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- Search by Tags - The tags listed correspond to the three phases and six knowledge areas of Product Development. You can click on up to five tags and the system will present you with the articles that pertain to the area you are interested in.
- Search by Keyword - This method will search the BOK for the word you entered and return the most applicable BOK information.
- Navigate via Cell Framework - With this method, you can simply click on the BOK cell that you are most interested in learning about. You will then be presented with the cell description and articles that relate to that cell.
When you search for information, you will often see "Cell Descriptions." The Cell Descriptions explain what a particular cell contains. Cell Descriptions are accessible to members and non-members. In addition to Cell Descriptions, you will be presented with articles. The articles are only available to members. If you try to access an article, you will be prompted for your member sign in information. Each article is presented in the same format. The article will start with a definition of the topic, continue with a description and commentary, and end with references for additional learning.
The PDMA BOK currently has over 40 articles that cover a broad spectrum of Product Development information. We need your input to develop the PDMA BOK into the leading resource for Product Development professionals. To submit an article for submission into the PDMA BOK, please click here.
To learn more about the PDMA BOK and get a brief description of the phases and cell, click here.
Discovery
This first phase is primarily about discovery. It covers the entire process of searching for and identifying opportunities whether - market-based or technology-based - and all of the planning and strategy to accomplish this. It requires the identification of customer needs, problems, and benefits, and the conceptual features that are envisioned for the products it wishes to build. It ends with the publication of a formal product specifications document.
Development
This second phase is primarily about realization. It covers the entire process of converting specifications into designs - whether for an individual product or a complete portfolio of products - and all of the processes to accomplish this. It usually requires detailed resource management, creative engineering and process design capabilities, and sophisticated information technology. It ends when the products or services achieve their first commercial availability.
Commercialization
This third phase is primarily about fulfillment. It covers the entire process of new product introduction and the organization's management of its product and service portfolio as it attempts to fulfill its financial potential. It ends when the products or services have reached the end of their useful lifecycle and are to be considered as candidates for retirement, renewal, and regeneration. At this stage, the process begins anew with the undertaking of a new product development initiative, and a return to the Discovery Phase.
Customer & Market Research
Anything having to do with bringing external insight into product innovation, development, and growth especially insight about customers (buyers and end users) but also information about channels, competitors, markets, alternatives, etc. This includes gathering and scanning for this information as well as processing, analysis, storage, and use. It includes going to outsiders for insight, validation, confirmation, and feedback. It also includes gleaning this insight from primary as well as secondary sources.
Technology & IP
Anything having to do primarily with the invention, development, acquisition, licensing, and management of the technologies and IP that enable and become part of products. To the extent that commercialization of a technology means creating new products, then that would be dealt with by the larger BOK but topics such as planning technology commercialization would be in this row.
Strategy & Planning
Anything having to do primarily with strategies, plans, and decision making around product innovation, development, and growth. These would include strategies, plans, and decision making at the business level (as relates to product innovation, development, and growth), as well as for platforms, product lines or product families, and products. The focus is on business, platform, and product planning as opposed to planning for marketing, operations, customer support, etc. Which would be captured in process, execution & metrics. Strategy, planning, and decision making for technologies would be included in technology and IP. This row would include strategy and planning around resource capacity and throughput management across multiple projects ("pipeline resource management") since resourcing is part of decision making.
People, Teams & Culture
Anything having to do primarily with the people side of product development across the lifecycle including organization/team structures, people management, skills development, culture, organization change management, human interaction, etc
Co-Development & Alliances
Anything having to do primarily with innovation, development, and growth activities that take place in unison with external partners of all sorts including customers, suppliers, service providers, and channels. This would include co-development or development chain strategy, partner management, co-development execution processes, co-development teams, etc. Even if the topic might fall into another row, if the focus is on this activity in a co-development context, it would go in this row primarily.
Process, Execution & Metrics
Anything having to do with the operational dimension of product innovation, development, and growth. This row would not include processes and tools for customer/market input, technology/IP management, strategy and planning, people management, and co-development. It would include processes and tools for requirements development and management, design, manufacturing, supply chain, (engineering) change management, channel management, pricing, positioning, promotion, financial management, and customer support. This row would include process and performance management in general including metrics and benchmarks for product innovation, development, and growth.
