Title: Managing near decomposability in complex platform development projects

Authors: Ramsin Yakob, Fredrik Tell

Addresses: Department of Management and Engineering, Linkoping University, SE-58183, Linkoping, Sweden. ' Department of Management and Engineering, Linkoping University, SE-58183, Linkoping, Sweden

Abstract: Product Platforms are understood as the sharing of common and underlying technological assets from which a number of derivative products can be produced. The large number and character of technological interdependences give rise to system complexities, implying that product platforms can be managed as nearly decomposable system. We study the managerial implications of such complexity in a telecommunications platform enhancement project. We find that managing near decomposability requires the ability to provide feed-back and feed-forward information, relating to the implementation and planning activities of such a project and that this required output can be provided through the process of aggregation.

Keywords: product platforms; R&D management; project management; near decomposability; organisational learning; research and development; technological interdependences; product development; telecommunications.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2007.016308

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2007 Vol.3 No.4, pp.387 - 407

Published online: 16 Dec 2007 *

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