Shortening the Product Development Cycle

Abstract

This article covers 10 such approaches in which such managers play a particularly important role. 1. Be Flexible About Process There are many sound approaches to managing R&D projects. Each method has its advantages and shortcomings. The correct approach can only be selected when one has a clear vision of which Preston Smith and Donald Reinertsen are coauthors of Developing Products in Half the Time, (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991). They are management consultants based in West Hartford, Connecticut, and Redondo Beach, California, respectively. Both have concentrated for several years on rapid product development techniques, Smith initially as staff consultant with Emhart Corporation and Reinertsen initially with McKinsey & Company. Smith received his Ph.D. in engineering from Stanford University; Reinertsen has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Cornell and an M.B.A. from 44 Harvard