Develop innovative solutions for fast-moving markets by adapting Agile software principles to hardware products. Traditional NPD processes rely on frozen plans to avoid change, while Flexible Product Development embraces change by reducing its cost.

1. Silver Streak Partners LLC
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Flexible Product Development
Learning from Agile Software
John Farnbach
Silver Streak Partners LLC
john@silverstreakpartners.com

2. Silver Streak Partners LLC
© 2010 all rights reserved
Flexible Hardware Development
Embracing change
Keeping the plan flexible
Mid stream learning
Developing flexible
hardware
Full vs. light Stage Gate
IS:
IS NOT:

3. Silver Streak Partners LLC
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Business Value of Agile?

4. Silver Streak Partners LLC
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Agile Software Development
Waterfall
Plan
Design
Code
Test
Agile (XP, SCRUM, Crystal, FDD, Kanban?)

5. Silver Streak Partners LLC
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Agile Software Principles
Planning paradigm
Delay decisions until iteration
starts
Object-oriented coding Change tolerant architecture
Short iterations
Fast feedback and
accelerated learning
Emergent process
Shape process to meet project
needs
Teams and people
People factors outweigh
process and tools
Implementing Agile Organizational change

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Embracing Change
Project Phase
Cost
Frozen plan
Benefit
Do it wrong or
do it over
Planning
paradigm

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Delayed Decisions
Project phase
Decisionsmade
“Best” practice
FPD
Planning
paradigm

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Last Responsible Moment
Too Late
sloppy planning
Planning
paradigm
Decisionsmade

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Delay Decisions

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Change Tolerant Architecture
Performance, cost, etc.
Design flexibility
“Fence in” change
Align w/organizational boundaries
Object
coding
Hardware, firmware boundaries

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Front-loaded prototyping
Many, not few
Low cost, quick builds
Frequent customer review
Early experimentation
Speculate-try-adapt
Seek out disconfirming evidence
Learning, not verification!
Accelerated Learning Fast
feedback

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Process Changes
Exploration – develop and try
Barely sufficient standardization
Shift from flexible to structured over project life.
Emergent
process
Flexible
Structured

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Emergent Process

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Get the Right Team Teams &
people
Performance Impact
People,
Interactions
Process,
Tools
X
X
3
2
1
Critical
roles
Journeymen
Novices
Uncooperative
Process Mastery

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Communication
Co-located – 30 ft.
Social skills – respect & support
Fluid communications – daily (?) stand-ups
Dedicated people – full time
Generalists – multiple roles
Partially co-located?
Team focus on communication processes
Email, file sharing not sufficient!
In-person meetings: planning, kickoff, status
Frequent virtual meetings
Partially co-located?
Team focus on communication processes
Email, file sharing not sufficient!
In-person meetings: planning, kickoff, status
Frequent virtual meetings
Teams &
people

16. Silver Streak Partners LLC
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Implementing Flexibility Org.
change
Tops-down
drive
Grass-roots
involvement
Progress
metrics
Visible
rewards

17. Silver Streak Partners LLC
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Implementation Hurdles?

18. Silver Streak Partners LLC
© 2010 all rights reserved
John Farnbach
john@silverstreakpartners.com
Silver Streak Partners LLC
www.silverstreakpartners.com
Blog: http://silverstreakpartners.com/BetterNPD/
Questions & Discussion