Pragmatic models of concurrent product/process development

The research reported on in this paper is the result of a joint project between Hull and Cranfield Universities (UK). The research is funded by EPSRC and is in collaboration with Matra BAe Dynamics, Lucas Varity and Cirrus Technologies. The brief was to develop a technique that would enable an organisation to more accurately represent the product introduction process and to support this representation with evidence that could be readily understood by all involved in the process. A technique called pragmatic modelling has emerged from the research. This is a technique, grounded in ethnography, that aims to expose the social restrictions imposed on a process. Application of the technique is embodied in a methodology contained within a workbook. Use of the workbook will facilitate the generation of pragmatic models and hence support incremental improvement