Final answer:
Product development officially starts in October and ends in September for companies following a fiscal year that does not align with the calendar year. This fiscal year layout allows businesses to prepare and launch products in a structured timeline.
Step-by-step explanation:
The official product development cycle for the next year can vary depending on the company and the industry. However, for many businesses, the fiscal year does not align with the calendar year. One common fiscal year timeline used by companies and governments runs from the beginning of October to the end of September the following year. If we are to assume the question refers to a company operating on such a fiscal year, then the correct answer would be:
d) Begins in October and ends in September
During this time, companies go through various stages of product development, including ideation, design, prototyping, testing, final adjustments, and ultimately mass production and product launch.