Publications

User needs management is a critical early step in new product development, when addressing new markets, technologies, and complex systems. Visual needs analysis methods aim to manage this complexity by providing overviews of needs and their interrelationships. This paper presents a systematic literature review conducted using the PRISMA methodology to support the use of these methods in product development. The review analyses 28 journal articles and conference papers and identifies 15 visual needs analysis methods organised into five categories. A comparative framework based on 12 criteria is proposed to provide an overview of the identified methods, and the classification system is validated by field experts. The results show that existing methods address either user needs or stakeholder needs, but not both simultaneously, revealing an opportunity to develop approaches that capture their interdependencies. Recent trends indicate increased use of mapping and matrix-based techniques, as well as hybrid combinations of methods.

Keywords: Needs analysis, Visual methods, Need mapping, New Product Development.

Taraghi, M., Armellini, F., Mortazavi, E. et Imbeau, D. (2026). Application of Visual Needs Analysis Methods in New Product Development - a Systematic Review. International Journal of Product Development, 30(1).