Category: Product Development

photo © 2010 Mary Anne Enriquez | more info (via: Wylio)
Any product introduction is only as successful as the planning and execution of the various stages prior to introduction. Consider these six tips for your next product development project.

1. Define what success looks like.

What metrics like sales, profit, market share, image in the marketplace will “prove” success?

2. Incentivize your product launch team.

The team needs to be properly motivated to succeed. Agree on techniques and processes that reward team members for breaking down traditional silos and bureaucracy that can hold back projects.

3. Team leaders need to lead, not be the most knowledgeable about products or technology.

Making your top sales representative the Sales Manager often does not work out because the skill sets are different.  The same is true with leading teams.  Appoint the leader who can manage people and process.

4. Agree early on about product positioning and targeting.

A great technique is to create a one-page talking points sheet.  Have each team member draft one.  Package all of them together and share them with the team.  Look for points of disagreement.  Discuss why they exist.  Solve them and move forward.

5. Have a detailed project plan and launch schedule.

Use whatever program or method that works for you to develop, track and share the plan.  Hold all parties responsible for their tasks and flag them when they fall behind.  Celebrate milestones together.

6. Plan for contingencies.

Stuff happens.  There might be regulatory, legal, manufacturing, shipping or many other types of delays.  Contingency plan for each of them.

The Takeaway

Successful product development requires planning, perseverance, and leadership.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Those are the ideas.  What do you think?  Please comment below.

1.      What other tips and tricks do you have for successful product development?

2.      What would you add or change about the points above?

3.      What characteristics are displayed by a successful product development leader?

If you would like to contact me, you may do so by visiting my LinkedIn page, following me on Twitter,  or e-mailing me at rcberman2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

photo © 2005 Ben and Kaz Askins | more info (via: Wylio)
We should periodically step back and look at some of the lessons learned during our careers.  Every post that I write includes a “Takeaway” or lesson learned. I always include the Takeaway to provide a bit of advice boiled down to one or two sentences. Here are 9 lessons I learned about Product Development.

Intellectual Discipline in Product Development

Product Development is important to the whole organization.  It is an intellectual discipline that innovates and renovates products and services that are the lifeblood of companies. Full article here.

Naming Innovative New Products

Breakthrough products or categories are hard to define for the audience.  A descriptive name can break through to potential purchasers. Full article here.

Why Are New Products Launched –To Succeed or Fail?

Marketers must strive to utilize our precious resources: people, time and capital.  Opportunity costs are indeed high when a new product fails. Full article here.

Why Are New Products Launched –3 Correct Reasons?

Product Development that is driven by solid analysis coupled with considered ideas and opportunities has a higher opportunity for success. Full article here.

Why Are New Products Launched –The External Reasons?

Taking action to steer clear of faulty reasons for developing new products will assist you and your firm in having a higher success rate in business-to-business new product introductions. Full article here.

Why Are New Products Launched  –The Internal Reasons?

To get the full picture, we must examine the foundations of why we launch new products and eliminate those approaches, which by their nature, are most likely to lead to failure. Full article here.

Take Product Add Service:  Result is More Profit

Margins are increased when purchasers value their convenience and efficacy of the product versus the competition. Full article here.

No Matter What You Call Them They Taste Great

Adroit business people will spot trends early on or identify products or services that can be the start of a trend.  Acai and Pomegranate are two recent food trends that immediately come to mind. Full article here.

Pricing’s Role in Product Development

A customer-in approach to pricing allows a more accurate cost model and attaining the desired profit margin. Full article here.

The Takeaway

Product Development is an ever-evolving discipline that requires us to look at our successes and failures to improve the new products and services that we develop.

Those are the lessons learned.  How about you?  Please comment below.

1.      What other lessons learned can you add to the list?

2.      Do you periodically step back and consider the lessons you have learned in your career?

3.      Would you change any of the lessons above?  If yes, why?

If you would like to contact me, you may do so by visiting my LinkedIn page, following me on Twitter,  or e-mailing me at rcberman2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.