Beyond buying bytes: Complementing agile new product development with an agile procurement process
研究针对外包场景中传统采购流程与敏捷新产品开发不匹配的问题，通过23场专家访谈和案例研究，设计了一个分两阶段的敏捷采购流程，能降低成本、加快上市速度并提升质量。
Agile methodologies are widely employed in new product development (NPD) projects characterized by high task interdependence and uncertainty, in both in-house and outsourcing contexts. In outsourcing scenarios, however, the benefits of an agile NPD process are often hindered when paired with traditional procurement processes due to misalignments with (1) the agile NPD process itself and (2) the contingencies of high task interdependence and uncertainty. To address these misalignments and enhance NPD goal attainment, this study set out to develop an agile procurement process. Employing a design science approach, the research incorporates insights from 23 interviews with experts in procurement, research and development (R&D), and suppliers, alongside a case study to implement, evaluate, and refine the proposed design. The proposed agile procurement process purposefully restructures procurement into two phases – a pre-development phase and a during-development phase with iterative cycles – which reduces costs, accelerates time-to-market, and improves quality. The results contribute to the literature by developing mid-range theory, elaborating on contingency theory and assessing its applicability to this problem, and applying agility in its original conceptualization to procurement and supply chain management. • NPD goal achievement is enhanced if procurement processes align with (1) suppliers' NPD processes and (2) contingencies. • This research uses a design science approach including 23 interviews and a case study to design an agile procurement process. • The process is to be used alongside the agile NPD process and in cases of high task interdependence and uncertainty. • The designed process has a pre-development and a during-development phase, which improve NPD goals through three mechanisms. • The results advance mid-range theory, elaborate contingency theory, and apply agility to procurement/supply chain management.