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Since their inception, which took place more than two decades ago, product recommendation agents (RAs) still attract very few consumers. Notably, most of academic work in the field had an empirical quantitative structure. In addition, no research has developed a comprehensive model to explain the adoption and usage of commercial RAs. The purpose of this paper is to follow a qualitative approach to investigate the factors behind the adoption and usage of commercial RAs, explore the effect of user age, and deduce the success factors of these RAs.

This research followed a qualitative approach. Qualitative research aims to form an in‐depth understanding of human behavior. It is essential for building grounded theory and for proposing comprehensive models for future examination. As such, in four discussion groups, participants provided their input following the shopping trial for a product using a factual RA (MyProductAdvisor.com). Discussion groups were used because they outline an important aspect of qualitative research and because they are ideal for both the inception and development of products and services.

Underlying the major themes, the analysis first provides insight in consumers' RA use and the products consumers regard as adequate to be offered using a commercial RA. The analysis then delineates some important factors that can be considered by developers to enhance the usability and trustworthiness of commercial RAs. Further, the analysis suggested four higher‐order factors that can be considered the success factors of a commercial RA: users appear to require a commercial RA that is friendly, smart, trusted, and informational. The themes that emerged from participants in the youth and the older discussion groups were rather invariant.

This is one of the few qualitative studies that focused on commercial RAs. The commercial RA success factors and their determinants are summarized in the form of a general framework to guide future work. This qualitative work provides a cornerstone that is of importance to theory development in the field of intelligent RAs and assistive technology. The results have important implications for RAs' developers and researchers.

As a result of the end of the cold war, the US Government’s defence spending has decreased significantly since 1989. Consequently, many aerospace companies in the defence industry have begun the transition to commercial products. Reviews the commercial success strategies of Lockheed Martin, Hughes Electronics and Rockwell. Commercial success strategies discussed include: mergers, derived products, partnerships, consolidation, fresh blood in management, subsidiaries and acquisitions. Examines the negative side‐effects ‐ which include downsizing and less investment in technology research ‐ of the commercial transition.

Briefly reviews previous literature by the author before presenting an original 12 step system integration protocol designed to ensure the success of companies or countries in their efforts to develop and market new products. Looks at the issues from different strategic levels such as corporate, international, military and economic. Presents 31 case studies, including the success of Japan in microchips to the failure of Xerox to sell its invention of the Alto personal computer 3 years before Apple: from the success in DNA and Superconductor research to the success of Sunbeam in inventing and marketing food processors: and from the daring invention and production of atomic energy for survival to the successes of sewing machine inventor Howe in co‐operating on patents to compete in markets. Includes 306 questions and answers in order to qualify concepts introduced.

The Iban are the largest ethnic group in Sarawak. This paper analyses their participation in one of the most common forms of rural non‐agricultural activities in Sarawak, namely commercial handicraft production (CHP). Traditionally, the Iban produce handicrafts for personal use. With the introduction of the Iban to the cash economy, the presence of demand for their handicrafts, and the growing insecurities in the rural economy one would expect Iban craftspersons to participate actively in RNAE and produce handicrafts for commercial purposes. Some Iban craftspersons have taken up CHP, while others have not. Some have achieved economic “success” while others have failed. This suggests that there are different responses to, and impact of non‐agricultural activities (particularly CHP) on the Iban in rural Sarawak. This paper addresses the following key questions: What are the factors preventing rural communities from taking up and/or succeeding in RNAE, particularly commercial handicraft production? Is it due to the lack of willingness among Iban craftspersons to participate in commercial activities? Is it due to limited access to market and institutional support? This paper is based on a survey conducted on 200 Iban craftspersons from eleven longhouses in Kapit Division, Sarawak between 1993 until 1996

The purpose of this paper is to study two aspects of new product development (NPD) success – the impact of learning and the impact of structure – are studied.

A multiple case study method within a single setting consisting of in-depth interviews of two teams that developed successful, award-winning products and two teams that developed unsuccessful products.

Case 1: flexibility and expertise permitted learning and radical redefinition of the product mid-project and commercial success. Case 2: flexibility enabled adding expertise which was instrumental in success, iterating permitted optimizing pricing. Case 3: flexibility led to focusing on technical issues to the exclusion of commercial viability. Case 4: flexibility led to skipping market definition and partnering with a particular customer whose situation was idiosyncratic. Cross-case analysis: flexibility in teams with both technical and commercial expertise yielded success. Flexibility permitted teams consisting of narrow experts to invest development resources in products with insufficient market.

This paper argues that the right balance between structure and flexibility is dependent on the level of expertise of the members of the NPD project teams. However, getting this balance right is not a sufficient condition for NPD success. The cases were theoretically blocked to develop theoretical insight, but additional cases are needed for a strong test of theory.

The more experienced team members are, the more the project benefits from flexibility. Conversely, an inexperienced team will benefit from a more structured process. Projects require iteration. The dichotomy between structure and flexibility is false: the most expert teams benefit from some structure. The most inexperienced teams must employ flexibility to learn.

The analysis combines the virtues of the stage-gate school and the flexibility school previously thought mutually exclusive.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss successful industrial product development (PD) projects. The study seeks to identify both the features that are common to successful projects and the features that seem to distinguish one success project from another.

The paper is based on an ex‐post analysis of real‐world projects that can be considered successful. The empirical data were collected on a case study basis. The approach is built on the analysis of four cases that represent different businesses within one industrial company.

The study produced several insights. First, one major pattern conjoins all the studied projects: they were intended and able to produce valuable solutions for productivity problems in customers' industry. Importantly, it was possible to prove this value (explicitly) at an early stage of the development.

Regarding the successful practices, the observed ways to develop a new and an innovative industrial product and to bring it to the market differed from case to case. A textbook approach for a good R&D process was not found in the cases. Contrary to an “ideal” process, the phases of development overlapped each other and some phases were completely absent. In these settings, the innovative and entrepreneurial development team had been able to overcome the problems that originated from missing upfront “home work” or from a less rigorous process.

This article provides an in‐depth chronology of the development of in‐home electronics shopping, beginning with optimistic predictions of revolutionary growth and possible displacement of traditional retailers, through the acknowledged marketplace failures of two U.S. pioneers of videotex. Included are findings of various research studies and controlled market test results that highlight practical problems associated with this technological innovation in consumer marketing. In addressing the reasons contributing to its disappointing past, the article focuses on the impact of system, organization, product, and demand variables on in‐home electronic shopping. Prestel, the British videotex system, and Minitel, the French videotex system, are described and compared with the commercial efforts of major U.S. corporations. In addition, the article high‐lights the advantages and disadvantages of two leading technologies (television shopping shows and laser videodisc retailing) that currently compete with in‐home electronic shopping for the nonstore retailing market. The article concludes with some cautionary comments and pragmatic suggestions for increasing the probability of commercial success of in‐home electronic shopping.

Since the nineteenth century much has been written about the heroic men of science, technology and commerce who have invented and, via their own individual efforts, commercially exploited new products and novel production techniques and processes, and a copious literature is now available describing the characteristics and actions of these courageous and tenacious independent entrepreneurs. However, while it is true that private individuals continue to make a significant contribution to economic growth via invention and the formation of new businesses, it is apparent that the major present‐day source of commercialisable new ideas is the established industrial firm. The encouragement of internal entrepreneurship would, therefore, appear of prime importance to the would‐be innovative firm to enable it to better exploit its ideas. A second factor which underlines the need to encourage internal entrepreneurship is the increasing degree of concentration in industry (particularly in the science‐intensive industries where the need for innovation is greatest) with its concomitant high levels of bureaucracy and red‐tape which tend to stifle individual commitment and entrepreneurial endeavour. Indeed, a recent paper in this journal has discussed a number of novel organisational forms which are currently being tried in industry, both in the UK and the US, with the express purpose of creating an environment that is conducive to internal entrepreneurship and individual commitment to new innovations.

Attempts to explain the limitations and constraints of government policy makers in the regulation of street vending. Looks at ways that street vendors in Mexico City create alternative forms of regulation that complement and challenge the state’s attempt to impose a “one size fits all’ form of regulation for the national economy. Cites two distinct forms of regulation and how these resppond to the different needs of vendors depending on their ability to negotiate their status with the state. Covers the organizations which the vendors have formed to assist them and question the “Mafia” status applied to these by the establishment.

By studying marketing strategies of the global Weider Nutrition International Group, this study aims to analyse how the industry surrounding fitness equipment and dietary supplements interacted with fitness culture through marketing, advertising and consumption in 1950s Scandinavia. The emphasis is on how the Weider Group established their position as a world leader in sports nutrition through mail order partnerships and advertising using bodies and body ideals in their campaigns.

The Weider Group’s marketing campaigns are studied through close reading of text and images in Scandinavian weightlifting and bodybuilding magazines in the 1950s, guided by a theoretical understanding of the body as a constant and ongoing project.

This study deepens the historical knowledge of market-driven aspects of sport and exercise. The market for nutrition and fitness products was internationalised in the 1950s. The study shows that cooperation between commercial and civic organisations played a major role in the enterprise of selling fitness and nutrition products.

This paper shows that in marketing the products, the advertisements – which appealed to both men and women – not only struck a tone of intimacy and desire but also cultivated a sense of insecurity and inadequacy, as well as individuals’ responsibility for maintaining their own bodies. The latter was reflected in young men’s letters to magazines in which Weider’s products and training programmes were praised. For women, this opened up a previously male-dominated gym environment.