Abstract

Cyclettimetreductiontistantimportanttaspecttoftintegratedtproducttandtprocesstdevelopmentt(IPPD).tThistpapertoutlines
tsometoftthetchallengestthattimpedeteffortsttotreducetcyclettimetfortcomplextsystemtdevelopmenttprojects.tSeveraltfacetstof
tthesetchallengestcantbetsummarizedtusingtthetgeneraltconcepttoftdesigntiterations.tAftertreviewingtthistconcept,tthetpapert
providestantoverviewtoftatprocesstmodelingtapproachtutilizingtdependencytstructuretmatricest(DSMs—
alsotknowntastdesigntstructuretmatrices).tDSMstallowtatsimple,tvisualtrepresentationtoftprocessestandthighlighttpotential
titerations.tThetpapertconcludestwithtatdiscussiontoftthetwaystDSM-
basedtmethodst helptmanagetsometoftthetcyclettimetreductiontchallenges.

1tIntroduction

Tremendoustpressuretonttoday’stcompaniesttotachievetandtsustaintcompetitivetadvantagethastledttotheightenedteffortstto
treducetproducttdevelopmenttcyclettimetandtcosttwhiletprovidingt superiort products.tIndeed,timprovedtmanagementtoftthet
producttdevelopmenttprocesstcontributesttotsustainabletcompetitivetadvantagetfortcompaniest[1-
3].tManythavetrecognizedtthattthetkeyttotprocesstimprovementtliestintbettertprocesstunderstanding.tTowardstthistobjective,t
atcomplextdesigntprocesstcantbetviewedtastatsettoftsimpliertactivitiestwithtdiscernibletinterrelationships.tChoicestasttotthet
decompositiontandt integrationt oftthesetactivitiesthavetramificationstfortthetcompetitivenesstoftthetprocesst[4].tThet
realizationtthattmanytproducttdevelopmenttprocessestandtactivitiestaretproceduraltandt repeatablet hast givent riset tot
modeling effortstthattseekttotdescribetcurrenttprocessestandtprescribetappropriatetpolicytadjustments.
Thistpaperthighlightstthetcapabilitiestoftdependencytstructuretmatrixt(DSM)1-
basedtmethodsttotmanagetprojectstfortreducedtscheduletrisktandtshortertcyclettime.tFollowingtatpresentationtoftsometcycle
ttimetreductiontchallenges,tItprovidetoverviewstoftthetconcepttoftdesigntiterationstandtoftDSM-
based,tprocesstmodelingttechniques.tIntclosing,tItdiscussthowtDSMtmethodstmeettthetcyclettimetreductiontchallengest
coveredtearlier.tThistpaper’stmaintcontributiontisttotlaytoutt severaltcyclettimetreductiontchallengestandtshowtthetwaystDS
Mtmethodsthelptmeettthem.

2tCyclet Timet Reductiont Challenges

Severaltcharacteristicstoftmosttcomplextsystemtdevelopmenttprojectstmaketcyclettimetreductiontespeciallytchallenging.t
Thesetcharacteristicstandtchallengestinclude:
Inefficienttdistributiontoftpersonneltandtresources—includingtfacilities,ttools,tandtespeciallytinformation—
resultstintpartstoftthet projecttspendingt“down”ttimetwaitingtfortresourcestwhenttheytcouldtbetworking.tWhiletthististinevitabletgiven
tlimitedtresources,tappropriatetplanningtcantinsuretthattattleasttcriticaltpathtactivitiestaretnottdelayedtduettotresourcetconstraints.tLackt
oftandtfailurettotusetappropriatetplanningttechniquestcomplicatestcyclettimetreductiontstrategies.
Unstabletproducttrequirementstcausetindecisivenesstandtfostertredesign.tIftrequirementstremaintuncertaint toot latet int thet project,t extrat
rework

1
becomestinevitabletandtcyclettimetreductiontbecomestmoretdifficult.tMakingtsometdecisionstastlatetastpossiblet(attenettof
tset-
basedtdesign)tistsometimestthetrighttthingttotdo,tbuttcertaintdecisionstneedttotbetmadetearlyttotproperlytsettthetscopetandt
directiontoftatproject.
Thetexistencetoftlongtandtvariedtactivityt“pipelines”tmeanstshortertdurationtactivitiestfinishtandtwaittfortlongertdurationtactivitiestto
tproducetneededtresults.tWhentthesetresultstfinallytbecometavailable,tthetactivitiestthattfinishedtearlytoftenthavettotgotbacktandtchanget
theirtworktbasedtontthetnewtinformation.tMeanwhile,tiftthetactivitiestthattfinishedtearlythadtproceededttotmoretdetailedtdesigntwork
t(perhapstbecausetthetworktculturetdemandsttheyt“looktbusy”)tbeforetthetlatertresultstbecametavailable,tmuchtoftthistworktcouldtendtu
ptsquandered.
Lacktoftactivitytcoordinationtresultstint wastedttime,tdoingtthetwrongtwork,tandtinappropriatetcommunication.tIftactivitiestaretnottwellt
integratedttotthetpointtoftknowingtwhattinformationteachtneeds,twhen,tandtintwhattformat,ttheytwillthavettroubletreducingtthetcycle
ttimetofttheirtoveralltprocess.
Highlytinterdependenttortcoupledtactivitiestincreasetthetchancestoftiterationtortrework.tThisteffecttistdiscussedtintmoretdetailtintthet
sectionstthattfollow.
Overlyt ambitioust initialt schedulest maket further
cyclettimetreductionsteventmoretdifficult.tIftantoriginaltplantturnstoutttotbethightrisktfromtatscheduletstandpoint,treducingt
thattscheduletanytfurthertwilltcauseteventgreatertrisk.tIntothertwords,tonetcannottreducetcyclettimetsimplytbytshorteningt
thetplannedtschedule;tonetmusttinsuretatcommensuratetreductiontintscheduletrisk.
Manytseeminglytfeasibletcyclettimetreductiontsolutionsthavetadversetsideteffectstwhichtreducetanticipatedteffectiveness.tThus,t
successfultcyclettimetreductiontrequirestatsystemstperspective,ttakingtintotaccounttthetfeedbackstthattwillttendttotdiminishtoverallt
processtefficacy.

Somethavetapproachedtthetcyclettimetreductiontproblemtbytsimplyttakingtoncetserialtactivitiestandtexecutingtthemtint
parallel.tHowever,tdoingtsotwithouttpayingtattentionttotthetinterdependenciestthattmaytexisttbetweentsuchtactivitiestcantact
uallytwastetresourcestwithouttprovidingtmuchtcyclettimet advantage.tActivitiestthattdependtontothertactivitiestfor
tinformationtwilltoftenthavettotredotsometportiontofttheirtworktiftthosetinputstchangetortarrivetlate.tHence,tindiscriminately
tplacingtoncetserialtactivitiestintparalleltcant leadt totadditionalt reworkt ortiteration.tAtmoreeffectivetapproachtrequiresta
tsystemstviewtoftthetprocesstandtthetcapabilityttotanalyzetthetcomplextrelationshipstbetweentactivities.tThetDSMtmethodol
ogytmeetstthesetrequirements.
Together,tthetchallengestabovetaccounttfortatlargetportiontoftthetuncertaintytortvariancetthattleadsttotoverrunstintprojectt
schedules.tIncreasingt complexitytandtscopetoftthetsystemtundertdevelopmenttexacerbatestthesethazards.tThesetchallenges
texisttbecausettheytaretdifficultttot plantfortandtmanagetontatreal-
timetbasis.tThetgoaltoftthistpapertisttotshowthowtthetconcepttoftdesigntiterationstandtthetDSMtmodelingtmethodologythelp
taddresstsometoftthesetproblems.

Thet Conceptt oft Designt Iterations

Manytoftthetchallengestnotedtabovetaretcapturedtintthetconcepttoftiterationstintthetdesigntprocess.tHeretItprovidetant
overviewtoftthistconcept.tRealizingtthetroletoftiterationtastatscheduletrisktdrivertandtastatbarrierttotcyclettimetreductiont
motivatestthetneedtforttractabletmethodstthattaccounttfortiterationtandthelptmanagerstfocustresourcestappropriately.
Designtiterationtimpliestreworktortrefinement,treturningttotpreviouslytworkedtactivitiesttotaccounttfortchanges.tThistrework
tcantstemtfromtnewtinformationtand/ortfailurettotmeettdesigntobjectivest[5].tNewtinformationtfortantactivitytcomestfrom:
Upstreamtactivitiestcausingtantactivity’st inputsttotchanget(oftentthetresulttoftantiterationtcausingtatsecondtpasstthroughtsometparttoft
thet process,tortatchangetintexternallytsuppliedtrequirementstand/ortassumptions),
Concurrent,tcoupledtactivities,tcausingtantactivity’stinputsttotchange,toftentastsharedtassumptionstchange,tand
Downstreamtactivitiestcausingtant activity’stinputsttotchange,tasterrorstandtincompatibilitiestaretdiscovered.t [6]
Worktdonetlatert(downstream)tintthetprocess—particularlytverificationtandtvalidationtactivities—
oftentrevealstaspectstoftseeminglytcompletedt(upstream)tactivitiestthattmusttbetreworkedt[7-
10].tReworktcantalsotbetgeneratedtbytchangestintthetinformationtprovidedttotandtreceivedtfromtconcurrent,tinterdependentt
(coupled)tactivities.t Fortexample,tteamtAtneedsttotknowtwhattvaluestteamtBthastsettfortparameterstxtandty;tteamtBtneedst
totknowtwhattvaluestteamtCtistusingtfortparameterstwtandtz;tbuttteamtCtneedsttotknowtthetresulttoftteamtA’stactivitiesttot
determinetwtandtz.tThesetdesigntissuestaretsometimestcalledt“chickentandtegg”tproblems,tandtthetgroupstthattworkt tot
solvetthemtaret calledt coupledtteams.t The
phenomenontoftengineersttradingttechnicaltinformationtandttherebytcreatingtreworktforteachtotherthastbeentobservedtint
severaltcasestbytClarktandtFujimotot[1].tAlso,twhentdownstreamtortcoupledtactivitiestcreatetreworktfortupstreamtactivities,
tthetresultingtchangestmaytcausetsecondtordertreworktfortinterimtactivitiest(thosetbetweentthetupstreamtandtdownstream
tactivitiestdirectlytinvolvedtintthetiteration).tHence,tinputtchangesttotactivitiestcantgeneratetnewtinformationtandtforcet
iterationtintthetprocess.
Iterationtalsotresultstfromtnottmeetingtthetdesiredtdesigntobjectives.tIterationthastbeentdefinedtast“thetrepetitiontoft
activitiesttotimprovetantevolvingtdesign”t[11].tFailurettotconvergettotdesigntspecificationstcantrequiretreworkingtupstreamt
activitiesttiedttotthetarea(s)toftshortfall.t Notetthattsuchtinsufficiencytint thetdesigntistmoretlikelytwhentrequirementstandt
objectivestaretunstabletortotherwisetpronettotmodification.tSuchtinstabilitytresultstfromtchangingtemphasistontknownt
objectivestand/ortthetadditiontoftnewtobjectives.
Severaltstudiesthavetdocumentedtiterationteffectstastkeytdriverstoftoveralltdevelopmenttcyclettimet[2,t3,t12-
t18].tIntparticular,tOsbornetfoundtthatt iterationtaccountedtfortbetweent13%tandt70%tofttotaltdevelopmentttimetfort
semiconductortdevelopmenttactivitiestattIntel.t Hetalsotfoundtiterationttot bet thetchieftcausetoftcyclettimetvariabilitytattthet
firm.
Thetiterationtperspectivethelpstcapturetandtquantifytdriverstoftcost,tschedule,tandtperformancet(designtquality)tvariabilityti
ntdesignt programs.t Tightlytcoupled,thighlytiterativetproducttdevelopmenttprocessestcantexpecttgreatertdifficultytconvergin
gttotantacceptabletdesigntundertatgiventscheduletandtbudget.tTotmovettowardstconsistenttsuccess,tproducttdevelopment
tprojectstshouldtstrivettotinsuretthat,ttotatgreatertextent,ttheirtdesigntiterationstaretstrategicallytplannedtrathertthantthetresult
toftseeminglytrandomtchance.
Intlighttoftthistobjective,tittistusefulttotdividetiterationtintthetproducttdevelopmenttprocesstintottwotcategories:
Intentionaltiterations,tpurposelyt performedtintatcoupledtdesigntprocessttotconvergettotatdesirabletsolutiont(i.e.,timprovetdesign
tqualityttotatdesiredtlevel),tand
Unintentionalt iterations,tresultingtfromtnewtinformationtarrivingtlatetintthetprocesst(causedtbytouttoftsequencetactivities,tfluid
trequirementstortdesigntgoals,tmistakes,tetc.).2
Thetfirsttstepttowardstreducingtproducttdevelopmenttcyclettimetandtvariationtliestint minimizingtunintentionaltiterations.t
Thistconsiststoftinsuringtthattthetrighttinformationtistavailabletatt thetrightt placetattthetrightttime;tactivitiestaretproperlyt
sequenced,tgiventrelevanttconstraints;tresourcestaretavailablettotthetactivitiestwhentneeded;trequirementstaretfirmtastquickly
tastpossible;tandtmistakestaretminimized.
Thetnexttstepttowardstacceleratingtthetdesigntcycletinvolvesttwotbasictoptionstfortmanagingtintentionaltiterations:
Fastertiterations,t and
Fewertiterations.t [20]
Fastertiterationstcantbetachievedtby,te.g.,tCADtsystemstthattacceleratetindividualtactivities,tsimulationtandtanalysisttoolst
thattreducetdependencetonttime-
tconsumingtprototype/testtcycles,timprovedtintragrouptcoordinationtfortteamstassignedttotindividualtactivities,tconcurrentt
engineeringtortIPPD,tintegrationtoftengineeringtanalysisttoolstusedtfortdisparatetactivities,tandtremovaltoftextraneous
tactivitiestfromtthetprocesst[20].tAtstudytbytEisenhardttandtTabrizit[18]tandtatmodeltbytGebalatandtEppingert[13]tfindtthat
tadditionalt(becausettheytaretfaster)titerationstaretsignificantlytcorrelatedtwithtfastertproducttdevelopment.tFewertiterationst
maytbetpossibletby,te.g.,timprovedtactivitytsequencing,timprovedtinterteamt(interactivity)tcoordination,tco-
locationtoftthosetexecutingthighlytinterdependenttactivities,tandtimprovedtassumptionst(learning)tabouttothertactivities.t
However,tfewertiterationstcantmeantlesstdesigntquality,tortattleasttatgreatertrisktthattthetdesigntwilltnottconvergettotthet
desiredttargets.tFastertiterationstreducetthistrisk,tsincetmoretiterationstimprovetthetchancetthattthetdesigntwilltconvergettota
cceptabletmultiattributetperformancetlevelst(alltelsetbeingtequal).tIntbothtcases,thowever,tthetquality,tgain,tortproductivity
tofteachtiterationtistimportantt[21].tFewertiterationstmighttmaketsensetifteachtonetistoftsufficienttproductivityttotensure
tacceptabletoutput.tFastertiterationstwilltonlytbetadvantageoustifteachtactivitytcantbetacceleratedtwhiletcontinuingtto
tproducetsatisfactorytoutputs.

IntroductionttotDSM-BasedtProcesstModelingt Methodology

ThistsectiontprovidestantextremelytbrieftoverviewtoftthetoriginstoftDSMstandtthetkeysttotDSMtmethodology.tDSMstcant
tracettheirtdevelopmentttotseveraltsetstoftroots.tPerhapstthetprimarytsourcet oftDSMtconceptstgrowstfromteffortsttotsolvet
systemstoftequationstintthetlatet1950standt1960s.
 A

A B
A
t B B

Dependentt(Serial)

5
Interdependentt(Coupled)

A B A B A B
At A A A A A 
Bt  B B B B  B

Figuret 1:tActivityt Networkst andt DSMt Equivalents

Theseteffortstexpandedtintotareastsuchtastmatrixtmathematicst[e.g.,t22].t However,tDSMtconceptstaretalsotrelatedttotnetwo
rktprecedencetdiagramst[e.g.,t23,t24]tandtnetworktrelationshiptdiagramst[e.g.,t25].tSystemstengineerstfamiliartwithtinterfac
e-to-interfacet(N-to-NtortN2)tdiagramst[26]twilltalsotrecognizettheirtsimilarityttotDSMs.
Formaltdefinitiontandtapplicationtoftthesetconceptsttotdesigntprocesstissuestcametint1981,twhentStewardtdescribedtthet“des
igntstructuretmatrix”t[27,t28].tInt1989,tRogerstattNASAtbuilttsoftwarettotaidt intanalyzingtsuchtmatricest[29].tActualtuseti
ntindustrytsettingstbegantaboutt1990,tastseveraltprofessorstandtstudentstattthetMassachusettstInstitutetoftTechnologyt(MIT)
tbuilttresearchtaroundtthetdesigntstructuretmatrixtandtexpandedtitstapplications,3tastsummarizedtint[39].tIntthetlasttfewtyear
s,tthistworkthastexpandedtbeyondtMITttotindustrytandtothertuniversities,4tandt thetresultingtneedtfortatmoretgeneraltnameth
astledttotthettermtdependencytstructuretmatrix,twhichtretainstthetinitialismt“DSM”tlefttovertfromtSteward’stwork.
ThetDSMtistatsquaretmatrixtwithtonetrowtandtcolumntpertactivity.tThetactivitiestaretlistedtintroughlytchronologicaltorder,t
withtupstreamtortearlytactivitiestlistedtintthetuppertrows.tDiagonaltelementstaretplaceholderstintatsimpletDSM,tandtoff-
diagonaltelementstindicatetactivitytinterfaces.tFiguret1tshowstthetnetworktflowcharttandtDSMtrepresentationstoftbasictacti
vitytrelationships.5tBecausetoft thet temporaltorderingtoftthetactivities,tsubdiagonaltmatrixtelementstshowt feedforwardtinfo
rmationt (sucht ast thet flowt from

3t [5,t 12,t 16,t 17,t 20,t 30-38]

Diagramstadaptedtfromt[31,t42].

6
activitytAttotactivitytBtintthetserialt case).tSuperdiagonaltelementstindicatetfeedback,tthetpotentialtfortiterationtandtreworkt
intthetprocess.tThus,t iftactivitiestintrowst(andtcorrespondingtcolumns)titandtjtoftthetDSMthavetnotdirecttinterfaces,tentriest
ijtandtjit intthetmatrixtwilltbetzerotortempty.tIf,tontthetotherthand,tbothtentriestijtandtjitaretfilled,tthistindicatesttwo-
waytinterdependencytortcouplingtbetweentthetactivities.tUsuallytthistpointsttotsometkindtoft“chickentandtegg”tproblem,toft
whichtmanytexisttintcomplext systemtdesign.tTraditionaltPERT/CPMtmethodstandtGantttchartstdotnottadequatelytrepresent
tthesettypestoftrelationshipstandttheirteffects.
Thetfollowingtistatsimpletexample,tshowingt atDSMtfortatfamiliartprocess,tputtingtontsockstandtshoest(Figuret2).6tInformat
iontandtprecedencetrelationshipstflowtintatcounter-
clockwisetdirectiontintthetmatrix,tsotthetmarkstbelowtthetdiagonaltimply,tfortinstance,tthatt“gettsocks”tmusttprecedet“putto
ntsocks,”tandt“gettshoes”tmusttprecedet“puttontshoes”tandt“inspecttshoes.”tThetmarktabovetthetdiagonaltintthetDSMtindic
atestthat,toncetshoesthavetbeentinspected,ttheytmaytbetfoundtwantingt(e.g.,ttootscuffedtuptortthetwrongtcolortfortthetclothe
s),trequiringtantiteration,t“gett(new)tshoes.”
Now,tthetgoaltintDSMtanalysistist tot resequencetthetactivitiestsotasttotminimizetiterationstandttheirtscope.tSincetthetactivit
iest“gettshoes”tandt“inspecttshoes”taretcoupled,thowever,ttheretistnotwayttotreordertthetrowst(andtcolumns)toftthetDSMttot
gettalltthetmarkstbelowtthetdiagonal.tFailingtthis,twetchangetourtgoalt to

ThistfivetactivitytDSMtexampletistadaptedtfromtatpresentationtbytStephentDenker,t“AtNewtWayttot ThinktAbouttProblem
s,”tPresentationttotProjecttManagementtInstitutet (PMI),t Bostont Chapter,t 6/19/97.

7
gettingtanytsuperdiagonaltmarkstastclosettotthetdiagonaltastpossible,tminimizingtthetscopetoftthetiteration.tIntFiguret2,tonc
etwet“gettshoes,”twetgotaheadtandt“puttontsocks”tandt“putt ont shoes”tbeforetwet“inspecttshoes.”tIf,tinstead,twetmovedtthe
tinspectiontsteptupstream,t astintFiguret3,twetminimizetthetimpacttoftatneedttot“gett(new)tshoes.”t(Essentially,t thist actt oft
movingtactivitiestupstreamtdemonstratestconcurrenttengineering:twetshortentthetfeedbacktlooptintthetprocesstint hopestthatt
wetwilltdecreasetthetvariancetinttotaltprocesstleadttime.)tWhiletintthistexampletwetcouldtnott eliminatetthetiterationtentirely
,toftentittistpossiblettotreducetthetnumbertoftpotentialtiterationstsubstantiallytbytresequencingtrowstandtcolumns.

GETtSOCKStGETtSHOEStPUTtONtSOCKStPUTtONtSHOES
INSPECTtSHOES 

 


Figuret 2:tDSMtfortthetProcesstoftPuttingt ont Sockst andt Shoes

GETtSOCKStGETtSHOES
INSPECTtSHOEStPUTtONtSOCKStPUTt
 ONt SHOES


 

Figuret 3:tResequencedtDSMtShowstImprovedtProcess

ThetDSMtalsotindicatestwhichtactivitiestcantbetaccomplishedtintparalleltwithouttcausingtadditionaltiteration.tFortexample,t
int Figuret3,t “gettsocks”tandt“gettshoes”tcantbetdonetsimultaneously,tastcant“inspecttshoes”tandt“puttontsocks”t(iftwethav
etenoughtresources!).tSometimestplannerstchoosetactivitiesttotworktintparalleltwithouttfirsttconsideringttheirtinformationtde
pendencies,twhichtcantresulttintadditionaltiterationtandtthus,tmore,tnottless,tcyclettime.
ThetDSMtintroductiontintthistsectiontist verytsimple.tWhilettimetandtspacetdotnottpermittatfulltdiscussiontandtassimilationt
oftalltapplicablettheorytandtpractice,tthetfollowingtpointstwillthelptguidetfurthertinquirytandtmoretsophisticatedtusetoftDS
Mtmodels:

8
Offtdiagonaltelementstdotnotthavettotbinaryt(i.e.,tpresenttortnot):ttheytcantbetnumberstfromt0ttot1,tfromt0ttot9,tetc.t Thesetnumberstcan
tconveytanytoftatnumbertoftbitstoftinformationtregardingtthetinterfaces,tsuchtastprobabilitytoftiteration,tpercenttrework,tamounttoftdatat
flow,ttypetoftdatatflow,tsensitivityttotchangetintinputttotdownstreamtactivity,tetc.tFortinstance,tint thetexamplet above,tiftthetprobability
tofthavingttotredotthet“gettshoes”tsteptaftertthetresultstoftthet“inspecttshoes”tsteptaretintistestimatedttotbet0.4,tthistnumbertcouldtreplac
etthetsuperdiagonaltsquare.
Activitiestneedtnottbetlimitedttot“finish-to-
start”ttypetrelationships;ti.e.,tactivitiestcantbetpartiallytoverlappedtintcertaintcases,talthoughtthesetdecisionstshouldtbetbasedtontthetnatu
retoftinformationtproductiontandtusetbytthetupstreamtandtdownstreamtactivities,trespectivelyt[43].tFortexample,t“puttontsocks”tandt“pu
ttontshoes”tcouldtbetoverlapped,tperhapstbytputtingtontonet sock,tthentonetshoe,tthentthetothertsock,tthentthetothertshoe.
ActivitytdurationstmaytbetplacedtintthetdiagonaltelementstoftthetDSM,tandtthistalongtwithtthetknowledgetoftserial,tparallel,tandtcouple
dtactivitiestcantleadttotroughtcriticaltpathtcalculations.
Activitiestcapabletoftexecutiontintparalleltfromtantinformationtflowtperspectivetmaytyettbetheldtuptbytresourcetconstraints.tAtmoretco
mpletetanalysistmusttaccounttfortthesetconstraints.tFort example,tthetDSMtabovetindicatestthatt“gettsocks”tandt“gettshoes”tcantoccurti
ntparallel.tButtiftwetonlythavetonetpersontavailabletfortbothtactivities,t wet maytnottintfacttbetablettotdotbothtattonce.

5tDSMt Capabilitiest andt AdvantagestfortCycletTimetReduction

Thet DSMt hast numeroust advantages,t buttperhapstthettwotgreatesttonestare:

Othertadvantagestandtcapabilitiestinclude:
Atdescriptiontoftatprocesstthattcantbetanalyzedtandtmodifiedttotprovidetat prescriptiontfortatprocesstwithtreducedtscheduletrisktandtcyc
lettime.
Atmeansttot moret accuratelyt managet schedulet and
anticipatetscheduletrisk.
Atsystemstviewtoftprojecttactivitiestandttheirtrelationshipstwhichtdrivetcyclettime.

9
Atmodeltdemonstratingtappropriatelytconcurrenttactivities.
Atmeansttot quicklytexaminetpotentialtactivitytand
decisiontsequencetchangest ("whatt if"t capabilities)tforttheirteffecttontschedule.
Atviewtfromtwhicht tot deployt resourcest tot reduce
unintentionaltiterations.

Fromtthetdescriptiontandtexamplestabove,twetcantseethowtthetmethod’stcapabilitiesthelptmeettthetchallengestnotedtearlier:
Inefficienttdistributiontoftpersonneltandtresources,tincludingtfacilitiestandttoolstandtespeciallytinformation,tresultstintpartstoftthetproject
tspendingt“down”ttimetwaitingtfortresourcestwhenttheytcouldtbetworking.tThetDSMtshowstwhichtactivitiestdependtontotherstfortimpor
tanttresourcestandtwhentthesetresourcestwilltbetneeded,thelpingtmanagerstinsuretthattthetrighttresourcestaretavailabletattthetrighttplacet
andtattthetrightttime.
Unstabletrequirementstmaketdecisivenesstdifficulttandtfostertredesign.tThetDSMtcantbetusedttottracettheteffectstoftchangingtinformatio
n.tMoretsophisticatedtDSMtanalysistcanteventhelptquantifyttheteffectstoftsuchtchangestontprojecttcosttandtschedule.tThistkindtoftinfor
mationtistvaluablettotthosetdecidingtif,twhen,tandthowtmuchttotchangetrequirements.
Longtandtvariedtactivityt“pipelines”tmeantshortertdurationtactivitiestfinishtandtwaittfortlongertdurationtactivitiesttotproducetneededtres
ults.tBytexaminingtthetdurationstoftactivitiestint at DSM,tonetcantquicklytisolatetthesetsituationstandtaccounttfortthemtintprojecttplans.
Lacktoftactivitytcoordinationtresultstint wastedttime,tdoingtthetwrongtwork,tandtinappropriatetcommunication.tUsingtatDSMtallowstact
ivitiesttotseettheirtplacetintantoveralltprocess,tenablingtthemttotseetwhattothertactivitiestneedttheirtresultstandtwhen.
Highlytinterdependenttortcoupledtactivitiestincreasetthetchancestoftiterationtortrework.tThetDSMthighlightstthesetsituations,tenablingtpl
annersttotmoretappropriatelytaccounttfortthem.
Overlytambitioustinitialtschedulestmaketfurthertcyclettimetreductionsteventmoretdifficult.tBytshowingtthetamounttoftiterationtintatproc
ess,tthetDSMtprovidestatquicktchecktoftscheduletfeasibilitytandtrisk.tThistbringstadditional,timportanttinformationttotcyclettimetreducti
ontefforts.
Manytseeminglytfeasibletcyclettimetreductiontsolutionsthavetadversetsideteffectstwhichtreducetanticipatedteffectiveness.tThetsystemstv
iewtprovidedt byt thet DSMtdecreasest thet chancest that
processtreengineeringteffortst willt misst theirt marktintreducingtcyclettime.

Intconclusion,tthetDSMtmethod—
whicht hastexistedtintthetliteraturetfort17tyearstbuttistonlytnowtbecomingtwidelytrecognized—
istshownttotprovidetutilityttotprojecttmanagerstwhotseekttotreducetscheduletrisktandtcyclettime.
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