BUSINESS IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY PILOTING — MODEL FOR ANALYSIS IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

The challenge of companies in today's turbulent business environment is to identify customers' requirements when technology platforms and products are still in development and customers lack experience with the products. This paper presents experiences from piloting new technologies in telecommunications industry and proposes piloting as a means to introduce new products and applications. To date, piloting has been mostly considered as black box; there is no general or facilitated description for piloting process. This study opens piloting up to a process embedded in new product development (NPD). This study validates the probe and learn process and shows the importance of customer involvement in providing new innovations and enhancement ideas in technologically advanced environment. This paper presents and facilitates the actual process of piloting in order to manage it. Benefits of piloting are verified.