Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1981. / Bibliography: leaves 99-101. / by Shaheen Husain. / Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1981.

This thesis examines how the services of design firms, which belong to the category of service sector called Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS), contribute to the innovation in the product firms. In this study, I have examined the role played by the design firm IDEO, in the product innovation of a start-up technology firm, a matured technology firm and a matured consumer product firm. The services provided by IDEO satisfy different needs of the product firms in their product innovation. The services of the design firm is useful in showcasing the technology to attract more funding for the startup technology firms and in licensing the new technology to other established firms. For established firms with a strong focus in technology research, the services of the design firms, which have the expertise in the user knowledge, is useful in balancing exploration and exploitation of their technical knowledge. For a firm whose origin is in contract manufacturing, the services of the design firms is useful in its movement upstream along the value chain in establishing its own brand identity in the end. In this study, I have also observed that the design firms carry out research experiments to explore knowledge in the user domain and to understand new technology. With the increase in the knowledge of the design firms, product firms increase their collaboration with the design firms for product innovation.

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New product development has been considered a key success factor for today's businesses. Long term survival of many manufacturing organizations depends on how successful organizations are introducing new products to compete in existing markets or in creating new markets. Despite the importance of new product development, many manufacturing organizations face a limited understanding of the relationship between manufacturing capabilities and new product success. This study examined the relationship between manufacturing flexibility and new product performance. Eight dimensions of manufacturing flexibility and three measures of new product performance were identified and the relationships among these variables were examined. Impact of new product type, value creation mode, and manufacturing system on the relationships was also assessed. A survey of the U.S. electronic manufacturing industry was conducted. Data obtained was statistically analyzed to provide valid and reliable measures for research variables and to test the hypothesized relationships. This study supports the multidimensionality of flexibility and the existence of a hierarchy among flexibility dimensions. A suggested hierarchy of manufacturing flexibility is offered. Manufacturing flexibility was found to be more positively correlated with market success than with quality, cost or delivery. The difference between quality and cost and delivery was found to be insignificant. For more radical products, manufacturing flexibility was found to be more positively correlated with product performance. Another finding suggested that manufacturing flexibility is more positively correlated with product performance in a product focused environment than in a process focused or market focused environment. Manufacturing flexibility was found to be more positively correlated with product performance in a market focused than in a process focused environment. Another result suggested that the level of positive correlation between manufacturing flexibility and new product performance is higher in a Line Flow manufacturing system and in a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) than in any other manufacturing system. / Graduation date: 2004

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Thesis (MScFoodSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-97).

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published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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