Nike is a global giant in the sports and fitness sector with products ranging from shoes, sports equipment, accessories and apparels. The primary reason for Nike’s sustained success over the decades is their cutting edge and innovative products, thus, the new product development process is the key, with Nike pushing the boundaries across the value chain to produce products that is effective in terms of injury reduction, performance and most importantly the comfort level of the user.
Nike’s world famous Explore Team Sport Research Lab, is at the heart of product development process, the process starts with understanding the needs of the consumers, at Nike the slogan is ‘If you have a body you are an athlete’, thus, the key focus is to play with the knowledge and insight for the anticipated target market (About Nike).
Second step is to focus on the research of biomechanics, physiology, and sensory perception and data science that result in the finalization of the design brief.
The lab then develops prototypes that are then tested in different conditions, to check out the kinetics, pressure points, speed, in essence all aspects that are the key in the selected product brief.
The final step in the new product development is known as the Process; that includes different groups starting with researcher’s gathering insight from elite athletes from different sports, next the scientists explore the advanced scientific concepts to improve the performance radically.
The applied research team then focuses on the specific demands of running in relation to the sports being focused, for product development & finally, the last group ensures that the product meets all the requirements before market launch as stated in the design brief.
Work Cited
About Nike. Nike Explore Team Sport Research Lab. 2016. Web 07 April, 2016.
