Product development in the late stages of a technology life cycle: lessons from the America’s Cup 1995

In the mature stage of product and technology life cycles, major breakthroughs in performance are difficult to achieve. However, a series of small incremental improvements may cumulatively make a significant difference. At this stage, execution of the best organizational practices becomes even more important. Uses team New Zealand’s extremely successful 1995 America’s Cup program to illustrate how these practices and success factors can be brought together in an effective high technology product design process. Identifies these factors and practices as high quality human assets, participatory leadership, sufficient resources, a climate of innovation, external scanning, interactive involvement with sophisticated users, and technology strategy and competitive strategy match.