PDSAT – A New Product Development Self-Assessment Tool

Abstract

The successful execution of complex PD projects still poses major challenges for companies. One approach companies can use to improve their performance is self-assessment to optimize their organization and processes. This thesis summarizes the current literature on PD-related self-assessment tools and derives tool requirements from an industry focus group (US aerospace and defense industry) as well as from interviews at a major American defense contractor. A gap analysis comparing these requirements to the previously identified tools is performed. The thesis concludes with the presentation of a new holistic self-assessment framework to be used in PD organizations. The framework includes a self-assessment questionnaire with 91 metrics, a formalized 9-step implementation process, tool customization guidelines, and mappings between the structure of the questionnaire and relevant process improvement approaches such as CMMI, Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award, Lean Management, and Six Sigma.