Product development practices and performance: A structural equation modeling-based multi-group analysis

This paper provides an illustration of the strategies associated with conducting tests of model invariance that are uncommonly applied and reported in the Operations Management literature. The illustration uses a theoretical model that describes the relationships between key product development practices (i.e., heavy-weight product development managers, information technology use and concurrent engineering) and performance as measured through product innovation and quality. Based on a sample of 214 manufacturing executives and managers, the study considers a priori proposed measurement and structural models and further examines the extent to which these models are invariant across two different cellular manufacturing environments.