failing to plan is planning to fail
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Failing to plan is planning to fail. Managing Product Design Projects. Activity. Draw up a plan for your client project Information included: Tasks Milestones Duration etc. Use whatever format and graphics you deem suitable. Discussion. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Failing to plan isplanning to fail
Managing Product Design Projects
Activity
Draw up a plan for your client projectInformation included:
TasksMilestonesDurationetc.
Use whatever format and graphics you deem suitable
Discussion
Raise your hand if you have the following elements in your drawing1. Blocks / Sub-tasks2. Arrows / Flows3. Branches / If-then Decisions4. Cycles / Iterations
What tools did you used to represent your project planning? What are the characteristics of project
VENNFLOWNETARCHITECTURE
Project Essentials
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service ( 在一定时间内为完成某一独特的产品或服务所进行的一次性努力 )
Characteristics of projectObjective ( 目标性 )Temporary ( 一次性 )
Unique ( 独特性 )progressively elaboration ( 逐渐明晰 ) interrelated activities ( 依存关系)consumes resources ( 消耗资源 )
Fast
Safe
CheapGood
Project Essentials
All projects are a sub-task of bigger projects, e.g.((((Research)SD2455)HD-PIT)Live happily)
Key issues in project planning Time ( 快 ) Cost ( 省 ) Quality ( 好 ) Risk ( 稳 )
Do things right
Do the right thing
Project Management Process
Project Execution
Project PlanningProject Preparation
Project Adaptation
Project Planning - Resources
Resources and its management
Identify resource requirement (designers, engineers, equipment, etc.)
Identify resource constrains (project on-hand, office hours, shipping, etc.)
Identify critical chainFrequent error: Fail to identify resource
limits at initial planning stage
Common methods to optimise resources
Parallel execution of identical task (brain-storming, group sketching)
Parallel execution of unrelated tasks (PowerPoint making and report writing)
Staggered execution of tasks (laser-cutting and putty surfacing)
Speculative execution (mould preparation before design confirmation)
Delay executionFrequent error: Use crashing alone to
meet deadline
Speculative execution
Adobe Acrobat Document
“Smartphone cases are now a $436 million-a-year business. Some manufacturers make bad investments based on leaked designs”
- Bloomberg Businessweek Oct. 13 2011
Pitfalls of Blind Multi-tasking
Lost of attentionDifficult to track overall progressSwitching costTask with higher priority suffers
0 10 20 30
A B C A:0 B:10 C;20
A B C A B C A:10 B:15 C;20
Project Planning - Risks
Risks and its management
Internal riskSolution not foundIncorrect assumption (client’s taste, consumer
behaviour, etc.)Resource unavailable (people, equipment, vendor)
External riskSpecification change (competitor product launch,
technology breakthrough, short-supply)Deliverable change (strategy change)Stalled confirmation
Frequent error: Fail to weight risk and benefit, select direction base on risky assumption
Delivery Time
The two most common types of failure for product design project areDesign rejectionDeadline slip
In real-world business we determine delivery date by the quality and quantity of deliverables
In student design project we determine the quality and quantity of deliverables by delivery date
Uncertainty and Risk
Time
Tra
ck R
ecor
d
50%
0 10 20
80%
Safety Buffer
If you want to increase the chance of on-time completion by 1%, the safety buffer must increase much more than 1%
Pitfalls of Safety Buffer
Safety Buffer increase dramatically with the decrease of acceptable risk
Bad track records affect safety buffer more than good records do
In a group project, each level of management will add extra safety buffer to protect their own interest
Students’ Syndrome – a tendency to fight for safety buffer and start at slow pace
In a series of dependent tasks, time gain by early finish cannot compensate the buffer lost due to delay
Common Methods to Reduce Risks
Vigorous project preparationPut client into the process
Charge by time or by phaseCharge per design proposalSchedule to date of confirmation
Sharing risk with partners (reward/penalty clause)
Minimise lost (non-refundable deposit)Frequent error: Look sideward but not forward for timing
cue
Project Preparation and Planning Checklist
Determine the deliverablesIdentify resource and time limitsIdentify risks‘Make or buy’ decisionCalculate delivery timeDetermine project phases and check-points
according to risksCalculate costFrequent error: Fail to re-examine schedule after
every check-points
Activity
Work as a group, list the essential resources for this client project and the risks you may encounter
Consolidate your Client Project plans and make a revised version
Optimise the resources and minimise the risk
Resources Risks
Project Planning Tools
Discussion
What tools did you used to plan your previous projects?
Does your tools help you to consider resources and risk issues?
VENNFLOWNETARCHITECTURE
Project Management Tools
Gantt Chart Easy to learn,
visually rich No explicit task
relationships Probabilistic
Critical Path Method Reveal interaction
of branched tasks Explicit task
relationships Deterministic
Adapted from: Network Planning Techniques: CPM-PERT, ESD.36J, MIT
Problem with Traditional Project Management
Is inflexible, “changing the plan” considered a failure
Does not think of projects in a probabilistic sense
“Hostage” to existing project management software
In a reactive mode – no “early warning” systemsBased on pure reductionismDoes not acknowledge the existence of
iterations
Two Types of Iteration
Planned iterationCaused by needs to
improve things we don’t fully understand
To solve the ‘chicken and eggs’ problem
Know where these iterations occur, but not necessarily how much
Should be facilitated by good design methods, tools, and coordination
Unplanned iterationCaused by errors
and/or unforeseen problems
Generally cannot predict whether and which unplanned iterations will occur
Should be minimised by careful planning and use of tools (e.g. DSM)
Task Sequencing
Adapted from: Lecture 3, System Project Management, ESD.36J, MIT
10 tasks in SD2454
1. Write design brief2. Identify stakeholders and investigation3. Initial design ideas and developments4. Finalize the idea5. Engineering design6. Preparation of 3D solid model7. Preparation of detailed working drawings8. Design for manufacture and assembly9. Design for environment10.Final design
Planned iteration
Unplanned iteration
Design Structure Matrix
Adapted from: Lecture 3, System Project Management, ESD.36J, MIT
Design Structure Matrix
Adapted from: Lecture 3, System Project Management, ESD.36J, MIT
Spiral Product Design Process
Adapted from: Lecture 11, System Project Management, ESD.36J, MIT
Believe in planning but not the plan
Failing to plan is planning to fail
And,