What do you think is the most important stage in a product’s life cycle?
The product life cycle (2021)
Now that you have covered the basics of the product life cycle, complete the following exercise.
Instructions: Determining the most important stage in the cycle
- Reflect on what you think is the most important stage in this cycle.
- Write your answer in the discussion below, and explain why you think your chosen PLC stage is the most important.
- Try to find a real-world example that you can use in answering this. It might be an example from your professional experience or one you’ve found elsewhere.
- Reflect on at least one of comments from random learners below. Do you agree with their response? How do their experiences differ from yours?
Molly Campbell
What comes to mind as the most important stage for me is the decline stage. With the ever changing tech landscape, I feel that apps/websites etc have such a difficult task of staying relevant. Social media apps are what I thought of in this situation. Apps/sites such as Facebook or Instagram are now competing with SnapChat and TikTok, so both have updated their functions to include more video and filters, etc to be relevant in that market. They are trying extremely hard to prevent their decline and become obsolete. I do agree with others that development is very important as well, and the example I gave may have to go back to the development stage in a sense to redesign and update things to meet consumer demands.
Christina Bek Larsen
As it is a cycle, I find it very difficult to point to one stage as the most important one. One stage doesn’t exist without the previous one, I suppose. I think each stage requires something specific from the PM. With competition and evolving needs in mind, I am thinking about the growth stage as being a tricky stage. To keep relevant and ensure your rpoduct is growing seems like a challenge.
Ibukun Oni
I think the “Development stage” is the most important phase because if the right product is not developed to meet the needs of customers, then efforts during the other stages become futile.
I recall developing a digital product, the first assignment of the project team was to ensure that the product met the needs of our customers.
Chibuzo Anazodo
I think the Development stage is the most important because that is where you figure out what fits your consumers needs as well as trends in your industry to adapt or avoid to build a product that will thrive through all stages and still remain relevant after Maturity.
Peter Scheinsohn
I would say introduction, is most important step in the product life cycle. Even, if product was properly developed, but not good enough introduced and advertised or not clear enough introduced for which group it is, it will significantly influence its further growth. However, i also agree that proper development stage and growth stage are also very important, but good start (“introduction”) is vital in my humble opinion.
All the stages are important but “The development stage” is the most important of all. If the product is not developed to meet consumers need the other stages will be useless.
For instance, if a product is been developed in the next few years and technology, costumers desires are not fully implemented in the development stage, it wont be able to fit in properly in the next few years.
So, development stage is very crucial and important.
The introduction stage can be seen as especially critical for me. This is because it’s when the product is first launched into the market, and initial reactions can greatly influence its future success. A strong introduction can lead to faster growth and long-term success, while a weak one
might result in the product failing to gain attraction.
When Apple introduced the first iPhone in 2007, it was a critical moment. The product’s introduction was carefully planned with a big launch event, clear messaging about its innovative features, and significant marketing efforts. This strong introduction helped the iPhone quickly gain popularity, leading to rapid growth.
While I agree that development stage is as well important with my example introduction is most important
Development as the initial stage of a product life circle should be considered as the most paramount. The reason behind this assertion is because, no man sets to build a house without first, sitting down to calculate the cost.
The development process is the planning period where you decide the kind of product that should be introduced, the market and also the individuals as the well as the profit it’ll bring in return.
When all these are put into consideration, the product will thrive.
There’s not to introduce to the market if nothing was developed.
The most important stage of a product life cycle for me, would be the Development stage, at this point is where you have to do everything Necessary and possible to reach the market demand, and if for any reason the demands of customers and client is not met, the product has failed even before launch, because no matter what advert, selling or branding you give to promote it, if it really does not meet the demand of the market it’s a total failure.
The most important part of Product cycle is Maturity stage, because the organization may feels disturbed with different energy they carried from Development, introduction and growth stage so seen the market sales or engagements drops will make them assume the customers are not interested anymore.
Firstly, I think the product life cycle should be iterative, that is,even when there are heading towards a decline certain steps can lead them back to either the growth or maturity stage.
In my opinion, i find the growth stage more important because as there is a massive influx of customers,there is a higher and better chance to increase user experience over the long run.
For me when the word most important comes up it does not negate the fact that others are equally important but that which of the stages in the product’s life cycle others depends more on, meaning others will be more or less useless without it. In my own opinion, I will say the development stage, because there can practically be no other stage without proper development.
A real example will be Apple product(iPhone to be specific) had a a good design and newly seen features than Blackberry,which is the stage of development, which had the most sales in the marketplace before iPhone came. But due to the design of iPhone was able to bring new customer satisfaction enhancing user experience.
For me when the word most important comes up it does not negate the fact that others are equally important but that which of the stages in the product’s life cycle others depends more on, meaning others will be more or less useless without it. In my own opinion, I will say the development stage, because there can practically be no other stage without proper development.
A real example will be Apple product(iPhone to be specific) had a a good design and newly seen features than Blackberry,which is the stage of development, which had the most sales in the marketplace before iPhone came
Well my is introduction, reason because is most important step in the product life cycle (PLC). Even, if product was properly developed for an individual in the market places, but introduction and advertised are not clear enough introduced, it will significantly influence its further growth. However, i also agree that proper development stage and growth stage are also very important, but good start (introduction) is vital in in plc
Nkechi Jackson.
All stages of the product life cycle, from the Development stage through to the Decline stages are interconnected and crucial in their own ways but, I think the Introduction stage should be more important because,in this stage, a product is first introduced into the market and it sets the tone for the success of the product in future.A successful introduction generated interest and build customers loyalty. A well executed introduction,can lead to a successful growth stage.
The most important stage in the product life cycle is the Development Stage. This stage is crucial because it establishes the foundation for the entire product by ensuring it meets customer needs. If the product is not well-developed, it will struggle in later stages. Effective development makes the product viable and competitive, enhancing its chances of success in subsequent stages.
A real-world example is the iPhone. Apple invested significant time and resources in the development stage to create a revolutionary product that combined a phone, an iPod, and an internet communicator. This extensive development paid off, leading to a successful launch and setting a new standard for smartphones, demonstrating the importance of a well-executed development stage.
I perfectly agree with you and I love another perspective to which you have used in showing they development stage is the most important stage in the product’s life cycle.
Thank you immensely.