Innovation in the Global Automotive Industry

The Journal of Product Innovation Management is proud to announce a special issue focused on the future of product development and innovation management in the global automotive industry. The automotive industry is an integral component of the global economy and is unique in that it encompasses every aspect of the value chain – from raw materials to design and development, manufacturing, sales and service, and even disposal. Such complex manufacturing systems have enormous economic impacts on many sectors of the economies where they persist. Every value creating area of this business is undergoing significant innovative change as a result of the emergence of new markets and competitors, the worst recession in generations, and increased direct and indirect government intervention. Product planning, portfolio management, supply chain and operations, marketing, engineering, design, IT, finance, and retail management have all experienced significant and somewhat radical changes to the way they do business. Radical and incremental product and process based innovations abound in this industry and have far reaching implications. It is important to understand how companies are managing the new product development and innovation processes in this environment, what types of products those companies will produce in the future, and how consumer wants and needs will be satisfied while dealing with greater regulation.

While we expect all papers to be related to innovation in the automotive industry, we seek a mix of papers in terms of empirical and theoretical approaches, disciplinary focus, as well as multiple levels of analysis. Cross-disciplinary work is strongly encouraged. In addition, submissions should have clear industry implications for management strategy and practice at the level of the firm and/or economic, social and political consequences at a societal level. We welcome practitioner participation.

The purpose of this special issue is to provide a forum for articles exploring leading-edge issues of significant academic and managerial interest which have been traditionally under-researched, grounded in a specific industry context. Submissions about any of the following topics (and/or combinations thereof) are suggested, but certainly not limited to:

• The role of product architectures and new product development and product launch
• Product development teams including the design and management of global, cross-cultural, and/or multinational teams; inter-organizational NPD teams; virtual teams
• Innovation in the marketing, sales, and distribution practices and trends
• The role of technology in the new product development process
• Innovation in environmental sustainability vis-à-vis fuel efficiency, emissions, mobility
• Process innovation in manufacturing -- productivity, quality, product variety, flexibility
• Comparative firm performance / benchmarking of new product development and management.
• Diffusion of practices in new product development and management
• The role of national industrial policies on automotive innovation and market presence.

Scholars committed to industry studies have demonstrated that the results of industry based research grounded in observation, and integrated with theory and analysis, can make important contributions not only to academic knowledge, but also to industry practice and public policy. We encourage submissions that employ a wide variety of both quantitative and qualitative research methods as it is possible to provide a unique perspective using diverse methodological approaches. Further, interdisciplinary/international/industry-academic co-author teams are highly encouraged.

All submissions other than invited commentaries will be subject to the standard double-blind review process followed by JPIM. All manuscripts must be original, unpublished works that are not concurrently under review for publication elsewhere.

• An electronic copy should be submitted to the special issue editors by: August 5, 2011
• All submissions should conform to the JPIM manuscript submission guidelines available at http://www.pdma.org/journal/AuthorInfo.pdf
• The title page should include the names, titles, professional affiliations, and contact information of the authors. Authors’ names should appear on the title page only. Authors should refrain from revealing their identity in the body of the manuscript
• Clearly identify the corresponding author and provide a list of key words 
• Please provide names and contact information for up to 3 individuals, unfamiliar with the paper, who would be qualified to review the manuscript. 

Co-editors of the Special Issue:

Professor Janell D. Townsend, Ph.D.
Marketing and International Business
Oakland University
348 Elliott Hall
Rochester, MI 48309 USA
1 (248) 370-2544
townsend@oakland.edu
http://www.sba.oakland.edu/faculty/townsend/

Professor Roger J. Calantone, Ph.D.
Eli Broad Chaired University Professor of Business
Co-Director Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Michigan State University N370 Business College Complex
East Lansing, MI USA
1 (517) 432-6400
rogercal@msu.edu