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Product development

Product development offers new or substantially changed products or services to an existing market. It can build on customer relationships but requires suitable innovation, capability and resource commitments. It differs from accounting development expenditure, whose recognition follows specific asset rules. In strategic analysis, assess customer demand, cannibalisation, quality, implementation and whole-life costs rather than assume existing customers will buy the new offer.

Worked example

A repair business develops a preventive-monitoring service for its established customer base.

Common mistake

Do not capitalise strategic product-development spending automatically merely because the strategy has this label.

Where it appears in your exams

QualificationExamRelationshipPeriod
ACCA APM Supporting September 2026–June 2027
ACCA SBL Direct September 2026–June 2027