An interpretative model from the elasticity theory to explore knowledge integration in new product development

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual model to explore the knowledge integration (KI) practices of internal and external company actors involved in the New Product Development (NPD) process of the aerospace industry. The model is based on the linkage of elasticity principles, particularly Hooke’s Law, to Knowledge Management theory. KI practices are considered as a force pushing the NPD process and are metaphorically described as the spring addressed by Hooke’s law. The integration of the knowledge of internal and external company actors impacts NPD, reducing the dimensions of the whole process, in terms of phases, through the application of the concurrent engineering approach. The whole NPD process is improved in terms of the reduction of uncertainty and complexity, and with an ‘integrated energy’ that sustains the pressure of the fast-changing competitive environment. The model is explored to provide an interpretation of the conceptualisation phase of a new aerospace product development process. Qualitative data were collected and analysed. Insights regarding the applications of the model and the theoretical implications are also provided for applications in other industries.

Keywords:

• innovation
• knowledge integration
• knowledge management
• NPD
• elasticity theory
• Hooke’s law

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Angelo Corallo

About the authors

Angelo Corallo is an Associate Professor at the Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento. His main research interests are related to technologies, methodologies and organizational models supporting the New Product Development process in complex industries (with specific focus on aerospace industry); technologies, methodologies and organizational models supporting the Internetworked Enterprise; knowledge management and collaborative working environments in project and process-based organizations. Since 2000, he is the coordinator of several research projects, funded by the EC under FP6 and FP7 or by the Italian national research funds. Since 2000, he is, also, lecturer of several courses at the Faculty of Engineering of University of Salento and of several Master modules at ISUFI, University of Salento. He is supervisor of Ph.D., Master’s and Bachelor Degree Theses and coordinates several academic and industrial training laboratories. He is author of about 90 scientific publications.

Mariangela Lazoi

Mariangela Lazoi, Ph.D., is Research Fellow at the Incubatore Euro-Mediterraneo in ‘e-Business Management’ of the University of Salento, Italy. Her research is focalized on the aerospace industry investigating the value network and the new product development process in terms of methodology, IT tools, knowledge management and coordination mechanisms. She is very interested in the application and investigation both of qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Her Ph.D. thesis has analyzed the inter-firm collaborations and ICT use in aerospace contexts to support innovative activities. She is involved in several research projects and she is tutor of Master’s and Bachelor Degrees Thesis. She is author of several articles exploring the aerospace industry dynamics and complexity.

Giustina Secundo

Giustina Secundo is Assistant Professor in Management Engineering at University of Salento (Italy). Her research is characterized by a cross-disciplinary focus, with a major interest towards areas such as human capital creation, management development and knowledge management in new product development. These research activities have been documented in 90 publications in international journals, conference proceedings and book’s chapters. Her research appeared in Journal of Intellectual Capital, Journal of Management Development, International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, International Journal of Management Education. She is actively involved in other research projects, at national and international level, in collaboration with world-wide leading companies, universities and research centers on the Topic of Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital Reporting. She’s lecturer of Project management and Intellectual Capital Management at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Salento since 2001.

Paolo DePaolis

Paolo De Paolis is a business consultant, Control & Risk Management expert, at Mega International Consulting (leader in Enterprise Architecture and Business Process Analysis).Before he was Junior Researcher at the Incubatore Euro-Mediterraneo in ‘e-Business Management’, University of Salento, in Italy. His research was focused on Business Process Management investigating the New Product Development process in terms of methodology and re-engineering opportunities. He is interested in the investigation of qualitative and quantitative research for the diffusion and evolution of BPM. His background is in Management and Engineering with Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering.