Formulating a decision parameter for implementation of product innovation ideas

For a multi- product manufacturing organization, product innovation is a constant process. A question which every such organization must answer for every innovative idea is whether that idea is to be incorporated in the existing product as a continuous process or it should be implemented as a new product? This paper studies the impact of architectural and design factors on this decision and formulates a decision parameter to facilitate this decision. This has been done by studying various innovation ideas implemented at two motorcycle manufacturers, collected by studying their spare parts catalogues across models and the implementation decision in case of each idea. The study reveals a clear relationship between the factors and the decisions, and the formulated parameter can clearly demarcate the ideas between the two implementation choices.