The PDMA Handbook of New Product Development

4.4. Process Is Business Entity Specific

Typically, business units within corporations implement their own NPD framework. Alignment with a common strategy is difficult at a corporate level. Here, often the only resource shared is money. Each business unit has its own mission and resources, and needs its own decision flow, workflow, and support systems. More important, each business unit must accept and use its NPD process for itself.

NOTE

Customize the NPD framework for each business unit. One process does not fit all.

Corporate staffs, however, can help NPD implementations and improvements. For example, General Electric, DuPont, and Procter & Gamble each have or have had central groups that provide support to the business units. These groups provide internal consulting, facilitation, and secondary information to the business units. NPD processes in these organizations may have a common look, but the details are business unit specific.