Toward a Theory of Competencies for the Management of Product Complexity: Six Case Studies
Keywords
marketing-operations interface, design-operations interface, complexity, product development, socio-technical systems theory, case study
Abstract
Business units in six Fortune 500 companies were studied to develop better understanding regarding drivers of product portfolio complexity and the means to manage them. Our research focuses on identifying important competencies for managing product portfolio complexity and on the development of appropriate theoretical explanations. We found three important competencies: product/technology portfolio strategy, organization and governance regarding complexity decisions, and product design and decision support systems. We explicate these competencies using a socio-technical systems theoretical perspective. Our findings provide the basis for a model describing the impact of complexity and complexity management on business unit profitability.
Original Publication Citation
"Closs, D., Jacobs, M., Swink, M., & Webb, G. S. (2008); “Toward a theory of competencies for the management of product complexity: Six case studies”, Journal of Operations Management, 2008, 26(5), 590 - 610"
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Closs, David J.; Jacobs, Mark A.; Swink, Morgan; and Webb, G. Scott, "Toward a Theory of Competencies for the Management of Product Complexity: Six Case Studies" (2008). Faculty Publications. 8687.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/8687
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2008
Publisher
Journal of Operations Management
Language
English
College
Marriott School of Business
Department
Marketing
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