New Product Development
A successful idea generation process is part of searching for an idea that is superior and which has not been discovered. There are various methods that can be used in generating an idea for the new product such as Delphi and focus groups, brain storming. Ideas for the new product can be got from research using various aspects such as SWOT analysis, the trends of market and consumers, the competitors of the product, trade shows and so on. The basic approach is to ensure that full creativity is harnessed when developing the new idea. Open innovation will also be used in idea development where research will be conducted on the product. This research should be conducted in a speedy so that costs can be cut and at the same time generate new ideas that are innovative. Input can be got from internal sources like strategic planning and external sources like market information and customers (Boundless, 2013).
When brain storming on the new product we will start with the phase of screening the idea. Idea screening is aimed at eliminating any concepts of the product that are not sound before resources are devoted to them. Through the process of screening there are various questions that the screeners ask themselves this include if the customers in the target market will have benefits from the bottles, the size as well as growth forecasts of the target market, the expected as well as current competition of the new product idea, the feasibility of producing the bottle t and if the bottles will be profitable if manufactured and sold to the customers at the price which is intended (Sambandam,2010).Brain storming also involves a dimensional analysis of the new product which involves various aspects such as combination which involves looking at how the new product can be mixed with any other that exists. Another aspect is magnification which involves looking at how the new product would do if the numbers are increased and how its market can be magnified. It also involves modification which entails altering or redesigning of the idea of the new product as well as using old assumptions that existed. It also involves adopting which entails what processes can be copied or swipe technology when producing the bottles.
The other aspect is elimination whereby an analysis of what might weigh the idea of the new product down, what should be dropped from the idea are also examined for the new product. Once some ideas have been generated through brainstorming then 3 to 4 of them are produced for discussion. It is important to involve various people in brainstorming this are such as an engineer who has knowledge on the process of producing the bottles, a salesperson that has knowledge on the market and knows exactly what people need, the purchasing person who knows the raw materials that are needed, the customer who knows what exactly they need and if they can find it in the new product, all these are key when developing the idea of the new product (Garret, 2013).
The various techniques which can be used in generating the idea for the new product can therefore be selected on the basis of suitability of the task. Quantity of the idea is something which is wanted so as to develop an idea that existed before. therefore it will be encouraged to modify or combine one idea with another as well as development from one idea to another .all ideas are valid in the stage of development of ideas and none should be criticized After the ideas have been generated they will undergo valuation so that market validation can be done.
References
Chartered Inst. of Environmental Health..(2010). Product Strategy Development: Idea Generation and Screening. Retrieved April 4, 2013 from http://www.nzifst.org.nz/creatingnewfoods/idea_generation4.htmSambandam,R.(2010).New product development: stages and methods.Retrived April 4,2013 from http://www.trchome.com/about-trc/press-releases/223.htmlBoundless.(2013).Idea generation. Retrieved April 4,2013 from https://www.boundless.com/marketing/products/new-product-development-1/idea-generation/Garret, T. (2013).Marketing and NPD.
