Author_Institution :
Sch. of Bus., Carleton Univ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Abstract :
This study examines the practice of concurrent engineering (CE) in terms of process concurrency, and the impact of concurrency on success of product development projects. The study is based on 50 cross-national projects from companies in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, and the United States in the aerospace, automobile, chemical, computer, electronics, shipbuilding, and telecommunications industries. Four dimensions of process and behaviors of engineering/R&D and manufacturing members of cross-functional product development teams were reliably operationalized: (1) two-way communication, (2) overlapping problem solving, (3) readiness to make decisions on the basis of uncertain and ambiguous information, and (4) readiness to release uncertain and ambiguous information. These dimensions of process concurrency were found to be reliable predictors of development projects´ success, as measured by product cost and quality, project schedule and budget performance, and project team satisfaction. The paper offers implications for theory and practice and models of CE management for future research
Keywords :
product development; project engineering; project management; research and development management; Australia; Canada; Denmark; Finland; R&D; United Kingdom; United States; aerospace industry; ambiguous information; automobile industry; budget performance; chemical industry; computer industry; cross-functional teams; cross-national projects; electronics industry; manufacturing; problem solving; process concurrency; product cost; product development; product quality; project outcomes; project schedule; project team satisfaction; shipbuilding industry; telecommunications industry; two-way communication; uncertain information; Aerospace electronics; Aerospace engineering; Aerospace industry; Australia; Automobiles; Chemical industry; Concurrent computing; Concurrent engineering; Product development; Telecommunication computing;
