Strategic Issues in Managing Complexity in NPD Projects

신제품개발 과정의 복잡성에 대한 주요 연구과제

With rapid technological and market change, new product development (NPD) complexity is a significant issue that organizations continually face in their development projects. There are numerous factors, which cause development projects to become increasingly costly & complex. A product is more likely to be successfully developed and marketed when the complexity inherent in NPD projects is clearly understood and carefully managed. Based upon the previous studies, this study examines the nature and importance of complexity in developing new products and then identifies several issues in managing complexity. Issues considered include: definition of complexity : consequences of complexity; and methods for managing complexity in NPD projects. To achieve high performance in managing complexity in development projects, these issues need to be addressed, for example: A. Complexity inherent in NPD projects is multi-faceted and multidimensional. What factors need to be considered in defining and/or measuring complexity in a development project? For example, is it sufficient if complexity is defined only from a technological perspective, or is it more desirable to consider the entire array of complexity sources which NPD teams with different functions (e.g., marketing, R&D, manufacturing, etc.) face in the development process? Moreover, is it sufficient if complexity is measured only once during a development project, or is it more effective and useful to trace complexity changes over the entire development life cycle? B. Complexity inherent in a project can have negative as well as positive influences on NPD performance. Thus, which complexity impacts are usually considered negative and which are positive? Project complexity also can affect the entire organization. Any complexity could be better assessed in broader and longer perspective. What are some ways in which the long-term impact of complexity on an organization can be assessed and managed? C. Based upon previous studies, several approaches for managing complexity are derived. What are the weaknesses & strengths of each approach? Is there a desirable hierarchy or order among these approaches when more than one approach is used? Are there differences in the outcomes according to industry and product types (incremental or radical)? Answers to these and other questions can help organizations effectively manage the complexity inherent in most development projects. Complexity is worthy of additional attention from researchers and practitioners alike. Large-scale empirical investigations, jointly conducted by researchers and practitioners, will help gain useful insights into understanding and managing complexity. Those organizations that can accurately identify, assess, and manage the complexity inherent in projects are likely to gain important competitive advantages.

복잡성(complexity)은 신제품개발 과정에서 프로젝트 팀이 빈번하게 당면하는 개발과제의 주요 속성으로 이에 대한 적절한 대처 여부는 신제품개발의 성과에 적지 않은 영향을 미친다. 복잡성이란 속성이 신제품개발의 관리에서 주목 받게 된 배경으로는, 우선 제품개발과정에서 당면하는 복잡성이 증가 추세에 있다는 점을 들 수 있다. 새로운 기술과 공법 그리고 소재의 등장, 복합 제품의 개발(예: 디지털 컨버전스), 또한 기업간 제휴를 통한 개발은 신제품개발의 복잡성 증대와 관련이 된다. 한편 신제품개발의 복잡성에 대한 미흡한 대처는 개발과정의 지연, 개발비용의 예산 초과, 제품개발의 포기 등과 같은 부정적 결과를 초래한다. 이와 같이 복잡성의 증대 추세 및 복잡성으로 인한 적지 않은 영향력을 고려해볼 때, 신제품개발 과정에서 당면하는 복잡성에 대한 연구의 필요성은 증대된다. 그러나 아직까지 복잡성에 대한 연구는 현실적 필요성에 비해 상대적으로 적은 관심만이 기울여져 왔다. 본 고에서는 신제품개발 과정에서 당면하는 복잡성에 대한 주요 연구과제들을 살펴보는데 그 목적이 있다. 이를 위해 우선, 주요 영역별로 나누어 그간의 복잡성에 대한 연구성과를 정리한 다음, 이를 토대로 향후 중요시되는 연구과제들을 도출하고자 한다. 신제품개발 과정의 복잡성에 대한 주요연구과제에 대한 이러한 고찰은, 향후 이 분야에 대한 연구 전개에 있어서 하나의 발판이 될 것으로 기대된다.