Recent research suggests that by reviewing previously rejected projects in NPD portfolios, it is possible to identify lessons learnt and better manage and handle new projects. Therefore, we argue that there might be hidden treasures in previously rejected new product projects due to recent technology developments or changes in customer preferences. However, after a systematic literature review and interviews with managers we found that there were no suitable tools available for firms to re-assess previously rejected projects. Therefore, by employing multiple qualitative methodological techniques, this study enriches the Stage-Gate model and innovation literature by developing a checklist that firms can use to identify potentially successful new products (treasures) among previously rejected projects (trash). As such, the checklist in this study is not only helpful for reducing the sunk cost associated with previously rejected projects, but can also exploit their potential for success, and become the company's new growth engine.

最近的研究表明，通过审查NPD组合中以前被拒绝的项目，可以发现经验教训，更好地管理和处理新项目。因此，我们认为，由于最近的技术发展或客户喜好的变化，以前被拒绝的新产品项目中可能存在隐藏的宝藏。但是，经过系统的文献回顾和对管理人员的采访后，我们发现没有合适的工具可用于公司重新评估先前被拒绝的项目。因此，通过采用多种定性方法技术，本研究通过制定检查表来丰富Stage-Gate模型和创新文献，企业可以使用该检查表在先前被拒绝的项目（垃圾）中识别出潜在成功的新产品（宝藏）。因此，