Mapping the Product Development Process to Information Technology Solutions Through Use Models

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Whitney ◽  
Samir Patil
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
System Level ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Development Teams ◽  
Role Of It

Abstract Product development, especially the design of large complex systems, is a special type of business process. What makes it special is the highly coupled nature of design decisions and the large size of product development teams. It is not unusual to have several hundred multi-disciplinary members taking millions of design decisions over the life of the project. From the Information Technology (IT) perspective, the special nature of design presents a challenge of coordinating the interdependent tasks of the team and integrating them. This paper explores the role of IT, specifically software tools, in improving the product development process through a framework that better represents and captures design knowledge. In order to overcome the limitations of the current implementations, the concept of “Use models” is developed. A use model consists of the methods, tools, and a map of the design process. This map is in the form of a design structure matrix (DSM) that represents tasks and relationship knowledge at a system level. By combining a detailed process view with tools and methods, the Use model creates a better IT representation of the product development process.

Experience Design Applied to Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea CAPRA ◽  
Ana BERGER ◽  
Daniela SZABLUK ◽  
Manuela OLIVEIRA
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Experience Design ◽  
Low Resolution ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Innovative Products ◽  
Technological Products

An accurate understanding of users' needs is essential for the development of innovative products. This article presents an exploratory method of user centered research in the context of the design process of technological products, conceived from the demands of a large information technology company. The method is oriented - but not restricted - to the initial stages of the product development process, and uses low-resolution prototypes and simulations of interactions, allowing users to imagine themselves in a future context through fictitious environments and scenarios in the ambit of ideation. The method is effective in identifying the requirements of the experience related to the product’s usage and allows rapid iteration on existing assumptions and greater exploration of design concepts that emerge throughout the investigation.

Research on DSM for Simulation of Concurrent Product Development Process

2008 ◽  
Vol 44-46 ◽  
pp. 595-600
Author(s):  
Xiao Ming Qian ◽  
Dun Bing Tang
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Time Limit ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Simulation Algorithm ◽  
Resource Model ◽  
Task Duration ◽  
Design Structure

In this paper a simulation algorithm for concurrent product development process (CPDP) is presented based on Design Structure Matrix (DSM). An aggregate DSM is used to model the CPDP. To simulate the influence on the process of the time limit and the resource competition, the schedule and resource model are established. A method is also advanced to handle task delay. At last a case is used to validate the simulation algorithm and to show the influence on the process of task duration and resource.

Introducing Knowledge-Based Engineering Into an Interconnected Product Development Process

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Whitney ◽  
Qi Dong ◽  
Jared Judson ◽  
Gregory Mascoli
Keyword(s):  
Development Process ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
System Level ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Engine Component ◽  
Level Information ◽  
Tightly Coupled ◽  
Knowledge Based Engineering ◽  
Knowledge Content

Abstract Recently, a large automobile company implemented a Knowledge-based Engineering (KBE) application to help design an engine component. While the KBE developers aimed to facilitate a single engineer’s ability to design this component using only the KBE application, it can be shown that in fact this component’s design is tightly coupled to that of several others. Can KBE handle situations like this? How common are they? To address these and other questions, Design Structure Matrix (DSM) models were made of this component at three levels: system interactions, assembly of the component, and individual parts. The size, row names, and internal entries of these matrices were compared to matrices constructed from several conventional written design guides and a flowchart of the KBE application. In each case, the DSM contained more rows or more matrix entries per row, especially at the system interaction level. Since the DSMs were constructed by interviewing experienced engineers, one implication is that while low-aggregation information may be documented, system level information at this company mostly resides in people’s heads. An informal measure of “knowledge content” based on the number of matrix entries per row was shown to be consistent with similar measurements made on DSMs obtained by several other researchers. These results indicate some of the scope and complexity challenges that KBE faces.

Extending Activity Overlapping Model Based on Design Structure Matrix

2010 ◽  
Vol 139-141 ◽  
pp. 1341-1344
Author(s):  
Ting Gui Chen
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Structure Matrix ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Design Structure

Due to shortcomings existing in traditional overlapping model, a new extending activity overlapping model based on design structure matrix considering rework and iteration during activities execution is proposed in this article. Firstly, a tradional overlapping model presented by others is introduced. Sencondly, it is expanded to apply to more general situations using design structure matrix. Subsequently, an example deriving from a certain product development process is used in order to illustrate its effeciency and effectiness

Toward the development of new product ideas: asymmetric effects of team cohesion on new product ideation

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 855-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanawat Hirunyawipada ◽  
Audhesh K. Paswan ◽  
Charles Blankson
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
New Product ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Development Teams ◽  
Task Cohesion ◽  
Relational Aspect

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate asymmetric effects of team cohesion and team members’ relational qualification on the creativity of new product ideas. Design/methodology/approach – Structural equation modeling was conducted on survey data collected from 195 new product development practitioners in various US high-technology industries. Findings – The study suggests that creative and potentially successful product ideas include three dimensions – usefulness for customers, and novelty for customers and usefulness for the firms (i.e. enhancement efficiency and effectiveness of companies’ new product development process). By focusing on a relational aspect of new product development teams, the study shows that team task cohesion mediates the relationship between the antecedents (team members’ organizational commitment and social competency) and the three outcome dimensions of a successful product idea (novelty, usefulness to customers and usefulness to the firm). The team members’ interpersonal relationship has no positive association with task cohesion and the desirable qualifications of product ideas. Research limitations/implications – An ideation team’s socially competent members who identify with their organization are likely to be attracted to a given task. This task cohesion, in turn, enhances the creativeness of the development of product ideas. Practical implications – To generate fruitful product ideas using a team approach, companies should make sure that their new product ideation teams achieve a sense of mutual commitment to the given ideation tasks, develop a feeling of belongingness and ownership toward the firms and include members who have good social and interpersonal skills. However, the possession of strong social cohesion is not essential for the teams. Originality/value – This study provides novel insights concerning the relational aspect of product development teams assigned to the initiation phase (front end) of a new product development process.

Using the Design Structure Matrix to Estimate Product Development Time

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carrascosa ◽  
Steven D. Eppinger ◽  
Daniel E. Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Structure Matrix ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Reduce Development Time ◽  
Stochastic Element ◽  
Coupled Tasks

Abstract This model estimates the probability of completing a product development process over time. The Design Structure Matrix (DSM) framework is used to capture the information dependencies between tasks using the concepts of Probability of Change and Impact. The model incorporates a stochastic element that represents the likelihood of changes resulting in task iterations. The model captures the dynamic behavior of a product development process formed by a combination of parallel, serial and coupled tasks. The model relaxes the assumption that coupled tasks take place in a complete parallel or serial iteration. It can be used to compare the development time of the project for different task sequences and overlapping degrees. This tool allows for identification of the leverage points in the system, providing information about the most effective way to reduce development time. This project was a joint effort with a Hewlett-Packard division, and the observations and practical application presented are based on this field experience.

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