PM Insight-Sunnyvale Virtual Meeting:

Agile Project Management for Complex Tangible Products

 

One of the fastest ways to build business value is to accelerate cycles of learning through rapid product launches and customer engagement.  But using Agile methods for tangible products is not simple or straightforward.  Despite the gains in Agile software methodologies, those delivering tangible products, for example mobile telephone handsets & medical devices, are still living in a waterfall world.  Can you imagine the chaos agility could impose on manufacturing, if not managed

There are certainly different challenges between software and tangible products, but there is also a lot to learn (and apply) from the success of companies that have implemented Agile techniques in their development process. Key to doing this is managing dependencies between a platform and subordinate projects, between related projects, and even fixed corporate calendar events.

You can learn more at the Atlassian’s blog post written on the topic: “How to take an agile mindset to rigid waterfall projects”.

 

Takeaways:

• Why Agile methods can create value for tangible product development
• What you need to get started 
• The 5 key components of Agile development for complex tangible products
• How to integrate Agile within a Waterfall framework – and why it’s better than just Agile or just Waterfall

  

About the Instructor:

 

John Carter

John Carter has been a CEO, founder and inventor. As Principal of TCGen Inc., he has advised technology firms such as Apple, Cisco, Dolby, HP, IBM, and Xerox on strategy and operations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cirrus Logic (CRUS). John is the co-inventor of the BOSE Noise Cancelling Headphones and shares the original patent with Dr. Bose.

John was the founder and a Principal of Boston-based Product Development Consulting, Inc. (PDC), a leading organization in advising Fortune 500 companies in the areas of research, development and marketing. Before founding PDC, he was Chief Engineer of BOSE Corporation where he managed the development of technologies such as the Acoustic Wave Music System, Wave Radio, Lifestyle Home Theatre, Noise Reduction Headphones and others. 

He earned his MS in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BS in engineering from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA.

He has extensive speaking experience, and an invited speaker for dozens of companies, conferences, universities and project management groups including:   

• Stanford, MIT, Case Western
• Management Roundtable (Conference Chairman), Keynote speaker
• IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society- Silicon Valley
• PMI SV Annual Symposium
• Apple, IBM, HP, Xerox, 3M and many others

He is the author, with Jeanne Bradford of “Innovate Products Faster” a handbook on product development and program management, available in the US and China.

You can learn more about John carter at TCGen.com.

 

Meeting Leader: Kuntal Thakore, PMP, CSM