Managing product design-a revolution in the making

The advance of industrial practice is seldom smooth. Progress is more likely to take place in quantum leaps, or even by simple fits and starts. Established ways and means often continue unchallenged for years on end, until the perceived benefits from change are such that a deluge of activity is released. The forces of inertia are then swamped (with results that are usually but not always beneficial) and some form of revolution is unleashed. Forecasting revolution is of little use unless pointers can be given as to outcomes. Although making predictions is notoriously risky, some of the outcomes of the coming revolution in managing design are already discernible and form the basis of this paper