Résumés
Abstract
Designing a global product is complex: variations in human factors, cultural preferences, organizational patterns and production processes impact assignment complexity from design brief to product launch. Based on a longitudinal case study, this paper examines how a design-driven process enabled a multicultural distributed project team meeting high expectations and business goals. Three factors positively impacted team performance: the design-driven process that allowed for “iterative thinking”, the use of shared visual communication tools and the reflective leadership style. The case study also suggests that a design-driven process offers a peculiar context for team members to build-up cross-cultural competences on past experiences.
Keywords:
- global design,
- design-driven process,
- multicultural teams,
- global projects leadership,
- organizational structure,
- product development
Résumé
Le design d’un produit global est complexe: les variations liées aux facteurs humains, préférences culturelles, modèles organisationnels et processus de production augmentent la complexité, depuis le cahier des charges jusqu’au lancement produit. S’appuyant sur une étude de cas longitudinale, ce papier examine comment une équipe projet distribuée et multiculturelle a atteint des objectifs exigeants en suivant un processus design-driven. Trois facteurs ont positivement influencé la performance: la “pensée itérative”, l’utilisation d’outils de communication partagés et le style de leadership réflexif. L’étude de cas suggère également que le processus design-driven permet de solidifier les compétences interculturelles sur la base des expériences passées.
Mots-clés :
- design global,
- processus design-driven,
- équipes multiculturelles,
- leadership de projets globaux,
- structure organisationnelle,
- développement produit
Resumen
Diseñar un producto global es complejo: variaciones en los factores humanos, preferencias culturales, patrones y procesos de producción aumentan la complejidad de las asignaciones desde el problema de diseño al lanzamiento del producto. Basado en un estudio de caso longitudinal, este artículo examina como un proceso impulsado por el diseño permite a un equipo de proyecto multicultural distribuido de cumplir con los objetivos de negocio. Tres factores impactaron positivamente el rendimiento del equipo: el proceso impulsado por el diseño que permitió un “pensamiento iterativo”, el uso extensivo de herramientas compartidas de comunicación visual y el estilo de liderazgo reflexivo. El estudio de caso sugiere que un proceso impulsado por el diseño ofrece un contexto peculiar para los miembros del equipo para construir competencias transculturales de pasadas experiencias.
Palabras clave:
- diseño global,
- proceso impulsado por el diseño,
- equipos multiculturales,
- proyectos globales,
- liderazgo,
- estructura organizacional,
- desarrollo de productos
Parties annexes
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