Collaborative Levels and Effecting Factors Analysis for Web-based Product Development

The collaborative levels in modem web - based product development processes are diversed in a large degree. However, current researches are lack of systematic approaches to analyze the appropriate level of the collaboration. Aiming at the problem, the collaborative levels and effecting factors are studied in the paper. First, a primary framework of the effecting factors analysis is proposed, which defines the input, output, and components of the effeeting factors analysis. Next, a collaboration hierarchy model is set up, which is constituted by message level, data level and application level. Based on the model, the effecting factors of collaboration levels are analyzed systematically from technology, organization and business aspects. Detailed indices are abstracted from these aspects and an evaluation factors set is formed systematiclly. According to the framework, hierarchy model, and the factors set, a methodology for factors evaluation and analysis is developed, which contains analytical hierarchy process, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and gap analysis method. The methodology has characteristics of quantitive analysis, easy to oprerate, and optimization support capability. A case study is provided to illustrate the analysis process based on the application of the methodology in a collaborative product development project of a furniture enterprise. The case study shows that the methodology can help enterprises to determine the collaboration level effectively, and can also find out the critical factors which impact the collaboration on a large extend. As a result, the develop process, working efficiency and the outcome of the collaborative project can be highly improved.

Collaborative Levels and Effecting Factors Analysis for Web-based Product Development

The collaborative levels in modem web - based product development processes are diversed in a large degree. However, current researches are lack of systematic approaches to analyze the appropriate level of the collaboration. Aiming at the problem, the collaborative levels and effecting factors are studied in the paper. First, a primary framework of the effecting factors analysis is proposed, which defines the input, output, and components of the effeeting factors analysis. Next, a collaboration hierarchy model is set up, which is constituted by message level, data level and application level. Based on the model, the effecting factors of collaboration levels are analyzed systematically from technology, organization and business aspects. Detailed indices are abstracted from these aspects and an evaluation factors set is formed systematiclly. According to the framework, hierarchy model, and the factors set, a methodology for factors evaluation and analysis is developed, which contains analytical hierarchy process, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and gap analysis method. The methodology has characteristics of quantitive analysis, easy to oprerate, and optimization support capability. A case study is provided to illustrate the analysis process based on the application of the methodology in a collaborative product development project of a furniture enterprise. The case study shows that the methodology can help enterprises to determine the collaboration level effectively, and can also find out the critical factors which impact the collaboration on a large extend. As a result, the develop process, working efficiency and the outcome of the collaborative project can be highly improved.