Entrepreneurial Perception of Product Development Cycle Time within Startup Companies
(2018) BUSN09 20181Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- Purpose: While the phenomenon of new product development (NPD) and cycle time in
general is sufficiently covered in the literature, a clear picture of the NPD length in startups
has not been available so far. Simultaneously, the literature emphasizes the entrepreneurial
perception and judgment as major factor for the success of a business, but does not
specifically refer to the NPD cycle time. The purpose of this research is to explore the
perception of entrepreneurs on product development cycle length in startups. Furthermore,
possible opportunities and challenges of product development cycle time perceived by
entrepreneurs are investigated. Ultimately, this study discusses factors that influence the
perception of NPD... (More) - Purpose: While the phenomenon of new product development (NPD) and cycle time in
general is sufficiently covered in the literature, a clear picture of the NPD length in startups
has not been available so far. Simultaneously, the literature emphasizes the entrepreneurial
perception and judgment as major factor for the success of a business, but does not
specifically refer to the NPD cycle time. The purpose of this research is to explore the
perception of entrepreneurs on product development cycle length in startups. Furthermore,
possible opportunities and challenges of product development cycle time perceived by
entrepreneurs are investigated. Ultimately, this study discusses factors that influence the
perception of NPD cycle time.
Methodology: We followed an inductive, qualitative research strategy with an embedded
case study design of eight participating startups. First, we categorized them alongside five
topics. Second, we performed an in-depth analysis, using the software MAXQDA.
Findings: The results show that entrepreneurs have a different perception regarding the NPD
process. Also, it becomes evident that most entrepreneurs aim at being fast in product
development but do not consciously implement a strategy due to various reasons. Apart from
this, the findings show that the entrepreneurs’ perception of the NPD process and the related
cycle time is mainly influenced by six factors. These factors comprise the level of certainty,
pressure, personality, dependency, development stage and the support that the entrepreneurs
and their startups are confronted with. Depending on the perceived intensity of these factors,
entrepreneurs in startups perceive the speed of the NPD, its relevance, challenges and
opportunities in different ways.
Conclusion: The research question could be answered, despite the limitations concerning the
research method and the complexity of the topic and the cases. However, it is concluded that
there is a need of further research in order to reduce the limitations as well as to enhance the
significance and generalizability of the findings. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8952415
- author
- Isberner, Leon LU and Nguyen, Susan LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Analysis of the Factors that influence the Perception of Speed, its Challenges and Opportunities
- course
- BUSN09 20181
- year
- 2018
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial perception, entrepreneurial judgement, product development, fast cycle development, slow cycle development, NPD, speed, startups
- language
- English
- id
- 8952415
- date added to LUP
- 2018-08-01 13:49:42
- date last changed
- 2018-08-01 13:49:42
@misc{8952415, abstract = {{Purpose: While the phenomenon of new product development (NPD) and cycle time in general is sufficiently covered in the literature, a clear picture of the NPD length in startups has not been available so far. Simultaneously, the literature emphasizes the entrepreneurial perception and judgment as major factor for the success of a business, but does not specifically refer to the NPD cycle time. The purpose of this research is to explore the perception of entrepreneurs on product development cycle length in startups. Furthermore, possible opportunities and challenges of product development cycle time perceived by entrepreneurs are investigated. Ultimately, this study discusses factors that influence the perception of NPD cycle time. Methodology: We followed an inductive, qualitative research strategy with an embedded case study design of eight participating startups. First, we categorized them alongside five topics. Second, we performed an in-depth analysis, using the software MAXQDA. Findings: The results show that entrepreneurs have a different perception regarding the NPD process. Also, it becomes evident that most entrepreneurs aim at being fast in product development but do not consciously implement a strategy due to various reasons. Apart from this, the findings show that the entrepreneurs’ perception of the NPD process and the related cycle time is mainly influenced by six factors. These factors comprise the level of certainty, pressure, personality, dependency, development stage and the support that the entrepreneurs and their startups are confronted with. Depending on the perceived intensity of these factors, entrepreneurs in startups perceive the speed of the NPD, its relevance, challenges and opportunities in different ways. Conclusion: The research question could be answered, despite the limitations concerning the research method and the complexity of the topic and the cases. However, it is concluded that there is a need of further research in order to reduce the limitations as well as to enhance the significance and generalizability of the findings.}}, author = {{Isberner, Leon and Nguyen, Susan}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Entrepreneurial Perception of Product Development Cycle Time within Startup Companies}}, year = {{2018}}, }