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ali yassine

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Address: Morocco

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Pedro Parraguez

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

srinivasa murthy

Corrado lo Storto

Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II"

Richard Neufville

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Auckland

Κωστας Δραγώνας

National Technical University of Athens

Università Bocconi

Antonella Martini

University of Pisa

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Papers by ali yassine

Evaluating product development systems using network analysis

Systems Engineering, 2009

This paper proposes the integration of two systems engineering analysis tools, the Design Structu... more This paper proposes the integration of two systems engineering analysis tools, the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and Network Analysis (NA), to study task interactions in a Product Development Process (PDP). The DSM is a matrix-based systems engineering tool that analyzes task sequences to improve PDP execution. Using NA metrics to measure properties of information flow helps to identify important product development tasks and interactions that constrain PDP execution. Project managers can use these data to structure team integration mechanisms or to identify coordinating mechanisms for groups of concurrently scheduled PDP tasks. Functional managers and process architects can use these data to identify important or overloaded tasks. They can also evaluate whether tasks like stage gates and design reviews are acting as effective information flow regulators in the PDP. This new Systems Engineering approach provides a rigorous decision support tool for managers who must alter ideal task sequences due to specific schedule, budget, and expertise constraints encountered on their projects.

Investigating product development process reliability and robustness using simulation

Journal of Engineering Design, 2007

... The model characterizes the design process as being composed of activities that depend on eac... more

Information hiding in product development: the design churn effect

Research in Engineering Design, 2003

Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into ... more Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into an interrelated set of localized development tasks. When a local task is completed, its output is integrated through an iterative cycle of system-wide integration activities. Integration is often accompanied by inadvertent information hiding due to the asynchronous information exchanges. We show that information hiding leads to persistent recurrence of problems (termed the design churn effect) such that progress oscillates between being on schedule and falling behind. The oscillatory nature of the PD process confounds progress measurement and makes it difficult to judge whether the project is on schedule or slipping. We develop a dynamic model of work transformation to derive conditions under which churn is observed as an unintended consequence of information hiding due to local and system task decomposition. We illustrate these conditions with a case example from an automotive development project and discuss strategies to mitigate design churn.

Managing the exchange of information in product development

European Journal of Operational Research, 2008

In the present paper, we develop a dynamic programming (DP) model of the product development (PD)... more In the present paper, we develop a dynamic programming (DP) model of the product development (PD) process. We conceptualize product development as a sequence of decisions: whether to incorporate a piece of information that just arrived (i.e. became available) or wait longer. We utilize this formulation to analyze different situations that depend on the type, and nature of information that is exchanged: stationary versus dynamic information. We derive optimal decision rules to determine whether (and when) to incorporate for each case. An analysis of the model results in several important findings. First, we must not necessarily incorporate all available information that is related to the design activity. Specifically, once the information collection exceeds certain value, the design team should stop collecting further information. Second, only when past design work accumulates to a certain threshold value should the team include the latest information and perform rework. Large uncertainty of the information and large sensitivity of the design activity makes the incorporation of new information less likely. Finally, managerial implications are discussed with several numerical examples.

Connectivity maps: Modeling and analysing relationships in product development processes

Journal of Engineering Design, 2003

This paper describes a new systems analysis technique called the 'connectivity map' for represent... more This paper describes a new systems analysis technique called the 'connectivity map' for representing dependency relationships within a product development process. The technique is suitable for capturing and analysing relations between development tasks, design parameters, architecture concepts, information flows, and organizational relationships. The connectivity map is matrix based, using the inner cells of the matrix to capture the nature of the connection between the two axial parameters. The utility of the method is demonstrated using two real examples from the automobile industry. The first application looks at the sources of iteration for a safety belt development process, and the second application deals with flexibility analysis of a product's architecture.

Architectural Valuation using the Design Structure Matrix and Real Options Theory

Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications, 2007

This study outlines a methodology for the valuation of the architecture of an integrated product ... more This study outlines a methodology for the valuation of the architecture of an integrated product or system through an appropriate level of modularization to maximize the societal value created. This method is developed through the application of the design structure matrix (DSM) and real options theory. The DSM method is utilized to develop an improved visibility estimate for non-hierarchic system architectures. A method is also proposed to account for different module sizes and system module level testing costs. Finally, a normalization procedure is proposed that allows comparing alternative modular arrangements of the same underlying system elements. The proposed method serves as the basis of an improved approach for architecture optimization. The proposed method is illustrated using a reference example of an industrial gas turbine.

Complex Concurrent Engineering and the Design Structure Matrix Method

Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications, 2003

Concurrent engineering (CE) principles have considerably matured over the last decade. However, m... more Concurrent engineering (CE) principles have considerably matured over the last decade. However, many companies still face enormous challenges when implementing and managing CE practices. This is due to the increased complexity of engineering products and processes, on one hand, and the lack of corresponding CE models and tools, on the other hand.

Performance of Coupled Product Development Activities with a Deadline

Management Science, 2001

T his paper explores the performance of coupled development activities by proposing a performance... more T his paper explores the performance of coupled development activities by proposing a performance generation model (PGM). The goal of the PGM is to develop insights about optimal strategies (i.e., sequential, concurrent, or overlapped) to manage coupled design activities that share a fixed amount of engineering resources subject to performance and deadline constraints. Model analysis characterizes the solution space for the coupled development problem. The solution space is used to explore the generation of product performance and the associated dynamic forces affecting concurrent development practices. We use these forces to explain conditions under which concurrency is a desirable strategy.

Evaluating Product Development Task Interactions Using Network Analysis

This paper proposes the integration of two useful systems engineering analysis tools, the Design ... more This paper proposes the integration of two useful systems engineering analysis tools, the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and Network Analysis (NA) to study task interactions in a Product Development Process (PDP) using a small engineering company as a case study. The DSM is a matrix-based systems engineering tool that enables streamlining of the PDP through task sequencing and simulation of

Analyzing Product Development Task Networks to Examine Organizational Change

IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 2010

This paper uses network analysis (NA) to study task interactions in the product development proce... more This paper uses network analysis (NA) to study task interactions in the product development process (PDP) at a small engineering company (Smallcomp). We examine Smallcomp's organizational changes by comparing its PDP network properties at two points in time. The analysis identifies patterns of centralization, role specialization, and formalized control. This validates themes from organizational behavior and quality management literature regarding how organizations learn from experience, grow in size, and control their process variation. It demonstrates several insights to manage the PDP as both a second (i.e., effectively executing) and third order (i.e., highlighting underlying premises and assumptions) form of organizational control. First, reducing variation in task outputs is an understandable approach to controlling a PDP. However, it is important to reduce variation in task inputs as well. Second, tasks have varying roles and burdens in terms of how they share information with other tasks in the PDP. Companies seeking to support multiple concurrent projects must align their organizational resources to the distribution of labor created by the information flow among PDP tasks. Finally, an NA metric called Simmelian ties can measure effective concurrency in a PDP by identifying both valuable and ineffective iteration among groups of tasks.

Information Hiding in Product Development: The Design Churn Effect

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2002

Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into ... more Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into an interrelated set of localized development tasks. When a local task is completed, its output is integrated through an iterative cycle of system-wide integration activities. Integration is often accompanied by inadvertent information hiding due to the asynchronous information exchanges. We show that information hiding leads to persistent recurrence of problems (termed the design churn effect) such that progress oscillates between being on schedule and falling behind. The oscillatory nature of the PD process confounds progress measurement and makes it difficult to judge whether the project is on schedule or slipping. We develop a dynamic model of work transformation to derive conditions under which churn is observed as an unintended consequence of information hiding due to local and system task decomposition. We illustrate these conditions with a case example from an automotive development project and discuss strategies to mitigate design churn.

Evaluating product development systems using network analysis

Systems Engineering, 2009

This paper proposes the integration of two systems engineering analysis tools, the Design Structu... more This paper proposes the integration of two systems engineering analysis tools, the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and Network Analysis (NA), to study task interactions in a Product Development Process (PDP). The DSM is a matrix-based systems engineering tool that analyzes task sequences to improve PDP execution. Using NA metrics to measure properties of information flow helps to identify important product development tasks and interactions that constrain PDP execution. Project managers can use these data to structure team integration mechanisms or to identify coordinating mechanisms for groups of concurrently scheduled PDP tasks. Functional managers and process architects can use these data to identify important or overloaded tasks. They can also evaluate whether tasks like stage gates and design reviews are acting as effective information flow regulators in the PDP. This new Systems Engineering approach provides a rigorous decision support tool for managers who must alter ideal task sequences due to specific schedule, budget, and expertise constraints encountered on their projects.

Investigating product development process reliability and robustness using simulation

Journal of Engineering Design, 2007

... The model characterizes the design process as being composed of activities that depend on eac... more

Information hiding in product development: the design churn effect

Research in Engineering Design, 2003

Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into ... more Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into an interrelated set of localized development tasks. When a local task is completed, its output is integrated through an iterative cycle of system-wide integration activities. Integration is often accompanied by inadvertent information hiding due to the asynchronous information exchanges. We show that information hiding leads to persistent recurrence of problems (termed the design churn effect) such that progress oscillates between being on schedule and falling behind. The oscillatory nature of the PD process confounds progress measurement and makes it difficult to judge whether the project is on schedule or slipping. We develop a dynamic model of work transformation to derive conditions under which churn is observed as an unintended consequence of information hiding due to local and system task decomposition. We illustrate these conditions with a case example from an automotive development project and discuss strategies to mitigate design churn.

Managing the exchange of information in product development

European Journal of Operational Research, 2008

In the present paper, we develop a dynamic programming (DP) model of the product development (PD)... more In the present paper, we develop a dynamic programming (DP) model of the product development (PD) process. We conceptualize product development as a sequence of decisions: whether to incorporate a piece of information that just arrived (i.e. became available) or wait longer. We utilize this formulation to analyze different situations that depend on the type, and nature of information that is exchanged: stationary versus dynamic information. We derive optimal decision rules to determine whether (and when) to incorporate for each case. An analysis of the model results in several important findings. First, we must not necessarily incorporate all available information that is related to the design activity. Specifically, once the information collection exceeds certain value, the design team should stop collecting further information. Second, only when past design work accumulates to a certain threshold value should the team include the latest information and perform rework. Large uncertainty of the information and large sensitivity of the design activity makes the incorporation of new information less likely. Finally, managerial implications are discussed with several numerical examples.

Connectivity maps: Modeling and analysing relationships in product development processes

Journal of Engineering Design, 2003

This paper describes a new systems analysis technique called the 'connectivity map' for represent... more This paper describes a new systems analysis technique called the 'connectivity map' for representing dependency relationships within a product development process. The technique is suitable for capturing and analysing relations between development tasks, design parameters, architecture concepts, information flows, and organizational relationships. The connectivity map is matrix based, using the inner cells of the matrix to capture the nature of the connection between the two axial parameters. The utility of the method is demonstrated using two real examples from the automobile industry. The first application looks at the sources of iteration for a safety belt development process, and the second application deals with flexibility analysis of a product's architecture.

Architectural Valuation using the Design Structure Matrix and Real Options Theory

Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications, 2007

This study outlines a methodology for the valuation of the architecture of an integrated product ... more This study outlines a methodology for the valuation of the architecture of an integrated product or system through an appropriate level of modularization to maximize the societal value created. This method is developed through the application of the design structure matrix (DSM) and real options theory. The DSM method is utilized to develop an improved visibility estimate for non-hierarchic system architectures. A method is also proposed to account for different module sizes and system module level testing costs. Finally, a normalization procedure is proposed that allows comparing alternative modular arrangements of the same underlying system elements. The proposed method serves as the basis of an improved approach for architecture optimization. The proposed method is illustrated using a reference example of an industrial gas turbine.

Complex Concurrent Engineering and the Design Structure Matrix Method

Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications, 2003

Concurrent engineering (CE) principles have considerably matured over the last decade. However, m... more Concurrent engineering (CE) principles have considerably matured over the last decade. However, many companies still face enormous challenges when implementing and managing CE practices. This is due to the increased complexity of engineering products and processes, on one hand, and the lack of corresponding CE models and tools, on the other hand.

Performance of Coupled Product Development Activities with a Deadline

Management Science, 2001

T his paper explores the performance of coupled development activities by proposing a performance... more T his paper explores the performance of coupled development activities by proposing a performance generation model (PGM). The goal of the PGM is to develop insights about optimal strategies (i.e., sequential, concurrent, or overlapped) to manage coupled design activities that share a fixed amount of engineering resources subject to performance and deadline constraints. Model analysis characterizes the solution space for the coupled development problem. The solution space is used to explore the generation of product performance and the associated dynamic forces affecting concurrent development practices. We use these forces to explain conditions under which concurrency is a desirable strategy.

Evaluating Product Development Task Interactions Using Network Analysis

This paper proposes the integration of two useful systems engineering analysis tools, the Design ... more This paper proposes the integration of two useful systems engineering analysis tools, the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and Network Analysis (NA) to study task interactions in a Product Development Process (PDP) using a small engineering company as a case study. The DSM is a matrix-based systems engineering tool that enables streamlining of the PDP through task sequencing and simulation of

Analyzing Product Development Task Networks to Examine Organizational Change

IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 2010

This paper uses network analysis (NA) to study task interactions in the product development proce... more This paper uses network analysis (NA) to study task interactions in the product development process (PDP) at a small engineering company (Smallcomp). We examine Smallcomp's organizational changes by comparing its PDP network properties at two points in time. The analysis identifies patterns of centralization, role specialization, and formalized control. This validates themes from organizational behavior and quality management literature regarding how organizations learn from experience, grow in size, and control their process variation. It demonstrates several insights to manage the PDP as both a second (i.e., effectively executing) and third order (i.e., highlighting underlying premises and assumptions) form of organizational control. First, reducing variation in task outputs is an understandable approach to controlling a PDP. However, it is important to reduce variation in task inputs as well. Second, tasks have varying roles and burdens in terms of how they share information with other tasks in the PDP. Companies seeking to support multiple concurrent projects must align their organizational resources to the distribution of labor created by the information flow among PDP tasks. Finally, an NA metric called Simmelian ties can measure effective concurrency in a PDP by identifying both valuable and ineffective iteration among groups of tasks.

Information Hiding in Product Development: The Design Churn Effect

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2002

Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into ... more Execution of a complex product development project is facilitated through its decomposition into an interrelated set of localized development tasks. When a local task is completed, its output is integrated through an iterative cycle of system-wide integration activities. Integration is often accompanied by inadvertent information hiding due to the asynchronous information exchanges. We show that information hiding leads to persistent recurrence of problems (termed the design churn effect) such that progress oscillates between being on schedule and falling behind. The oscillatory nature of the PD process confounds progress measurement and makes it difficult to judge whether the project is on schedule or slipping. We develop a dynamic model of work transformation to derive conditions under which churn is observed as an unintended consequence of information hiding due to local and system task decomposition. We illustrate these conditions with a case example from an automotive development project and discuss strategies to mitigate design churn.