Summary

Managing new product development is a key area of management, straddling strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship and macro-organizational behaviour.All of the contributorsin the Handbook of New Product Developmentare are well-known and leading exponents to theory of New Product Development and to methods used in practice. They draw upon their experience and work to offer a comprehensive view of the challenges in managing the development of new products. Existing knowledge in the different topics is examined and the key management challenges, and the important gaps in our knowledge are discussed. Most of the chapters draw upon systematic interaction with companies and practice and this is presented in the examples and the case studies cited.The Handbook of New Product Development and Management surveys this area in the context of an overall framework that explains how aspects interact and combine in a successful NPD process. Each chapter outlines open questions and highlights needs for future research.