The innovation process: interpreting customer requirements

In this article we argue that the interpreter role serves an important function in the innovation of new products and processes. In our survey of over 1000 United States Air Force engineers and project managers, we found that translating customer requirements into specification and statement of work form is one of the most difficult tasks to do in a program office. In analyzing the reasons for this difficulty, we address possible concerns about the nature of the requirement´s definition process.<>