Title: Physical co-location versus video conferencing in new product development projects

Authors: Anthony Lee Patti, Sandra Hartman, James Patrick Gilbert

Addresses: University of New Orleans, Department of Management, New Orleans, LA 70148-1560, USA. ' University of New Orleans, Department of Management, New Orleans, LA 70148-1560, USA. ' Crummer Graduate School of Business, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL 32789, USA

Abstract: This study investigates the substitutability of video conferencing for physical co-location in new product development projects. The findings indicate that video conferencing is a suitable substitute for physical co-location as far as schedule performance and budget performance are concerned. Surprisingly, the use of video conferencing instead of physical co-location was found to be associated with better final product quality. Future research directions are presented.

Keywords: co-location; colocation; new product development; NPD; videoconferencing; cross-functional teams; cross-functional integration; concurrent engineering; simultaneous engineering; design for manufacture; DFM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.1997.030244

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 1997 Vol.7 No.2, pp.135 - 149

Published online: 12 Dec 2009 *

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