Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-233). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-118). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-144). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-137). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: Innovation; KIBS. Includes bibliographical references. (p.36-39)

Thesis (M.Sc.)(Technology Management)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-138). Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Product innovation has emerged as the most significant strategy in today's dynamic market place. The post-war years have seen an unprecedented flow of new and improved products. Successful innovation, however, requires more than placing new products on the market. Consumer acceptance is also required. The problems of achieving consumer acceptance are reflected in the high failure rates for new products. There are two main paths to more effective new product marketing and to increasing the probability of new product success. Effectiveness may be increased through better product testing and better evaluation of test results. Another approach involves a better understanding of consumers and their reactions to new products. The latter path, which is the least understood and the most obscure one, is being illuminated by borrowing concepts, generalizations and techniques from the interdisciplinary body of research called diffusion theory. Since the turn of the century, researchers in a variety of behavior science disciplines have studied the process of social contagion by which new ideas, practices, and products spread through a society. The conceptual framework of the resulting diffusion theory is composed of the following four elements; (1) the innovation, (2) its communication from one individual to another, (3) in a social system, (4) over time. The empirical research on diffusion of innovations has focused on the interaction of these four elements and their relationship to the adoption decision. Though the massive portion of diffusion research has been conducted outside the area of marketing, there is a small but increasing volume of literature and unpublished research on adoption and diffusion in the marketing field. Diffusion theory is providing a useful framework for analyzing new product buying behavior and understanding the dynamics of new product adoption and diffusion. Researchers are exploring the adoption and diffusion process for new products and services in both consumer and industrial marketing contexts. Interest is developing in the application of diffusion theory in planning and executing new product marketing strategy. Quantitative models of new product adoption behavior are being developed. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive review and synthesis of the existing body of diffusion research in marketing. The paper gives an overview of diffusion theory as a conceptual framework applicable to new product marketing, discusses current diffusion research in marketing and applications of diffusion theory by marketing practitioners, and presents a critical evaluation of the progress of diffusion research in the marketing field. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Yale University, 2007. / Adviser: K. Sudhir. Includes bibliographical references.

Product development efforts are extremely important to a company's success in today's global competitive business environment. Yet, these highly consequential efforts are terribly nebulous to a point that past experiences are inherently underutilized. This thesis demonstrates a methodology to quantify past product development efforts in an attempt to better utilize past experiences. The methodology is centered around conducting an observational study, using regression analysis to expose relationships between various aspects of past product development efforts. In the study, products developed in the past serve as observational units, various cost and time variables serve as dependent variables, and a variety of variables characterizing product development efforts serve as independent variables. The nominal group technique is employed, along with formal personal interviewing, to identify the many different variables targeted for data collection. Regression analysis is used to test and identify relationships between the multitude of combinations of dependent and independent variables. Three simple model forms are used to 'capture' any potential relationship: a straight line model, an exponential model, and a natural-logarithmic model. Dependent-independent variable combinations that have met a given statistical criteria, in one of these three model forms, are labeled statistically notable, and later classified as practically relevant. The applicability of the methodology is demonstrated by presenting 'generic' results obtained by making use of information and historical data from a well established electronics company who wishes to be referred to as Company X. These results show that cost and/or time increase with the increase in: the number of parts in a product, the number of assembly processes, quality/utility of the product, or a product performance enabling specification. Furthermore, product shape is found to be associated with cost and time. Interestingly though, only a relatively few variables were found to be associated with time as compared to cost. The statistical models that were identified can serve as a quantitative historical record and perhaps a prediction tool for Company X, giving them a competitive advantage in their future product development efforts. / Graduation date: 1997