Toward a Theory of Competencies for the Management of Product Complexity: Six Case Studies

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2008

Publication Source

Journal of Operations Management

Abstract

Business units in six Fortune 500 companies were studied to develop better understanding regarding drivers of product portfolio complexity and the means to manage them. Our research focuses on identifying important competencies for managing product portfolio complexity and on the development of appropriate theoretical explanations. We found three important competencies: product/technology portfolio strategy, organization and governance regarding complexity decisions, and product design and decision support systems. We explicate these competencies using a socio-technical systems theoretical perspective. Our findings provide the basis for a model describing the impact of complexity and complexity management on business unit profitability.

Inclusive pages

590–610

ISBN/ISSN

0272-6963

Comments

Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

26

Issue

5

Peer Reviewed

yes

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