e time frame is a tough decision.”

When considering the people dimension – getting the project staffed by the people who will make the greatest contribution to a successful product launch – the trick is to recognize the extent to which new technology has freed people from being tied to a single place, says Eric Pavyer, vice president of global marketing at project management software firm Welcom Inc. of Houston, Texas, USA. “In years gone by, it was easier to have people in one place, because it make them easy to manage, and easier to communicate with,” he says. “Now, they can work anywhere.”

However, the smart project manager will always be cognizant of the dangers of distance, says Patrick Carluccio, PMP, a project manager at MDS Sciex, a Concord, Ontario, Canada-based manufacturer of mass spectrometers. “It’s important to avoid structuring a disjointed team where pockets of technical expertise work in isolation,” he says. “This can lead to a lack of critical cross-functional communications, resulting in schedule and cost overruns.”

More Isn’t Always Better
Don’t overlook the dangers of scope creep, either: In the drive to become flexible and agile in their approach to new product development, companies can run the risk of slipshod project management practices. “’Agile’ and ‘flexible’ are methodologies that have rigor and should not be considered loose approaches to new product development,” Ireland says.

At Sierra Nevada Corp., a vital tool in ensuring that doesn’t happen often is the “configuration control board,” an oversight group that is common to the defense industry, Luna says. “It sets the expectations for us and the customer and is how we manage our scope creep,” she says. “If a customer wants us to make changes, it makes the implications very evident.”

In other words, change at the beginning of the project is easier and less risky than change toward the end – although change at the end can help create that world-beater, if it’s thought through correctly. The question is , could any amount of agility and flexibility have turned the Ford Edsel into a Sony Walkman?

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