A multi-organizational “skunk works” for product design in a small business

This paper has presented a case study of the commercial design management of an instrumentation system to detect fallen power lines on electric distribution systems. The design was performed in an ad hoc “skunk works” consisting of individuals from several different organizations brought to a small business organization for the sole purpose of accomplishing the project on an aggressive schedule. The project successfully met its objectives of schedule cost and product requirements, and serves as an excellent study of new product design in an innovative environment