Beslutsfattande inom Produktutveckling
Kartläggning, analysering & vidareutveckling av PPM process på ett medtech företag
The number of ideas at innovative companies usually exceeds the amount of available human ormaterial recourses, this include ideas for development of new products. Since they are not able to doeverything they want to do they have to choose between ideas to develop new products. This includesthe decision on when to start, stop or kill a project as well as the thought process of prioritizing betweenongoing and potential projects.Project Portfolio Management (PPM) is an organizational process, with the purpose of systematicallyorganizing and running the activities that aim to evaluate, select and prioritize ideas and projects fordeveloping new products. PPM include four major goals to be fulfilled; Maximizing Value of thePortfolio, Achieving a Balanced Portfolio, Achieving a Strategic Alignment and Running the RightNumber of Projects.The purpose of the thesis was to develop a more visual and formal PPM process for the early stages inproduct development in one department at St Jude Medical AB, Sweden.The thesis was conducted by following a methodology known as Process Modules. The methodology isan approach for developing a PPM process that fits a specific company. The methodology is not adefined work procedure for decision making but rather a systematic method for developing one.The thesis was conducted by working closely with a defined Work Group consisting of six decisionmakers at St Jude Medical AB, Sweden. Initially, the authors managed to map the current PPM processat the department in focus which showed to be rather informal and not using formal criteria. Togetherwith the Work Group, the process was formalized and visualized. During a workshop, a set of selectioncriteria were identified and defined, and so was a set of balance criteria. Finally, the new PPM processwas defined and visualized by the authors.A number of overall important reflections were concluded by the authors after conducting this masterthesis. The main reflection is the fact that every PPM process is, and needs to be, company specific.Further on, when developing a PPM process it is of great importance to involve management andinvolved staff in the actual procedure, in order to increase the understanding of the final process.