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Reducing project related uncertainty in the "fuzzy front end" of innovation: a comparison of German and Japanese product innovation projects

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  • Cornelius Herstatt
  • Birgit Verworn
  • Akio Nagahira

Abstract

In this paper, we report on the results of an exploratory study including 28 innovation projects carried out by 14 German and 13 Japanese companies to reduce project uncertainty. In all cases, we observed a range of activities to reduce project specific uncertainties and revealed differences in the practice of innovation management in both the German and Japanese companies. The focus of our research was the so-called "fuzzy front end", activities and typical deliverables in the innovation process, which might be affected by front end management practice. Overall, in the case of the German as well as the Japanese projects, the uncertainties affected by the market or technology could successfully be reduced during the "fuzzy front end" and the majority of projects achieved their objectives and efficiency targets. Nevertheless, our study revealed differences in the way such uncertainties were reduced by the companies in Japan and Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelius Herstatt & Birgit Verworn & Akio Nagahira, 2004. "Reducing project related uncertainty in the "fuzzy front end" of innovation: a comparison of German and Japanese product innovation projects," International Journal of Product Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 1(1), pages 43-65.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpdev:v:1:y:2004:i:1:p:43-65
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Mu & Ooi, Yat Ming & Han, Chunjia, 2022. "Lead users as idea supplier in online community platform: How to choose the right ideas to implement?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    2. Henrik Florén & Johan Frishammar & Vinit Parida & Joakim Wincent, 2018. "Critical success factors in early new product development: a review and a conceptual model," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 411-427, June.
    3. Verworn, Birgit & Herstatt, Cornelius & Nagahira, Akio, 2006. "The impact of the fuzzy front end on new product development success in Japanese NPD projects," Working Papers 39, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.
    4. Fujimoto, Yuka & Ferdous, Ahmed Shahriar & Sekiguchi, Tomoki & Sugianto, Ly-Fie, 2016. "The effect of mobile technology usage on work engagement and emotional exhaustion in Japan," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3315-3323.
    5. Gupta, Samir & Maltz, Elliot, 2015. "Interdependency, dynamism, and variety (IDV) network modeling to explain knowledge diffusion at the fuzzy front-end of innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2434-2442.
    6. Ozer, Muammer, 2007. "Reducing the demand uncertainties at the fuzzy-front-end of developing new online services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 1372-1387, November.

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