Deploying Agile for Physical-Product Development: Big Challenges and Effective Solutions
Robert G. Cooper, Peter Fürst · IEEE Engineering Management Review · 2023
Physical-product firms (manufacturers) face a number of major challenges when they adopt Agile for new-product development. Typically, manufacturers embed Agile methods into the stages of their stage-and-gate process to yield ahybrid model; they also modify Agile methods to suit their company and industry. But major questions and challenges still remain: For example, where and when to useAgile-Stage-Gate– for which projects and which stages? A tougher issue is how to makeinvestment decisions– the go / no go decisions at gates – when everything from the product definition to the project plans is changing. Solutions from some leading firms are offered. Other challenges highlighted includehow to get the product right when requirements are constantly changing; how toorganizefor Agile whichdemands dedicated collocated teams, which are not practical for most manufacturers; the inconsistency between traditional longer-termproject planningversus Agile's 2-week sprint plans; and how to scale up Agile to larger programs. Actions for implementation suggested by leading firms are outlined.