Strategic styles of hardware product development could accelerate commercialization in cleantech startups
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journal.pstr.0000101.pdf
Description
Published version
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1.59 MB
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Checksum (MD5)
a59733206e5d9de296e6bc13ed90435c
Author(s)
Looney, Erin
Buscariolli, André
Yang, Maria C
Raymond, Geoffrey
Buonassisi, Tonio
Peters, Ian Marius
Date Issued
2024
Journal
PLOS Sustainability and Transformation
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Citation
Looney, Erin, Buscariolli, André, Yang, Maria C, Raymond, Geoffrey, Buonassisi, Tonio et al. 2024. "Strategic styles of hardware product development could accelerate commercialization in cleantech startups." PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, 3 (3).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Hardware-based startups risk having longer times-to-market, deterring investment in the clean technologies that are critical to a sustainable future. We interviewed 55 leaders at hardware startups, 20 of which are cleantech, mapped their development timelines, and found prototyping to be the longest development step (median of 19 weeks per prototype) regardless of prototype complexity or iteration. Qualitative interview analysis reveals the prototyping team’s choice of development style is a major factor affecting timeline. We define two development styles: natural and structured, typified by free-form exploration and rule-based execution, respectively. On average, natural development takes 35% less time than structured, and is thus preferred for early iterations, but adopting structure at strategic points is needed for timely commercialization. Critical points of transition to a structured style include adding new team members or engaging external partners, which demand clear communication and expectations. When pivoting to a new product or market, returning to a natural style is beneficial.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Creative Commons Attribution
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000101
