Critical success factors in product development: an analysis of the Technological Pole of West Santa Catarina - DEATEC

The research aimed to identify the Critical Success Factors (CSF) related to the Product Development Process (PDP) and adopted by the technology-based companies that form the Associacao Polo Tecnologico do Oeste Catarinense (DEATEC). Therefore, an exploratory research with a quantitative approach was applied to 25 companies participating in the hub. The diagnosis of these includes data about the organizational profile, the PDP and, finally, the analysis of CSF. The results revealed that the management of the PDP in the surveyed companies should include more planned and formal actions, including the CSF, since 60% of these do not use such practices. There is a focus on innovation and adequacy of products to the target market. However, many points are still explored in an ineffective and/or superficial way. In the discussions, the practical implications are presented and the limitations of the research and future research possibilities are pointed out.