Abstract:The new product development (NPD) project has been considered a challenging task in the management practice. In project planning, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the fundamental tools, but the terms "product" and "activity" are frequently confused and results in inefficiency in the support of project management tasks. By clarifying the nature of project planning and execution, an integrated method for WBS planning has been developed in this research. It includes the product-oriented WBS (P-WBS), the activity-oriented WBS (A-WBS), and the contract-out WBS (C-WBS). The technology roadmap is used to transform the P-WBS into the A-WBS. Using the proposed integrated WBS planning method as the basis, an integrated methodology for new product development has been given to align strategic management to project management. Finally, the successful application of this methodology to develop a project for the re-host of a full scope training simulator of a nuclear power plant in Taiwan is illustrated.Keywords: New Product Development, Project Management, Technology Roadmap, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). INTRODUCTIONThe product life cycle is getting shorter for most products, and the time-to-market of a product has become a key competition factor. Furthermore, build-to-order (BTO) and configure-to-order (CTO) have also become common practices for the differentiation of a company's ability. The production model is shifting from mass production to mass customization. Therefore the new product development (NPD) project has become a very challenging task in the management practice.The methodology of strategic planning has been advancing, but it is still not so easy to integrate with tactical activities, e.g. project management. Although the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the fundamental tools of project management, but the terms "product" and "activity" are frequently confused and results in inefficiency in the support of project management tasks, especially in the NPD project. So in this study, a renovated WBS planning method with technology roadmap for integrating the P-WBS and the A-WBS is proposed.According to the Webster dictionary, "Strategic management is the process of specifying an organization's objectives, developing policies and plans to achieve these objectives, and allocating resources so as to implement the plans." Alfred Chandler, Igor Ansoff, and Peter Drucker are among the most influential pioneers in the strategic management field.
The most important roles of strategic management concern about the right “attention” and the right “execution.” Based on this idea, the research question of this study is “How to align the strategy of a company to new product development?” This paper will focus on the longitudinal deployment of strategy and try to provide a solid methodology of strategic alignment to penetrate the multiple management levels of a company. Based on Ansoff's gap analysis model of strategic management, roadmapping techniques of management of technology, Work Breakdown Structure of project management, a Strategic Alignment Model for New Product Development (SAM‐NPD) is proposed in this study. A Six‐Echelon model, including industry, market, product, technology, intellectual property and cost structure analyses, is also developed for guiding the implementation of the SAM‐NPD model. Finally, a longitudinal case study of the successful application of this methodology in Taiwan is illustrated. Keywords: strategic management; strategic alignment model for new product development; SAM‐NPD; six‐echelon model.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.