Given the context of globalization and growing competition, we assist at a reduction of the product life cycle and at a rapid diffusion of creations and innovations. To respond to the fast changing customers’ demand and to reinforce their market position, firms shall design an effective creative process offering superior customer value and insuring their future in the long term. First of all, after an explanation of the differences between creativity and innovation, the creative process of high-tech firms in terms of actors involved, resources allocation, leadership and management of creative people will be depicted. Secondly, the creative destruction process and some of the inherent obstacles and risks of the creative process will be addressed. Thirdly, the concepts of Technology Life Cycle (TLC) and Product Life Cycle (PLC) will be developed. Within this thesis, our ideas are presented and justified through three methodologies: Literature Review, case study and interview. We mainly used the cases of Hewlett-Packard (HP) and France Telecom Orange (FTO) to backup our argumentation. We conceptualized the creative process and we highlighted the connections between the creative process and the Product Life Cycle. With the help of two other small cases study (Nintendo and Apple), we emphasized the downward trend of high-tech products’ lifecycle in the long run. Ultimately, four practical recommendations are given to leaders from high-tech industries and directions to deeper research this topic are advised.

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This study was an exploration of the product life cycle theory as a strategic decision-making tool in an auto-catalyst manufacturing plant. During the literature review stage of this study, many gaps in the product life cycle theory were identified. The product life cycle theory has come under criticism from numerous academic authors. It was also found that there was a definite lack of empirical studies carried out on South African companies and products. The main focus of this study was to investigate use and practical applicability of the product life in strategic decision making in a South African organisation, which is a subsidiary of a multinational corporation. A major limitation to this study was that the decision makers at Johnson Matthey South Africa showed a lack of understanding of strategy, and their role in strategic decision making. From the data collected, using a questionnaire survey methodology, the major findings were that the product life cycle theory has application potential as a strategic decision making tool in future, The decision makers at Johnson Matthey have a good knowledge of their products and where they were on the product life cycle. Further empirical research, into the applicability of the product life cycle theory is needed, on South African organisations. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2006.

A new methodology for innovative product development based on the application of sustainability principles for the entire life-cycle of a product and beyond is developed. This involves an analysis of multi-life cycle material flow leading towards perpetual life products, making it truly sustainable. In order to achieve the function of such a sustainable product, it has to fulfill the concept of 6R (Recover, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, Reduce and Remanufacture), which are composed of 6 stages of material flow in a products life, as opposed to the traditional 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recover) concept. We apply the 6R concept in designing a new aluminum beverage can with much enhanced sustainability factors, especially in recycling processes.

Datum: 15/1/2015 Nivå: Kandidatuppsats 15 hp, Företagsekonomi C, HT 14 Författare: David Norman, Johan Rappling Handledare: Jukka Hohenthal Titel: Ett “glokalt” växelspel för ett multinationellt företag - En studie om branding- arbetet för Post-it på den nordiska marknaden Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att visa hur branding-arbetet ser ut för ett globalt varumärke, ägt av ett multinationellt företag, på den nordiska marknaden samt till vilken grad marknadschefer för ett varumärke av denna typ är fria att lokalanpassa brandingen. Förhoppningen är att denna fallstudie ska fungera som ett komplement till rådande studier inom glokalisering. Teori: Uppsatsens teoretiska referensram består av erkända koncept inom marknadsföringsområdet såsom global branding, glokalisering och produktlivscykeln men även Hofstedes kulturella dimensioner. Metod: En kvalitativ fallstudie för det multinationella företaget 3Ms varumärke Post- it har utförts. Primärdata har samlats in genom ostrukturerade och semi-strukturerade djupintervjuer med personer med marknadsansvar över Post-it samt genom en dokumentstudie. Analysen har skett med ett analysverktyg skapat utifrån de teoretiska utgångspunkterna. Resultat: De lokala marknadsförarna för varumärket Post-it är relativt fria i branding- arbetet och lokala anpassningar förekommer i allra högsta grad. Standardisering förekommer också i form av bl.a. gemensamma kampanjer och hemsidor. Glokalisering är implementerat i Post-its varumärkesstrategier. Slutsats: Branding-arbetet anpassas relativt mycket lokalt i Norden och frihetsgraden är stor. Hofstedes dimensioner och produktlivscykeln kan till viss del förklara varför det empiriska resultatet som framkommit ser ut som det gör.

Environmental costs of products are closely related to their environmental impacts incurred at all life cycle stages of a product. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methods are often used to estimate these environmental costs and impacts. However, LCA analysis is known to be a costly and time-consuming method, whereas LCC analysis often neglects the social cost which is currently paid by society as a whole. Therefore, this research proposes a new methodology to assess the environmental impact and social cost for the entire life cycle of a product, which can be used as a simple and transparent tool for the early conceptual design stage. The methodology delivers the Environmental Impact Drivers and the associated Social Cost Drivers for all product life cycle stages via spreadsheets, and it provides the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) method in the SimaPro software as a user interface. Furthermore, the drivers provide the values for four different geographical regions and damage categories. The conceptual model is based on the impact pathway approach which integrates the Simplified LCA (SLCA) model and the social cost databases. The SLCA model is derived from an extension of previous research whereas the social costs are based on the most suitable Economic Valuation (EV) studies such as the EPS2000d, EXMOD, Ecosense and Asian EV studies. The data collection for the SLCA database was accomplished by using the LCA analysis of the Eco Indicator 99 H/A method and the Hierarchical clustering technique. The data for the social cost database was collected using the Benefit Transfer Method which obtains the EV studies mainly from the Environmental Valuation Reference Inventory (EVRI) data source. Several case studies utilising existing products, including a product redesign case study were used to prove the concept and demonstrate the efficiency of this proposed methodology.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Bras, Bert; Committee Member: Allen, Janet; Committee Member: Chameau, Jean-Lou; Committee Member: McGinnis, Leon; Committee Member: Paredis, Chris.

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Bert Bras; Committee Member: Beril Toktay; Committee Member: Shreyes Melkote.

Thesis--Lund. / Added t.p. with thesis statement, inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-219).