Product innovation, negative impact

Table VI. Program to Minimize Negative Impact of TSCA on New Product Innovation by the Chemical Industry...

We now have nearly three years of PMN experience. An analysis of both the number and the character of new substances introduction as represented by PMN filings suggests that there has indeed been a substantial negative impact on chemicals innovation. This observation is bolstered by a broad variety of studies and surveys which are highlighted in what follows. Limited information exists on the rate of new product... 

EPA s D.G. Bannerman reviewed these impacts on the market introduction of new chemicals. He summarized EPA s experience and analyzed the classes and types of new chemicals, company size, market areas, and, among other data, the number of notified chemicals actually reported to be commercialized. He stressed a new joint industry-EPA program to assist the smaller chemical companies to comply with TSCA, especially with premanufacturing notification. This will minimize negative impacts on product innovation without reducing the effectiveness of EPA s assessment of risks of new chemicals. 

By this point, you ve developed a conceptual design for your innovative product or service and have made a list of noise variables that could negatively impact performance. Now, entering the parameter design phase of robust design, you can use physical experiments and/or simulations to refine the design so that it is less affected by noise. For example ... 

A more subtle issue is the concern that sustainability can stifle innovation. More than most employees, researchers and product developers are intimately aware of any potentially detrimental impacts - again, environmental, social, or economic - from a new product or process. These impacts cannot be ignored, but they must not be allowed to quash a project too early, since alternatives can often be found if other technical and marketing issues can be resolved. Furthermore, even if alternatives are not found, experience teaches that potential negative impacts can often be managed so that the risk is minimized. 

Are there also negative impacts for the technology Most likely, although these are not quantified in the analysis. If one increases the growth of soybeans for the production of the resin, then one may need to convert forested land into farmland, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. In addition, increased use of fertilizers and pesticides leads to increased eutrophication of lakes and streams. One should also evaluate the ecotoxicity of the pesticides and their impact on wildhfe. While a full environmental assessment is needed to properly evaluate this new process, even a preliminary analysis suggests the value of this particular innovation. 

Frequent communication by embedded lead users not only increases their proximity to R D, but may also alleviate the flow of knowledge irom other organizational members, who are not users of the firm s products (Sportl). These employees might have the feeling, that their ideas are not valued 1 R D, as they do not have special knowledge, and hence hesitate to share information (SportT). This impacts negatively on the access of non-user employees to innovation related firm networks. One of my informants reported ... 

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