A method for selecting and sequencing enterprise software to improve high-volume new product introduction performance

Abstract

Powerful software exists to help consumer electronics enterprises manage complex product lifecycles and improve the speed with which they introduce new products to the market. While significant research exists to inform the organizational design for a high-performing new product introduction process, less has been done to inform strategies for selecting and implementing enterprise software that can play a key role in the market success or failure of a new product. Studies and surveys suggest that only 10% of large enterprise software initiatives are completed on-time, within budget, and in scope. While many project management methodologies offer treatments to increase the probability of implementation success for a single software initiative, few methods exist to help inform the selection and sequence for a portfolio of initiatives. This paper proposes a method to reduce the implementation risk of large software projects within a product development organization by completing smaller projects that require the technology team to build their understanding of a complex phase-gate product development model. This method was utilized by Verizon Communications to on-board enterprise software to address time-to-market delays in the first consumer electronics produced in their new product development model.