MANAGING INTERNAL CONSISTENCY IN TECHNOLOGY INTENSIVE DESIGN PROJECTS

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a framework to analyze and compare the way in which two technology intensive design projects internally coordinate to maintain the internal consistency of their product. We compare the projects to one another and to the technology management literature. Design projects begin with conceptual notions of a customer need and develop products or functioning systems to meet those needs. Distributed knowledge and resources must be combined. The division of labor and coordination of the actors to ensure that the product development remains internally consistent is critical. How this process is managed affects productivity, quality, and development time.