What is the 'Fuzzy Front End'?

According to Johan Frishammar and Henrik Florén the Fuzzy Front End is:

"...the fuzzy front end is defined as the period between when an opportunity for a new product is first considered, and when the product idea is judged ready to enter “formal” development. Hence, the fuzzy front end starts with a firm having an idea for a new product, and ends with the firm deciding to launch a formal development project or, alternatively, decides not to launch such a project."

Image: Triz-Journal