7: Organizing Product Development II

Question 1

What are some success cirteria for Cross-functional teams?

Answer 1

1. Less then 10 members in core team
2. Team members volunteer for project
3. Team members stay from concept to market introduction
4. Project members (should) work full time on the project
5. Project members report primarily to project leader
6. All key functions are part of the team from the start
7. Team members are located within discussion distance (<10m)

Question 2

How many teams/projects should an employee work on?

Answer 2

Preferably 1-2, diminsihing returns after more, but not uncommon.

Question 3

When is the best time to infulence outcome of a project?

Answer 3

As early in the process as possible.

Question 4

What is a problem with some managers?

Answer 4

They step in and manage the project later in the process, where changes might not be easy to implement.

Question 5

What is a problem with not using all the budget?

Answer 5

It might look good to have used less money than allowed, but it can mean that the team has not done everything they need to.

Question 6

What are project roles?

Answer 6

A set of defined roles an employee can take on, for example: Project Sponsor, Project Manager, Reference Group

Question 7

What is a project sponsor?

Answer 7

An employee (usually from sales/market) that starts and funds projects.

Question 8

What is a steering comittee?

Answer 8

A set of employees who review and control details and decides to continue or discountinue a project, but project sponsor has the last word.

Question 9

What is a project manager?

Answer 9

They drive to project forward, set budget and inform steering comittee

Question 10

What is a project charter?

Answer 10

A document that encapsulates the project’s mission and
provides measurable goals.

Question 11

What is a project contract book?

Answer 11

A document that defines in detail the basic plan to achieve goals laid out in charter.
(a plan and a tool)

Question 12

What is a reference group?

Answer 12

A group of people who know about an environment or specific technology, no autohrity over the project.

Question 13

What is a line manager?

Answer 13

Someone who supplies a defined outcome as agreed on with the project manager. (Assemble teams, Instruct subordinates)

Question 14

What is the project leader and line manager responsivle for?

Answer 14

Project leader: What to do, When to do it
Line manager: Who should do it, How to do it

Question 15

What is the project organization responsible for?

Answer 15

1. Goal setting and goal fulfillment
2. Time schedual and budget kept
3. Changes when neccesary
4. Reporting

Question 16

What is the line organization responsible for?

Answer 16

1. Resource allocation
2. A “proffesional” way to carry out tasks
3. People and equipment

Question 17

What is knowledge development?

Answer 17

To close all the knowledge gaps in a product/process/service. Managed risk when promising something to customers

Question 18

What is a verified concept?

Answer 18

A concept which works. (For example, working prototype)

Question 19

What is techonology readieness level?

Answer 19

A scale on how well developed a technology is. A verified concept is T.R.L. 6