Deep inside the Black Box: Early Case Study Findings on Technology Planning in Product Development Projects

This paper presents case study findings on the technology planning process for individual new product developmem (NPD) projects. These find­ ings were generated as part of a larger research project cUn'ently underway investigating effective managemem of risky product and process tech­ nologies in new product development projects. This topic is important since finns I in certain competitive environments I are pressured to employ risky technologies in product development projects. Risky technologies can lead to high variability in project outcomes including unit cost, product functionality, and time-to-market. Better understanding of effective means for planning and implementing risky technologies directly benefits practitioners facing such challenges. The case study findings presemed support contributions to theory by assisting in characterization of development project types based on their techlJOlogical requirements, and through detennining archetypal technology implememation approaches which may be effective for given technology development project types.