is explored. Our conceptual model is based on the information-processing perspective. A structualequation model was fitted to data from 497 NPD projects from Japanese mechanical and electricalengineering firms to test the proposed model.The empirical analysis found support for all hypotheses...

In this paper, we report on the results of a large-scale study about typical front-end-related innovation practices in 553 Japanese mechanical and electrical engineering companies. We explore typical activities concerning the generation and assessment of new product ideas, the reduction of...

In a study of New Product Development (NPD) projects, the fuzzy front end ofinnovation is explored. The New Product Development process is a multistageprocess. Therefore, the study examines two sorts of impact that the fuzzy front endhas on the success of New Product Development: a direct impact...

In this paper, we report the complete and unabridged results of an exploratory study oftypical front-end activities in 28 innovation projects in German and Japanesecompanies. We further reveal differences in the practice of innovation management inboth countries. Based on these, we develop first...

The aim of this paper is to describe front-end activities in practice and get first hints for effects of the front end on project outcome and the meaning of contextual factors.The results of an exploratory study of fourteen product development projects are contrary to the wide-spread opinion...

In research as well as in practice, process models are an expatiated element of innovation management. They fulfill different tasks. In practice, for instance, process models are used as a management tool to standardize development activities. Researchers try to identify activities to be found...

In new product development (NPD) unacceptably high failure rates have often been related to insufficiencies during the early development phases. Nevertheless, only little effort is devoted to the early phases, in theory as well as in practice, and managers often indicate the front end as being...