Assessing the role of knowledge management in the new product development process: An empirical study

The actual competitive context is stressing the importance of knowledge management (KM) enhancing organizational performance through the creation, sharing and reuse of knowledge. The purpose of the present study is to empirically explore the role of KM in the enhancement of new product development (NPD) process within a set of companies with at least a R&D department located in Italy. The authors formulated a conceptual research model, including the relation between KM, NPD performance and strategies, that has been validated through statistical analyses. The outcomes confirm the positive relation between KM maturity and NPD performance in the Electrical sector. Moreover, the identification of Critical Success Factors (CSFs), is influenced by KM techniques adopted, revealing the impact of KM on NPD strategies. Finally the achievement of good NPD performances, such as the ease to fill out reports and projects, appears related to appropriate NPD strategies.