ABSTRACT
Public policy considerations are important elements to consider during the product development, launch, and product management phases. Actions such as new legislation, regulatory agency decisions, media coverage, and public opinion pertaining to a pressing issue can influence and affect a new product's commercial success. Public policy issues across the categories of environmental concerns, morality, product or service performance, and product liability are now outlined. Environmental concerns are a growing public policy issue for companies. Morality deals with controversial products and the issue of whether it is justified to sell a given product. Product performance concerns the assurance that a product or service will perform as specified. Product liability represents the vulnerability of a company to lawsuits because of inherent risks with the product, design defects within the product, manufacturing defects, a failure to provide adequate instructions, problems with product/service performance, or after-use dangers.
