Product Life Cycle


Product life cycle refers to the stages through which a product or a product category bypass. The concept describes the four stages and offers some practical suggestions on how companies can use product life cycle information in their strategy development and marketing operations.

Technique Overview

Product Life Cycle

Product Life Cycle Definition

The Product Life Cycle (PLC) is a generalised model of the sales trend for a product class or category over a period of time, and of related changes in competitive behavior (Buzzel, 1966).

Product Life Cycle Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Product Life Cycle *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Product Life Cycle *

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Professional Tools

Product Life Cycle videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Product Life Cycle web and print resources *

Product Life Cycle references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Baker, M. and Hart, S. (1999) Product Strategy and Management, Prentice Hall, Essex, UK.
  • Burnes, B. (2009) Managing Change. (5th Ed.) Pearson Education, Essex, UK.
  • Buzzel, R. (1966) Competitive Behavior and Product Life Cycles. The 1966 World Congress, Chicago, American Marketing Association.
  • Day, S. (1981) The Product Life Cycle: Analysis and Application Issues. Journal of Marketing, Vol. 45, pp. 60-67.

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