A Framework for NPD Processes Under Uncertainty

This article proposes a framework for designing new product development (NPD) processes under various conditions of uncertainty. The framework is based on the results of a study in which the goals were to determine the conditions under which integrated product development processes are more favorable than traditional sequential processes in terms of development time (process start to finish time) and effort (person hours). The framework suggests how to design the process in terms of functional interaction (information sharing among NPD participants) and overlapping (parallel execution of activities) based on the level of uncertainty involved.