The effects of critical successful factors in research and development projects on the perceived project performance: A research in the aviation industry

In the defense industry, where product lifes are decreasing and product complexity is increased, the success of new product development projects has become more of an issue for companies to survive. In the defense industry, technologically superior new product, which is manufactured in a shorter time and high performance, gives the countries a strategic advantage. In Turkish defense and aerospace industries, the transition from ready-made products to the development of original products continues rapidly. During this transition phase, it is becoming increasingly important to identify critical success factors that affect new product development projects and to improve effective factors. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the critical success factor perception and the perceived project performance of the design engineers working in the Turkish defense and aviation industry projects. The difference of the study in literature is that it is the first study to examine the relationship between perceived critical success factors and perceived project performance in R & D projects in Turkish defense and aviation industry. In the data collection phase of the study, 211 design engineers were interviewed face to face in two separate times. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between perceived critical success factors and perceived project performance. In the regression analysis, a significant relationship was found between troubleshooting, project mission, customer consultation, technical task factors and perceived project performance.