What goes on in a small firm that lives or dies by its capacity to innovate? How are decisions made on new product development, and how does that feed into the ecological, social and financial sustainability of the firm? This book answers the questions through an in-depth look at a small business that manufactures high-end carpet yarn.
Using advanced analytical techniques to interrogate rich qualitative data, the book draws together established theories of decision-making and new product development, coupled with thinking about business sustainability to improve our understanding of this important area of business practice. The book further reinforces the importance and role of organizational learning in organizational decision-making, based on novel analysis of empirically developed qualitative data.
Table of Contents:
1. Sustainability, Decision-making and New Product Development 2. Theory in Decision-making, New Product Development and Sustainability 3. Methods for Following the Practice of Small Business Management 4. Observations on Decision-making, New Product Development and Sustainability in a Small Business 5. Theoretical Perspectives on Decision-making, New Product Development and Sustainability in a Small Business 6. Conclusions
About the Author :
Mary Haropoulou is a Course Quality Officer at the University of Western Sydney.
Clive Smallman is Professor and Dean at the Higher Education Leadership Institute.
Review :
'Written in an accessible style while demonstrating scholarly rigour, this thoughtful and comprehensive study of decision-making concerning new product development will be an important resource for both academics and practitioners. Drawing on a detailed case study, Decision-making for New Product Development in Small Businesses offers a valuable framework by which to understand the critically import role of decision-making in leading to sustainable business outcomes. In this respect its core message is something that is of significance to all businesses irrespective of sector or size.' — Professor David Grant, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business), Griffith Business School
'This book addresses an important issue: how can business become more sustainable? It goes beyond a purely academic focus to show how theorizing the concept of sustainability can help organizations learn and improve their business operations. In switching the focus on the value chain from simply the efficient supply of raw materials to include the ecological and social impacts, the authors both deepen and broaden what it means to be sustainable. Using an in-depth case study, they draw important conclusions for businesses that want to be sustainably and financially successful. There is much to be learned from their study.' — Cynthia Hardy, Laureate Professor of Management, University of Melbourne
'Sustainability has been described as THE issue facing industry and while no one seriously doubts the importance of the subject, our understanding of exactly how organisations factor sustainability into their decision-making remains relatively opaque. This very welcome book sheds important light on this decision-making process, looking in particular at new product development and how business judgements around this affect sustainable outcomes. We get to see an in-depth case which shows the nuances and complexities of this process, and the findings and theoretical contributions greatly enhance our knowledge of this critical area.' — Dr Philip Stiles, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
