Managing the New Product Development Process from Coursera

This course covers the product development process in detail. With the opportunity defined, learners begin with ideation techniques such as Design Thinking to create new product concepts. Learners define the tools to create product specifications that meet customer requirements, then conceptualize different ways of meeting those requirements. Learners conclude by exploring prototyping and the techniques used to down-select to a concept that is then carried through launch.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Creativity and the Innovation Process

This course begins with an overview of topics and course structure. We then explore how to develop creativity within ourselves, as all product development efforts begin with ideas from individuals that see opportunities the rest of us don't. With a creative mindset, we can then begin ideating about product opportunities. Two methods are explored, Design Thinking, and Design-Driven Innovation. Design Thinking is all about understanding customer needs, whereas Design-Driven Innovation is all about understanding the meaning products have on people's lives. Both approaches are effective, yet both are quite different!

Market Research Techniques

If product development is all about solving real problems, we need to understand who, in fact, has these problems, as these people are our potential customers. In this module, we define customers, users, markets and market segments. We also define market size terms such as the TAM, SAM and SOM. Now its time to get specific, and create our Customer Persona, a detailed description of our target customer, enabling us to determine how many potential customers are in our target market.

CCRs, Product Requirements Matrix & Concept Generation

Understanding the customer's problems allows the product developer to begin thinking about solutions. That process starts with converting customer statements into customer needs, which become Critical Customer Requirements, or CCRs. This defines what the product must do to make the customer happy. Performance metrics are then established and a Product Requirements Matrix defines the most important CCRs, and some target values the product should meet. Finally, knowing what the product should do, it is time to be creative and come up with all the different product ways one can design a product to meet the CCRs, a process known as Concept Generation.

Concept Testing, Prototyping and the MVP

Successful concept generation creates many possible product designs, far too many to take forward. This module covers the techniques to downselect many designs to a few. From there, the product development team builds simple prototypes suitable to obtain customer feedback. The simplest of these is often called the Minimum Viable Product, or MVP. Customers can evaluate the MVP to see if the PD Team is on the right track - as MVPs don't cost much money or time to build. With greater confidence with the product concept, the team can build even more refined prototypes, ultimately enabling the final product concept to be defined.

Digital Prototyping

Thus far, the course have discussed physical products and physical prototyping. Yet many products are digital, such as digital apps or websites. Prototypes can be made for these products too, although the process is a bit different. In this module, the digital prototyping process is covered, culminating in a prototyping workshop showing students how to use online tools to create their own digital app prototype.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches Design Thinking, which is industry standard for developing new product concepts

Taught by Michael J. Readey, Ph.D., who is recognized for their expertise in engineering management

Develops proficiency in Design-Driven Innovation, which is a new approach to understanding the meaning products have on people's lives

Offers a graduate certificate in Engineering Management, which is designed for engineers, scientists, and technical professionals looking to move into leadership and management roles

Provides hands-on labs and prototyping exercises, which helps learners develop practical skills

Requires students to have a background in engineering or a related field, which may limit accessibility for learners without this background

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Managing the New Product Development Process with these activities:

Compile all course materials.

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Doing this will give you a more thorough understanding and knowledge base of this subject.

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Gather all of your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Organize the materials into a logical order.
Review the materials regularly.

Review the book "Product Development for Engineers"

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the product development process, from concept generation to launch.

View Product Design and Development on Amazon

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Read the book's chapters on creativity and the innovation process.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Summarize the key concepts from the book.

Follow the following tutorials on product development:

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These tutorials will provide you with additional guidance on the product development process.

Browse courses on Product Development

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How to Develop a New Product
The Product Development Process
Product Design Best Practices

Four other activities

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Complete the following practice drills on product development:

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These practice drills will help you solidify your understanding of the product development process.

Browse courses on Product Development

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Product Development Fundamentals
Product Design Principles
Product Engineering Best Practices

Create a product concept for a new product.

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This activity will help you apply the concepts of product development to a real-world scenario.

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Identify a problem or need that you want to solve.
Brainstorm different ideas for a product that could solve this problem.
Develop a concept for your product, including a product description, features, and benefits.
Create a prototype of your product, such as a mock-up or a 3D model.

Attend a workshop on product development.

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This workshop will provide you with an opportunity to learn from experts in the field.

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Research workshops on product development.
Register for a workshop.
Attend the workshop.

Mentor other students who are taking this course

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This activity will help you reinforce your understanding of the course material.

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Sign up to be a mentor.
Meet with your mentees regularly.
Answer their questions.
Provide feedback on their work.

Career center

Learners who complete Managing the New Product Development Process will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the success of a product throughout its lifecycle. They work with engineers, designers, and marketers to bring a product to market and ensure it meets the needs of customers. This course can help Product Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including ideation, market research, product development, and prototyping.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Product Engineer

Product Engineers are responsible for the design and development of new products. They work with Product Managers and other engineers to create products that meet the needs of customers. This course can help Product Engineers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including creativity, problem-solving, and engineering design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Engineer

Industrial Designer

Industrial Designers are responsible for the design of products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. They work with Product Engineers and other designers to create products that are easy to use and meet the needs of customers. This course can help Industrial Designers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including creativity, sketching, and product development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts are responsible for conducting research to understand the needs of customers. They work with Product Managers and other marketers to develop products and marketing campaigns that are tailored to the needs of customers. This course can help Market Research Analysts develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including research methods, data analysis, and market segmentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for the user experience of products. They work with Product Managers and other designers to create products that are easy to use and enjoyable to interact with. This course can help UX Designers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including user research, prototyping, and user testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. They work with Product Managers and other marketers to create marketing campaigns that reach and engage potential customers. This course can help Marketing Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including market research, marketing strategy, and campaign management.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams. They work with Product Managers and other sales professionals to develop and implement sales strategies. This course can help Sales Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including sales management, customer relationship management, and negotiation.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. They work with Product Managers and other business professionals to develop solutions that meet the needs of the business. This course can help Business Analysts develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including process analysis, data analysis, and solution development.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning and managing projects. They work with Product Managers and other project stakeholders to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the desired quality. This course can help Project Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including project planning, risk management, and stakeholder management.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants are responsible for providing advice and guidance to businesses on how to improve their performance. They work with Product Managers and other business leaders to identify opportunities for improvement and develop solutions that meet the needs of the business. This course can help Management Consultants develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including problem-solving, communication, and persuasion.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are responsible for starting and running their own businesses. They work with Product Managers and other business professionals to develop products and services that meet the needs of customers. This course can help Entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including ideation, market research, and business planning.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation that explains how products work. They work with Product Managers and other engineers to create documentation that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. This course may help Technical Writers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including technical writing, communication, and documentation.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. They work with Product Managers and other engineers to create software applications that meet the needs of customers. This course may help Software Engineers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including software development, programming, and testing.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They work with Product Managers and other business professionals to develop solutions that meet the needs of the business. This course may help Data Scientists develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including data analysis, machine learning, and statistics.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning and managing the operations of a business. They work with Product Managers and other business leaders to ensure that the business runs smoothly and efficiently. This course may help Operations Managers develop the skills they need to succeed in their role, including operations management, process improvement, and supply chain management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager