The impact of supply chain integration mechanisms on success in new product development projects

Recent research has emphasized cross functional integration as a key facilitator of success in new product development (NPD) projects. This dissertation developed and tested a model using supply chain integration as a key enabler influencing both planning of the new product and execution of the development process in NPD projects. Supply chain integration was operationalized to include cross functional (for example, between design and manufacturing) and boundary spanning integration mechanisms (such as supplier integration). Product concept effectiveness (a construct capturing the planning of the new product), and development process performance (a construct measuring the execution of new product development process) were theorized to influence overall project success. Hypotheses drawn from this framework were tested on a multi-industry sample (electronics, communications, semiconductors, and computers) of firms. Data analysis was conducted using regression analyses, partial correlations, confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling.;The results from the data analysis indicated support for the importance of integration mechanisms as enablers of success in new product development projects. Specifically, infrastructure programs with key suppliers, design proactiveness and 'capturing the voice of the customer' were found to be the most critical integration mechanisms that influenced NPD project success. Integration mechanisms had a differential impact on individual measures of project success. The results support the complementary influence of product planning and development process execution on project success. The contingent influence of market and product related factors on the integration mechanisms;Contributions of this dissertation to practice included identification of specific 'supply chain' integration mechanisms that were significantly related to project success and to the mediating factors (product planning and project execution) of project success. Also, integration mechanisms were shown to have a contingent role in NPD projects. This dissertation contributed to theory by bridging the gap between two established schools (rational planning and problem solving) in new product research by developing and testing a model using constructs from both schools. Contributions to methodology include development of new scales (for example, fit with firm capability) and verification of measurement properties of existing scales at the NPD project level.