The design team determines what the product or service offering will
be. From ideas about what the marketplace would like to purchase, the
design team designs the product or service offering to be attractive
while also seeking to achieve the company's financial objectives with
respect to profitability. Frequently, the design team will interact
with prospective and/or current customers to refine their ideas into
an attractive finished product. In the case of a software company,
the design team is comprised of a product manager who defines what the
product should do and look like, programmers who design and write the
code to realize the product manager's vision, and a project manager
who coordinates the activities of the programmers and translates the
product manager's vision into coding assignments. In the case of an
automobile manufacturer, the design team determines the shape and
arrangement of the vehicle's parts and its features and capabilities,
ranging from the type of engine it has to how it handles to what
colors it comes in. Part of the design team's role is determining
what aspects of the product or service, if any, are customizable.
The construction team takes the plans from the design team and
actually builds the product or provides the service. They perform the
implementation role for a software company by installing the software
and making it work with the customer's other systems. Configuration
of the product may also occur to incorporate specific customer
preferences. The manufacture of automobiles is the construction team
phase for an automobile company. The parts are manufactured and
assembled according to the design team's specifications. The
construction team can also customize aspects of the vehicle to the
customer's preferences, to the extent permitted by the design, such as
by adding or removing features and making the vehicle a particular
color.
The service team manages the customer experience once the construction
team is finished. Their job is to train the customer to use the
product, troubleshoot problems with the product, and/or maintain the
product. In a software company, this role is typically performed by
the training department and technical support. In the automotive
industry, the automobile dealer is the primary responsible party.
All three teams play important roles during the design and
installation phases. The design team needs to receive input from the
construction team and the service team regarding customer preferences
and characteristics a product should have to make it easy to install
and service in order to develop a good design. The construction team
must receive clear directions from the design team about what to
install/build. The service team needs to interact with both the
design team and the construction team so that it understands the basic
foundation of how the product works, the various options it can have,
and what options have been selected by the customer. It is only
through a combination of both general and customer specific product
knowledge that the service team can provide excellent service.
The importance of two-way communication between all three of these
teams cannot be underemphasized. A product that is straightforward to
install and service and meets customer needs is far more likely to
meet with market success than a product that falls short in any of
those areas. Although meeting customer needs is the most important
criteria, lengthy and difficult installations or difficult servicing
requirements usually impede market acceptance.
Sincerely,
Wonko |
Request for Answer Clarification by
bowen-ga
on
07 Feb 2005 04:16 PST
Hi,
This question was aimed at the Construction Industry, not the actual
stages of any industry.
Design - Meaning the design team like architecture
Construction Team - Meaning building the project
Services - Meaning electricity, gas, water etc.
Your answer isn't really relevant, could you please relate it to the
construction industry.
Cheers.
|
Clarification of Answer by
wonko-ga
on
07 Feb 2005 14:33 PST
Sorry about my confusion. The processes I described are largely
relevant, but what is specifically being done, and by whom, is
different in the construction industry. Although I am describing
building construction specifically, similar procedures would apply to
the construction of any structure, including bridges and tunnels.
The design phase is typically done by an architect and structural
engineer. The architect will gather requirements from the building's
owner/users, such as what it is to be used for, the type of aesthetic
impact desired, and the location. The architect and structural
engineer must also be familiar with the relevant building codes
associated with the property where it will be built that are
originated by governments. The architect then works with the
structural engineer to ensure that the design can be built and will be
structurally sound. Significant advances in this area have occurred
with computerization, which have made vastly more exotic structures
possible (Frank Gehry being perhaps the most famous example).
The construction team is entrusted with actually building the
building. The benefits of computerization have also transformed this
phase of construction by providing the construction team with
extraordinarily detailed specifications for the structure.
Furthermore, much more of a structure can be prefabricated with a high
degree of accuracy off-site and easily assembled on-site than has
previously been possible. As in other industries, the construction
team may may be faced with change requests from the customer that have
to be evaluated for their feasibility and expense. Additional
collaboration with the architect and/or structural engineer may be
required depending upon the nature of the request. The construction
team must also work with the local government's building inspectors to
ensure that the project is meeting applicable codes. A federal
government agency, OSHA, regulates worksite safety by defining
standards that must be followed.
As the structure is brought closer to completion, wiring and plumbing
occur so that services can be delivered. These must be connected to
the local public utilities infrastructure so that electricity, gas,
water, data service, and phone service are available to the
structure's inhabitants. The public utilities may also have to engage
in infrastructure changes, such as adding capacity and/or extending
their infrastructure to the new building. Local governments may also
be involved when additional roads and sewer lines have to be
constructed. Local public utilities and governments will continue to
play a role in the life of the structure by providing services and
maintaining infrastructure connected to the building.
Sincerely,
Wonko
|
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