, mas são um pacote de sugestões a ser considerado. Além disso, fatores internos e externos às empresas condicionam tais práticas. Também foi possível identificar que existem dificuldades por parte das empresas analisadas em medirem o desempenho das atividades do pré-desenvolvimento na própria fase e no PDP como um todo. Por isso foram sugeridos alguns possíveis indicadores para essa fase. Outra dificuldade associada ao uso destas técnicas e ferramentas é que muitas demandam recursos financeiros e tempo; e todas demandam habilidades de quem as conduz. Portanto, a técnica mais moderna e com melhor potencial para alcance de resultados pode ser ineficaz se conduzida por pessoas que não tenham habilidades necessárias e apoio técnico adequado.

New product development (NPD), represent a valuable source for companies’ futuresustainability and development. Previous literature underline the importance of managing theearly period of NPD, since this can increase the performance and consequently reduce theproducts time to market. Organizational politics is present during the whole innovation process,but especially in the front end where there is uncertainty or dissent about choices. For thisreason, contributing a developed understanding of organizational politics within the front end ofinnovation (FEI), is the aim of this study.The theoretical framework of this study combines prior theories that relate to the organizationalpolitics. The structure of it is based on two elements referring to the individual- and theorganizational elements. Organizational elements can further be particularised to structural- andstrategical elements.A qualitative study and a research design with six interviews, where conducted in six innovativefirms of all size. This choice of methodology reflects the explorative purpose of this research.The empirical data are only primary data, collected during the interviews with Research andDevelopment (R&D) managers and R&D subordinates.The analysis of empirical findings revealed relevant conclusions, which can bring value to theresearch area, and also to the practice. Our findings show that diverse sources of organizationalpolitics can be identified in the front end of innovation. Organizational politics both on theindividual and organizational level are identified. Further its we find that informal and formalpower is distributed both in the organizational level and the individual level.The study’s practical relevance consists in the advices and implications to decision makers ofinnovative companies and managers within R&D. By identifying and increasing knowledge inthe field of organizational politics in the front end of innovation, organizations can make frontend activities more efficient and therefore obtain competitive advantages. The theoreticalimplications reflect the organizational politics in the area of the FEI.

Jag kommer i denna uppsats beskriva den designprocess som pågått vid skapandet av en webbaserad informationsplattform från koncept till slutprodukt. Mitt uppdrag har varit att effektivisera en webbyrås nuvarande sätt att hantera och sprida information på, som bestod av en blandning mellan digital och analog information, och skapa en ny webbaserad informationsplattform. Den nya webbaserade informationsplattformen ska kunna samla all information på en plats och skapa ett effektivare informationsutbyte mellan de anställda på företaget. Jag har använt mig av två teoretiska ramverk; Nielsens tio heuristics samt Krugs visuella design hierarki. Jag har arbetat nära beställaren för att kunna skräddarsy webbplatsen till deras behov. Resultatet efter ett omfattande arbete med designmallar och front-end kodning blev grunden för webbyråns webbaserade informationsplattform, utvecklad för att effektivisera spridningen av information på företaget. / In this essay I will describe the design process during the creation of a web-based information platform, from concept to final product. My assignment has been to take a web agency’s current way of managing and distributing information, which consisted of a mix between digital and analog information, and create a new web-based information platform. The new web-based information-platforms purpose is to gather all information in one place for easier exchange of information between employees at the company and make it more efficient. I used two theoretical frameworks as a theoretical base working on the project; Nielsen's ten heuristics and Krugs visual design hierarchy. I have worked closely with the client to customize the platform to their needs. The result after extensive work with design templates and front-end coding became the foundation for the web agency’s web-based platform, developed to distribute information more efficiently within the agency.