Organizing for Product Development

Abstract

In this paper, we propose four parameters that determine appropriate organizational structure for a research, development or engineering organization. Examining the positions that an organization occupies on the four parameters will determine relative need for interaction with the market and with supporting technologies as well as the need for coordination among project team members. This, along with the time needed to bring the product to market, can then be translated into an organizational structure, giving proper emphases to each of the three needs.