8.1.5 Appropriate human and physical resources

All the best systems and processes can be worthless without the right resources. People, above everything else, make product development successful. Knowledge of technology, market, consumer, product development activities and decision making, and the skills to use this knowledge in practice are the basis of successful product development. Capable and committed people, who are able to work in teams, across functional boundaries, will make systems and processes work for them. Systems and processes will rarely change people. There is a need to recognise the tacit knowledge of individuals and teams, as well as the knowledge bases both within and outside the company. Most important is the ability of the individual and the team to create new knowledge during the project.