In an increasingly volatile business environment, new product introduction is no longer a strategic option but a necessity for companies to sustain competitive advantage and for countries to achieve national economic prosperity. This is particularly true in such emerging economies as People's Republic of China, where traditional manufacturing enterprises are striving to achieve the move from 'Made in China' to 'Created in China'. Focusing on the issue of new product introduction by strategic alliances, I propose a theoretical model on the relationship between procedural justice, cross-functional integration and new product introduction. Albeit the notion that cross-functional integration can greatly facilitate the successful implementation of projects is widely acknowledged, contemporary research on cross-functional integration and new product introduction has paid insufficient attention to the issue of procedural justice. Research on whether, how and when cross-functional integration and new product development could be facilitated or promoted from a justice perspective is still in its infancy. Based on the findings of my field study in 2015-2016, I consider it necessary to take into account the effect of procedural justice in current streams of research on cross-functional integration and new product introduction. I argue firms that establish strategic alliances should pay greater attention to the issue of procedural justice in new product introduction. Moreover, I posit that the relationship between procedural justice and new product introduction is mediated by cross-functional integration. Finally, to address the discrepancies in previous research regarding the relationship between cross-functional integration and new product development, I test the effect of an insufficiently tested moderator, i.e., actual new product introduction strategy, on that relationship. Analyzing data from multiple sources in China, I obtain evidence in support of these arguments, finding procedural justice to exert a positive effect on new product introduction, and cross-functional integration and new product introduction strategy to exert a partial mediating effect and moderating effect, respectively.

No description available.

A life cycle cost based methodology for choosing among mutually exclusive design alternatives is presented in this study. The methodology places emphasis on the iterative nature of the design process. That is, choosing among design alternatives involves the pairwise comparison of the current design iteration to a "baseline" design. An Equivalent Cost Function provides the cause-effect framework on which the methodology is based. In generating a design alternative, the designer alters design features (cause). These features manifest themselves as design dependent parameters (effect), and for each set of such values, optimal values of design variables are sought. This design development process occurs in the face of design independent parameters, with the final result being a value of equivalent life cycle cost. / Master of Science

A life-cycle cost evaluation model is presented to assess the effect of design decisions (made in an attempt to induce higher degrees of producibility) upon a product's life-cycle cost. The model provides a measure of effectiveness in terms of an expected annual equivalent total system life-cycle cost for a deployed population of the product being evaluated. Parametric relationships are established between aspects of the product and the level to which the product is designed for producibility. These aspects include areas of cost arising during each phase of the product life cycle. The model limits the number of product design alternatives to three scenarios which are defined as a product designed to be highly, moderately, and less producible. The best of the three design alternatives is selected based upon the life-cycle costs calculated. / Master of Science

This thesis is an initial attempt at analyzing the "product-process matrix," a framework suggesting the interaction of product and process life cycles. The objectives of this thesis were to test the theory surrounding the "product-process matrix" and also test theories concerning the transition of strategic objectives between "product-process matrix" regions. The methodology included conducting a survey of Virginia manufacturing firms on strategic concerns, constructing a database into which survey responses were loaded, and analyzing survey responses. Results of this survey suggested that the theory surrounding the "product-process matrix" may be inappropriate. Results also indicated the possibility that row and column descriptions of the current "product-process matrix" may need alterations in order to be more applicable to manufacturing firms. Further research is necessary to examine possible biases associated with the survey instrument and survey sample. After such research has been undertaken, it is recommended that continued work in this area may help to improve understanding the interaction between markets and manufacturing processes. / Master of Science

Context: At the core of choosing what features and level of quality to realize, and thus offer a market or customer, rests on the ability to take decisions. Decision-making is complicated by the diverse understanding of issues such as priority, consequence of realization, and interpretations of strategy as pertaining to the short-term and long-term development of software intensive products. The complexity is further compounded by the amount of decision support material that has to be taken into account, and the sheer volume of possible alternatives that have to be triaged and prioritized; thousands or even tens of thousands of requirements can be the reality facing a company. There is a need to develop the functionality that is strategically most significant, while satisfying customers and being competitive, time efficient, cost effective, and risk minimizing. In order to achieve a balance between these factors, all the stakeholders, within an organization, need to agree on the strategic aspects and value considerations to be considered, and their corresponding relative importance. Objective: The objective of this thesis is to provide enhanced decision support for product managers faced with decision-making challenges. This involves, but is not limited to, enhancing the alignment between the product and portfolio management with respect to product strategies, and enabling the use of value as a basis for product management and development related decisions. Method: A number of empirical studies, set in industry, have been performed. The research methods used span from systematic mapping, and systematic reviews to case studies, all aligned to identify possibilities for improvement, devise solutions, and incrementally evaluate said solutions. Close collaboration with industry partners was at the core of the research presented in this thesis. Result: The MASS method presented in this thesis can be used to evaluate strategic alignment and identify possible root causes for misalignment. To strengthen strategic alignment, the Software Value Map and corresponding decision support material, proposed in the thesis, can be used by product managers for making effective and efficient strategic decisions in relation to portfolios, products and process improvement, following a systematic and aligned process. Conclusions: The area of software product management, in the context of market-driven software intensive product development, is a field with unique challenges. The specifics of the solutions are based on industry case studies performed to gauge state-of-the-art, as well as identify the main challenges. The decision support developed takes the form of maps and frameworks that support software product management on product and portfolio level decisions, strategic alignment, value-based requirements selection, and value-based process improvement.

Business success in software industry is about deploying a product to the right market, with the right features, in the right time with a good quality. Many development projects exceed the budget, is not completed within schedule or do not reach business objectives. One key role managing the business of the product is the software product manager. The software product manager role is though seldom clearly described, competence needed is not always clear and education to become a product manager is today only offered by separate courses provided by some few private initiatives. This thesis uses a qualitative descriptive approach, the purpose with this thesis is to produce further knowledge around the software product manager role. The clarification and structure of the software product manager role is limited in academia; therefore, this research will be combined with an exploratory approach to be able to verify the empirical findings. The thesis also includes observations and data collection from actual job applications to further define the requested competences of a software product manager. This thesis has found that domain competence is the top most important competence for a software product manager. To be able to make success in the role communication skills and analytic skills are most important. The right soft skills are as important as the educated competences. The thesis conclude that the product manager role is wide and it is important to be surrounded with colleagues that support the role were there are lacking of competence in technology, business or market expertise. A successful product manager build network among people, cross-functional teams, around the product and establish an effective way to communicate with those groups. Findings suggest that software companies define the responsibilities and expectations of the product manager role. As important is to support the product manager with the input data needed to be able to perform the product manager activities. By defining the responsibilities and securing the input data needed, the product manager will have a higher probability to produce a result with an impact.

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Brands are getting more and more valuable. In this age of cross-border mergers and acquisitions. the value of brands is a key detenninant of a company value and stock market capitalization. For the consumer a brand also plays a significant role. It is seen as a sign of quality, helping them make their purchasing decisions. Yet brand loyalty and established customer relationships can no longer be taken for granted or assumed to last forever in an environment of increased competition. Brand loyalty is vitally dependent on how the relationship between the brand and the consumer is nurtured and specifically developed: A strong brand brings with it the opportunity to raise the proftle of a product and the company that sells it, setting them apart from rivals in the marketplace. A strong brand even allows companies to command a price premium for their products. In this way the value of a brand or brand equity becomes a company's most important asset. But the questions are: How much is the brand actually worth? And how can a brand's value be boosted? The term brand equity originated as a business-financial concept, and consists in "[the] net present value of all future net surpluses over his cash input that the owner of a brand can earn". Such financially oriented measurement of brand equity is a suitable approach for expressing it as a monetary value as required for purposes of financial statements, licensing agreements or acquisition decisions. There is a wide variety of brand valuation models available to detennine a monetary value on brand equity, but in some cases these models are controversial. and the value of their resu1ts as an objective statement may be limited. The consumer oriented perspective on brand equity sets itself apart from the financial approach by focusing on the judgments made by consumers, with a view to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of marketing measures and also brand management on a longterm basis. This behavioural approach endeavours to reach a qualitative explanation of the factors driving brand equity and to determine psychological constructs of brand strength by means of operational measurement. The underlying study project illustrates some of the most common brand valuation models, shows their respective advantages and disadvantages and explores the different approaches to brand equity. Methods to increase brand equity by putting it in the focus ofa Value Based Brand Management explain its drivers and individual brand processes. This approach to a successful brand management is fmally compared with the current brand management process of the FMCG brand NNEA. Recommendations on how this international brand could be managed more efficiently with respect to brand equity conclude this study project. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Handelsmerke raak al hoe meer waardevol. In hierdie eeu van oorgrens-samesmeltings en oornames, is die waarde van 'n handelsmerk 'n sleutelfaktor om 'n maatskappy se waarde en aandelebeurs-kapitalisering te bepaal. Handelsmerke speel ook 'n belangrike rol in die lewe van verbruikers. Dit word beskou as 'n simbool van kwaliteit, 'n hulpmiddel om aankopebesluite te vergemaklik. Nietemin kan lojaliteit teenoor 'n handelsmerk en gevestigede klienteverhoudings nie as vanselfsprekend aanvaar word, of aanvaar word dat dit vir altyd sal aanhou, in 'n omgewing waar kompetisie toeneem nie. Lojaliteit teenoor 'n handelsmerk is in essensie afhanklik van hoe die verhouding tussen die handelsmerk en die verbruiker opgepas en spesifiek ontwikkel word: 'n gevestigde handelsmerk skep die geleentheid om die profiel van 'n produk, asook die relevante maatskappy se profiel, te verhoog - en derhalwe hulle te onderskei van mededingers in die mark. 'n Sterk handelsmerk bring selfs mee dat 'n prys-premie vir produkte gehef kan word. Op die manier word die handelsmerkwaarde of handelsmerk-ekwiteit 'n maatskappy se grootste bate. Maar die vraag is: hoeveel is 'n handelsmerk eintlik werd? Asook, hoe kan 'n handelsmerk se waarde vermeerder word? Die term handelsmerk-ekwiteit het sy oorsprong as 'n besigheidfinansiele konsep en is gewortel in "[die] netto huidige waarde van aIle toekomstige netto surplusse oor die kapitale-insette wat die eienaar van die handelsmerk kan verdien". Bogenoemde finansieel - georienteerde maatstaf van handelsmerk-ekwiteit, is 'n geskikte benadering om dit in monetere waarde uit te druk, soos benodig vir finansiele state, lisensiering-ooreenkomste of oorname besluite. Daar is 'n wye verskeidenheid handelsmerk waardasie modelle beskikbaar om die monetere waarde van handelsmerk-ekwiteit te bepaal, maar in sommige gevalle is die modelle kontroversieel, wat daartoe lei dat die waarde van hulle resultate, as 'n objektiewe waarneming, beperk kan wees. Die verbruiker- georienteerde benadering tot handelsmerk-ekwiteit onderskei homself van die finansiele benadering deur te fokus op die besluite wat gemaak word deur verbruikers, met die oog daarop om bemarkingsmaatstawwe, asook die bestuur van 'n handelsmerk, meer effektief en doeltreffend te maak op 'n langtermyn basis. Hierdie gedragswetenskaplike benadering poog om 'n kwalitatiewe verklaring te gee vir die faktore wat handelsmerkekwiteit dryf en om 'n psigologiese struktuur te gee aan die impak wat 'n handelsmerk het via 'n operasionele maatstaf. Die onderliggende projek iIIustreer die mees aanvaarde waardasie-modelle, asook hulle onderskeie voordele en nadele en ondersoek die verskillende benaderings tot handelsmerkekwiteit. Metodes om handelsmerk-ekwiteit te vermeerder deur dit te benader aan die hand van Waarde-gebaseerde Handelsmerk Bestuur (Value Based Brand Management) gee insig ten opsigte van sy drywers en individuele handelsmerkprosesse. Hierdie benadering tot suksesvolle handelsmerkbestuur word ten slotte vergelyk met die huidige handelsmerkbestuur-prosesse wat deur die FMCG handelsmerk NIVEA gevolg word. Aanbevelings aangaande meer effektiewe bestuur van hierdie internasionale handelsmerk aan die hand van handelsmerk-ekwiteit, sluit hierdie projek af.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / The high costs of new product launches have forced consumer magazines globally to launch brand extensions as part of new product strategies. Costs can be reduced radically by using renowned brands and utilising their marketing and distribution competencies. The economic recession and a rapid leaning towards non-print media have caused a sharp drop in advertising as well as consumer spending in the print magazine industry. Nevertheless, tablet devices and ground-breaking technology offers opportunities for traditional media to grow. The product life cycle and the growth-share matrix for a mature brand such as Huisgenoot validate the necessity of new products and brand extensions to remain sustainable. Huisgenoot is the largest magazine in South Africa with a circulation of 281 045, reaching 2.2 million (AMPS 2012, Jul 2011 – Jun 2012) readers on a weekly basis. Publishers felt it necessary to develop a brand extension strategy to leverage the brand even further and to avoid stagnation of the title. However, although profiting from parent brand value sounds promising, the global failure rate of extensions is still great. Extending existing brands and launching new products is crucial to increase profits. Brand extensions address neglected consumer needs and simultaneously confront competition in the market. However, launching new products is costly, risky and time consuming. In 2010, Media24 decided to leverage content, one of its most valuable assets, by introducing additional standalone magazines (line extensions) for one of its strongest brands, Huisgenoot. Are magazines exploiting niche markets catering for the changing needs of the South African consumer and advertiser? What is the impact of Huisgenoot’s standalone titles on the business of Media24 Weekly Magazines in an already competitive consumer magazine market? This research report explores specifically Huisgenoot’s line extensions in order to evaluate if an extension strategy has long-term sustainability for the title or if it is inducing a cannibalisation effect on the core magazine brand. Growth of the extensions will be measured by analysing profit, circulation and point of sale data. A critical analysis of the current extension strategy will also be completed. The report also includes an overview of the South African media landscape, identifies the core brand (parent brand) values of Huisgenoot and includes interviews with important role-players within the publishing business. This was done by conducting a literature overview, completing a reader questionnaire and doing in-depth interviews. The qualitative data was supported by secondary circulation and advertising data. The researcher concludes by making recommendations to ensure sustainability in terms of Huisgenoot’s future line extensions.