Abstract:
This systematic review maps out the current literature of knowledge creation processes
which may be applied to the specific context of radical new product innovation in the
manufacturing industry. It follows a process which is transparent and objective by stating
and following explicit methods for the search, extraction and synthesis of the data
contained within the academic literature base.
The perspective from which the knowledge processes have been discussed in the academic
literature were used to categories the papers. The associated findings of knowledge process
descriptions and success factors within each of the categories were extracted. The
complementary concepts and theories extracted from the papers were synthesized into an
overall picture of knowledge creation processes. This generalized process of knowledge
creation may be applicable to radical NPD in manufacturing industry.
A scoring system was used to grade the relevancy of the articles against three dimensions
pertinent to the context of this review: radical innovation (as apposed to incremental) and
manufacturing NPD as opposed to other industry processes and knowledge process
relevancy. It was clear that no paper scored highly on all three dimensions leading to the
conclusion that there is no clear understanding exists of the knowledge creation process
which happens in the specific context of radical NPD in the manufacturing industry.
What the literature tells us is that a generalised process of knowledge creation is described
in rich detail within the literature and despite the disparate origins the process mechanisms,
routes and success factors are surprisingly complementary.
What is not known to any degree of certainty is whether the processes shown within the
literature are generalisable or, more specifically, can be applied to the specific context of
radical NPD in the manufacturing industry.
