Predicting a model for agile NPD process with fuzzy cognitive map: the case of Iranian manufacturing enterprises

Successful development of the new product (NPD) is one of the most critical tasks in manufacturing process and challenging issues that managers usually face. In response to unanticipated changes in volatile markets, agile NPD is a focus to manufacturing companies. Identifying the causal relationships between the main factors of agile NPD process as a complex system, can influence the effectiveness of managers' decision making, and the productivity of actions in this kind of process. This study reports the results of an empirical research done on the main factors affecting the agile NPD process and the relationships between them in Iranian manufacturing enterprises. These factors are identified and categorized in six main groups by explanatory factor analysis method, and the relationships between them are introduced with the simple fuzzy cognitive map method.