Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 2007. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed April 15, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 236-249).

Dissertation (MBus) -- AUT University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print (x, 101 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.) in the Archive at the City Campus (T 658.575 ZHA)

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 48). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

M.B.A. / This study is an investigation on the return of investment for mass produced South African consumer products. It resulted from trying to address an issue that industrial designers in South Africa struggle to justify substantial fees, as their services are essentially intangible. Their clients, who are generally the management of manufacturing companies, have a choice of service consultants that provide some form of tangible benefit based on empirical evidence, in return for fees. Thus, the need arose for an empirical study on the return on investment of a consumer product, which is the tangible output of industrial design. This is a pilot case study. Its objective was to establish a base-case model for the return on investment gathered from empirical evidence in a single case study of a consumer product developed in South Africa. In addition, this model had to replicate the cash flow diagram of the investment and sales lifecycle of the product. Therefore, this study had to underpin the concepts of ‘return on investment’ and the ‘development of a consumer product’ with theory. The theory essentially confirms that the concept of profits from a shareholder perspective, regards maximising shareholder wealth because they provide the investment. However, the time value of money diminishes this wealth, thereby necessitating the use of discounted cash flow techniques. The investment decision based on these appraisal techniques follows a prescribed, sequential process. Unfortunately, the new product development process does not follow this process. Therefore, the innovative aspect of this research was to match the point of decision between the processes, as this has a direct effect on sunk costs and an implication on the research questionnaire. Thereafter, the questionnaire had to consider the system of innovation in order to determine the activities that have an incremental effect on cash flow. The research methodology for a case study design was used. A set of protocols was established to replicate this study in future studies. A focussed interview was conducted with industrial designers to confirm the issues, who in turn facilitated a meeting with their clients. A client with a consumer product from the security sector was selected. The research questionnaire was completed by the client and analysed by the researcher using Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Modified Internal rate of Return and the Discounted Payback techniques. The solutions showed a significant increase in shareholder wealth as a result of implementing the product. In addition, this information was translated into diagrams to make it simpler for management to understand. Thereafter, a report was submitted to the client. In conclusion, this study achieved its objectives within limitations. However, if the limitations were addressed, there is potential to replicate this as a multi-study and provide a substantial empirical case for industrial design in South Africa.

After discussion of the relationship between KM and NPD, the study defines electronic new product development (E-NPD) as the convergence of customer relationship, business processes, enterprise IT applications, and knowledge management system necessary to perform continuous innovation and develop new quality products in efficient way. A circular E-NPD value chain is depicted to explore the mechanism how E-NPD takes advantage of KM. E-NPD value chain describes new ways of envisioning the NPD process, which states that NPD cannot be effectively managed without a deep understanding of the knowledge interdependencies between core activities along the value chain, The study undertakes detailed case studies of three industries, in which three patterns of E-NPD are examined. / Establishing on both industrial structure-based view and resource-based view on competitive advantage, knowledge-based view on competitive advantage is suggested for the theoretical basis of knowledge value chain. By analyzing knowledge value chain model, we can see clearly that the competitive advantage comes from core competence of organization---knowledge and KM. / Knowledge management (KM) is of growing interest in today's business and academic community. With the importance of KM being realized, companies are viewing KM as a critical success factor in today's dynamic borderless society. In addition to the growing literature on the subject, organizations are creating managerial positions, such as chief knowledge managers, and creating knowledge teams. Obviously, KM penetrates every business process within organization. As a core process, new product development (NPD) always makes great contribution to organizational performance. This study proposes a framework of KM and the link between KM and NPD performance aiming at identifying the key facilitators of NPD and enabling companies to launch their products into market more successful than their competitors. / The value of KM is difficult to pinpoint and has led senior management to manage it without actually measuring it. An essential aspect of KM is the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and an attempt is made to measure KM in terms of knowledge acquisition and dissemination. Employing confirmatory factor and path analyses, this thesis examines the relationship between KM and the performance of NPD, and finds that some interactions between KM and moderators also have a significant effect on the performance of NPD. These findings imply that if organizations fail to understand the subtle ways by which different features of KM influence product development, they may fail to harvest the full value of KM. / Yang Jie. / Adviser: Lee Ching-Chyi. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-09, Section: A, page: 3111. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-130). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (M. Des.)--Unitec New Zealand, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-106).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-106).

Diss.--Technische Universität München, 2009. / Includes bibliographical referendes.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 246-276). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.