Problem Statements Require Mindful Thought
  • Step 2c of Improving Your Speed-to-Market Is:
    • Reviewing Your Problem Statement
  • Before proceeding consider the following:
    • Does the leadership team have the right problem statement?
    • Does the project team’s findings validate this problem statement?
    • Do the actions identified address the concerns of the problem statement?
    • Is the work involved in changing worth the potential reward?
    • Are these essential organizational processes in place:
      • Measure
        • Measure time-to-market for all NPD projects and build a data-base for use by project teams when they are planning their work.  The start time and end time must be clearly defined and consistently measured for all projects.
      • Efficiency AND effectiveness
        • Efficiency is based on assigning enough of the right resources to the project.  It is essential for Speed-to-Market.
        • Effectiveness is based on acquiring and utilizing the right information.  It is essential for product excellence and success.
        • Both efficiency and effectiveness are essential.
      • Team Role
        • The product development team creates the product development project plan including the time-to-market.
      • Team Membership
        • Keep the same product development team from the beginning of the project to the end.  This is particularly important for the team leader.
      • Decision-making process
        • Open communication and decision-making process between business leadership and the product development team.
      • Use a robust process
        • Improving the overall product development capability is more effective in improving speed and time to market than a narrow focus on speed/time-to-market.  Keeping the NPD process robust requires continuous effort.