What is New Product Development (NPD)?

New product development is the process used to generate new ideas and turn the best ideas into a business product or service.

Why is NPD required?

New products and services are required to address changing market or policy requirements; so business goals can be achieved.

Why is NPD difficult?

The major challenges facing NPD are:

·         Traditional project management is not able to cope with the dynamic complex interactions required

·         Key Information is in People’s heads – so individuals need direct involvement 

·         Multiple Contributions – many people across the business need to provide input.

·         Specialist Skills – specialists need to apply their knowledge and skills in a timely manner

·         On-going Delivery – current products and service must be delivered while new products are being developed

·         Team effort – individuals across the business need to work together effectively to achieve a competitive solution.

Why is the NPD disruptive?

In most cases, NPD starts with a broad framework of tasks that need to be done.  Then it is left to individuals to contribute as required.  This often means that when an individual is asked to contribute, they need to stop doing what they were doing and give priority to the NPD process.  This ad hoc approach leads to reactive management, poor coordination and sub optimal inputs.  Contributors usually provide inputs from their personal perspective rather than a customer perspective.

Change Management is Essential

New products and services need to be effectively implemented.  An effective NPD process will generate understanding and ownership that will simplify implementation.  When NPD is done correctly most team members should be keenly awaiting the product or service they have helped develop.  It is important that the implementation/ introduction phase is included in NPD process.

TASKey’s NPD Methods

TASKey has developed web software that is ideal for NPD in complex operating environments.

The key features of the software are:

• NPD is coordinated with on-going work
• ToDo lists are automatically produced for each contributor, so your people know what to do, when and who they need to collaborate with
• Everyone is keep informed of progress so you don't get hit with surprises 
• The software presents critical task information on a need-to-know basis
• There is a trail if the process needs to be reviewed or audited
• The process steps can easily be turned into a template or easily modified if needed  

The TASKey TEAM Software Tool

The browser based software tool makes TASKey’s methods easy to apply consistently between people with web access.  Its ability to integrate tasks with ToDo’s (the work being done) is unique.

Every user can participate in developing your NPD process, so you get a process where the team members have ownership and agreement.  Then TASKey TEAM does the essential tracking, coordinating and reporting for you, so users can keep focused on doing their part of the work.

Steps managers take are:

1. Develop a high level framework of NPD tasks for all areas (eg. executive, marketing, production, packaging, sales, warehousing, distribution)
2. List the actions (ToDo’s) to be delivered by each individual and team
3. Manage meetings (both physical & virtual) to add/update actions to address issues
4. Tick-off ToDo’s via the web or mobile devices  

What TASKey TEAM does for you:

·         Tracks – keeps track of changing tasks and changes to the actions required to do tasks

·         Coordinates – keeps your team's tasks, ToDo’s, teams and individuals synchronised

·         Informs – keeps all your users informed of progress and notifies your people of important changes that affect them

·         Reports – provides you with real-time personal ToDo lists and critical reports

·         Templates – replicates the NPD process for new products and services in minutes.

All information is customised for each user and presented on a need-to-know basis in real-time.

TASKey TEAM manages the essential work coordination for meetings in the context of the work being done.  Meeting templates and reports simplify meetings.

Benefits of using TASKey TEAM Software for New Product Development

TASKey TEAM software delivers TASKey’s patented Task &-Team Method, so people can more easily work together to complete tasks.  Key benefits are:

·         Improved ROI through faster, more effective NPD

·         Focus is maintained on high value work.

·         Important steps aren't missed due to oversight

·         All tasks (from strategic plans to ToDo’s on mobile phones and PDA’s) are integrated and coordinated

·         Templating reduces planning time by reusing workflows and processes.

User frustration and stress is reduced, because everyone knows how and when to support each other.

For more information:

Visit www.taskey.com