Towards management of challenges in the innovation process: a case study on the application of the interface assessment tool

Abstract

Product development projects face a broad range of challenges. In this paper, we report the results of a case study in which the so-called Interface assessment tool was used to assess six key challenges in a commercial product development project: 1) market uncertainty, 2) technological uncertainty, 3) product complexity and/or degree of change in product, 4) production complexity and/or degree of change in production, 5) dispersion between technology development and product development, and 6) dispersion between product development and production. Evaluation of the Interface assessment tool indicates consistency with ideal features that tools should have in order to aid in product development. Furthermore, the collective view of the project team members involved in the assessment indicates that the Interface assessment tool offers valuable support for identification of uncertainties, establishment of a joint vision of the project, and minimization of multiple interpretations of the challenges a product development team might face. Consequently, this tool may contribute to sensemaking capability in a product development team.