The Five-Step PVM^sm Process

PVM^sm is a structured process. Product innovation resulting from the PVM process is a function of the process' structure, not luck or guesswork. Each of PVM's five phases leads one step closer to their ultimate goal of producing highly valued product concepts. Since each phase is made up of specific actions, projects can be planned and budgeted with precision. Each phase produces specific deliverables, so results can be monitored and managed phase-by-phase.

Phase 1 - PVM Stakeholder Research
PVM design teams begin by learning how internal (company) and external (customer) stakeholders interact with the product and what they value in those interactions.

Phase 2 - PVM Benchmarking
Teams then learn how existing products embody those values, determining what makes best of class and where the opportunities lie to go beyond the current best of class.

Phase 3 - PVM Innovation Session
Various ways to implement highly valued product interactions and related design features are then discovered in a unique PVM Innovation Session.

Phase 4 - PVM Concept Development
The best of possible new product concepts are then modeled and refined in detail.

Phase 5 - PVM Concept Verification
The final product concepts are then verified in direct evaluations by the stakeholders themselves.