New Product Development

Contents : 

  1. Meaning & Definition of New Product Development.
  2. Need for New Product Development.
  3. Failure of New Product.
  4. Booz, Allen, and Hamilton Classification Scheme for New Products.

What is New Product Development ?


The goods and services that vary considerably in terms of their attributes or intended usage in contrast with the goods manufactured previously by the same firm are termed as "'new products". It is a difficult task to define a new product.
It involves novel ideas and offerings which are entirely different and new for the customers. Moreover, the relative view is considered highly useful in defining a new product, as the potential consumers who will be using the product for the first time, may identify opportunities or problems for consideration.
The concept of a new product is highly multi dimensional, which has capabilities of satisfying the wants of desirous and interested stockholders. It also provides strategic competitive advantage to significant number of interested consumers. This also leads to significant opportunity for a firm to create value in the competitive market. There are various perspectives from which a new product could be defined.

Definition of New Product Development 


According to Musselman and Jackson :
"A product is said to be a new product when it serves an entirely new function or makes a major improvement in a present function."

According to Kotler : 
"New product mean original products, improved products, modified products and new brands which are developed by the firm through its own research and development efforts and includes those products which the consumers see as new. A new product is thus perceived differently by different people. It is a need satisfying concept with benefit for buyers bundle of need satisfying features, for marketers, a way to add value for intermediaries, an opportunity to design, for R&D and to assemble and process for production department.

After product planning, the next step is product development. The process of identifying the probability of producing a product is called product development. Under this process, the feasibility and profitability of producing a new product is assessed before making a final decision.

According to Limpson and Darling :
"Product development involves the adding, dropping, and modification of item specifications in the product line for a given period of time, usually one year".

New product development involves all the phases and functions in launching a new product or service. The process starts with emergence of a new idea and ends with the commercialization of new product in the market. New product development encompasses competitive pressure, cost challenges and increased consumer expectations which helps the firm to develop an enhanced and better-quality product for the market. Through acquisition or development, a firm can introduce new products in the market. The 
following are three forms of acquisition :
1) By buying other companies.
2) By acquiring patents from other companies.
3) By purchasing license or franchise from another company.

Need for New Product Development 


The organizations which are aiming at advanced levels of growth have to consider the following points:

1) Meeting Changes in Consumer Demand :
Change is a universal phenomenon in today's time of science and technology. For example, a quick change in the food habits, comfort preferences, tastes, customs and traditions, needs and expectations, etc. can be seen. The organizations need to keep an eye on these changes taking place in their surroundings.
Customers always give preference to the products which are better in terms of quality, fashion, price, etc. An organization has to proactively respond to such vibrant demands, which in turn results in innovations in products and services. By doing this, the organizations can keep themselves updated and can strengthen their relationship with the customers.

2) Making New Profits : 
Manufacturing new products is important for earning profits; since existing products have less scope for enhancing profit levels, while new products have vast scope for it. On reaching the maturity stage of PLC, the gains acquired from the existing products start decreasing and diminishes gradually till the product reaches the decline stage. Hence, it becomes quite necessary for the organizations to come up with the new and innovative products that can replace the old product which is on the verge of declining. Such new products play an important role in growth of the organization and sometimes they are the only source for the organization to find new prospects of profit.

3) Handling the Environmental Threats :
There are various environmental threats faced by a business organization. One way to handle these threats is to find out a new product which is capable enough to combat against it. These threats spring from various environmental factors, like socio-economic, technological, political, and demand and supply, etc. Moreover, the biggest threat that is always present in such environment is competition in the market and products.
Hence, it becomes vital to fight these risk factors by introducing new products. More prospects of growth and development are opened through it, which further ensures endurance and feasibility for the organization.. I also distributes the risk factor among the old and new products.

4) Other Necessities : 
The other strategic needs for new product development are as follows :
  • New products can provide the organization a source for gaining competitive edge.
  • They can ensure long-term financial return on the investments made. They also help in optimum utilization of the available resources.
  • New products make best use of research and development.
  • They can provide new opportunities for making changes in the strategic plans of the company.
  • New products can bring most out of the marketing practices and brand equity.
  • It enhances the corporate image of the organization/brand.

Also Read :

Failure of New Products 


Every organization has to significantly devote time, money, skills and energy to innovate and develop a new product. Irrespective of the efforts put by the organization, the new product may experience failures.
A product failure crucially affects the organization in terms of time, money, brand image and motivation level of employees. Therefore, it is very important to determine the reason behind the failure of a product. Some of the reasons are as follows :

1) Over-estimation of Market Size : 
A product will not be able to perform in the market, if the market size is over-estimated. This may lead to less revenue generation than the desired level, even if the quality of the product is good.

2) Under-estimation of Market Competition :
When a marketer fails to estimate the actual competition level and competitors' strengths, then the product may have to deal with severe competition in the market. This often leads to failure of new products.

3) Inadequate Market Research : 
If a marketer is unable to study the market and makes erroneous predictions about the customers needs and wants, then this may fail to satisfy the potential customers.

4) Lack of Uniqueness : 
If a product is incompetent in comparison with the competitor's product, then customers have no reason to purchase a new product.

5) Poor Product Design : 
A poorly designed product may cause inconvenience to customers in using the product. This is one of the major reasons of customers to dislike about a product.

6) Lack of Superiority : 
It is essential for a product to prove itself superior in contrast to other similar products available in the market. Sale of new products cannot be made on the basis of superfluous claims made by the marketers. Hence, leading to the failure of new products.

7) Incorrect STP Approach : 
A product may fail to capture the market, when a marketer incorrectly segments the market, targets the target audience and positions the new product.

8) Technical Issues : 
While using a new product, if a customer faces any technical issues, then he may discontinue purchasing the same product again.

9) High Production Costs : 
When the price of a product is high compared to the other products in the market, then this may lead to product failure. This occurs, when the actual production cost exceeds the expected production cost.

10) Wrong Entry Timing : 
If a new product enters the market at the wrong time by making hasty decisions or by entering late in the market, then also the product may fail to establish its position in the market.

11) Ineffective Promotion : 
Ineffective utilization of promotional tools lead to new product failure. The customers remain unaware of the product's attributes and functions, due to which customers do not purchase the product.

Booz, Allen, and Hamilton Classification Scheme for New Products 


Booz, Allen, and Hamilton classified the new products into six categories which are explained below. According to such classification, a marketer should closely scrutinize which is the best class for his product. The classification scheme for the new products is shown in figure :

Booz, Allen, and Hamilton Classification Scheme for New Products

1) New-to-the-World : 
As the name suggests, it is that category of product which is launched in the market for the first time. They may also be called as really new products. Since these products are new, their prospective customers are needed to be provided with appropriate knowledge about its working and the benefits it can provide. Once the product reaches the hands of customer, it starts attracting buyers. Thus, it can be said that the firms involved in its production will get the first mover advantage as no such product was present in market before its launch.

2) New-to-the-Firm : 
This category involves such products which are new to the company but not for the market, i.e., they are already present in the market under the name of some other companies. This means that if the firm wants to produce such product, it actually wants to introduce a new product line. Hence, new-to-the-firm products can also be known as new product-lines for the firms.

3) Addition to Existing Product-Lines : 
This category can involve both new-to-the-firm and new-to-the-world products. Usually, big firms keep on adding new products to the previous product-lines. This is done for several reasons, the absolute one being "earning profits'.

4) Improved and Revised : 
Those firms which believe in delivering 'nothing but the best'; keeps on revising their products for delivering flawless services to the consumers. These products are known as improved and revised". Generally. this category is found in organizations producing beauty products and electronic goods.

5) Re-Positioning : 
It has been found that the products which are already being used can serve some other purposes as well. After realizing this fact, the organization may want to offer their products to the customers with new added features or usage value which is known as repositioning the product in the market.

6) Reduction in Cost : 
Manufacturing an entirely new product can prove to be an expensive affair. Yet, on close scrutiny the organizations can discover that similar product can be produced with lower expense, which would also help in bringing down the prices. Briefly, the cheaper version of an expensive product can be called cost reduction or reduction in cost.