Toward a “Theoretical Toolbox” for the Supplier-Enabled Fuzzy Front End of the New Product Development Process

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin D. Wowak ◽  
Christopher W. Craighead ◽  
David J. Ketchen ◽  
G. Tomas M. Hult
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
New Product ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Fuzzy Front End ◽  
Front End ◽  
New Product Development Process

A CLIMATE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ENHANCES THE SUCCESS OF FRONT END TEAMS

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (02) ◽  
pp. 1550027 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANN-MARIE I. NIENABER ◽  
VERENA HOLTORF ◽  
JENS LEKER ◽  
GERHARD SCHEWE
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Psychological Safety ◽  
New Product ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Front End ◽  
New Product Development Process

This paper contributes to the discussion about initiative in teams at the front end of new product development processes (innovative teams). In contrast to the general opinion presented in the literature, this study points out that unstructured innovative teams are as much initiative in developing new ideas or in finding quick solutions when compared to structured innovative teams. Therefore we analyse the relationship between teamwork quality and team initiative in structured and unstructured teams at the front end of a new product development process and, in particular, we focus on a climate of psychological safety. To examine this relationship, data were collected by surveying 100 team members from different departments in a multinational company. It has been pointed out in the literature previously that where a team leader provides little structure at the micro level for team members there is a negative effect on the displays of initiative in the very early stages of the innovation process. However we can demonstrate that this effect can be reduced by a climate of psychological safety. Thus, it can be stated that unstructured teamwork combined with a climate of psychological safety is the way for teams at the front end of a new product development process to be successful.

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