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New Product Development: Tools & Tactics

 
 

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This hands-on "fundamentals" program is for everyone involved in new product development (NPD) projects: project managers, team members, resources and stakeholders. It is partly focused on general project management practices with examples and illustrations from new product development situations. The program teaches participants how (and why) to plan better and faster – using teamwork as a key tool. It motivates participants and shows them how to vastly improve their planning and implementation.
 

A Typical Two-Day Outline
 

This section stresses the payoffs and issues around good project planning practices; it develops the case for intensive “up front” project planning.  It often includes a two-hour group planning exercise as well, introducing teamwork issues early.
 

I.

The New Product Development Project Process The New Product Development Process
Project Management Effectiveness
Planning: Investing In Success
Project Planning: Phases & Gates
New product development project economic modeling is applied to a project and "scope" trade-off  rules calculated and analyzed.
 

II.

Financial Modeling Pro-Forma Projection Analysis
Determining Decision Rules

Participants learn about basic NPD/PM tools such as work breakdown structures (using several planning tools), bar charts, CPM methods.  Most involve hands-on exercises.
 

III.

Planning & Scheduling Tools Work Breakdown Structures
Schedule Charts (Gantt/Bar)
Networks/CPM/PERT
Responsibility Charts
Basic methods for eliminating, reducing or controlling risk are practiced and/or applied.
 

IV.

Managing Project Risk Risk Analysis
Product Architecture
Group decision-making and teamwork is addressed in an exercise stressing application to participants' own experience.
 

V.

Managing Project Teamwork Group Decisions: When? Why? How?
Effective Teamwork
We focus mainly on “back home” implementation problems here.  We usually address stakeholder commitment.  If time permits, another team exercise addresses the planning/implementation interface.

VI.

Managing Implementing Implementation Problems
Gaining Commitment
Problem Solving
Project Control
       

Available in one, two and three day in-house versions ranging in cost from $175 to $575 per person. Tailoring, customizing, and licensing is available.


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