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Towards the integration of concurrent engineering environments within organisational strategy: Perspectives on the Cougar methodology

David Tucker (Department of Business Information Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)
Ray Hackney (Department of Business Information Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)

Journal of Management Development

ISSN: 0262-1711

Article publication date: 1 April 2000

1386

Abstract

In an increasingly uncertain marketplace manufacturing organisations are striving to find new ways to meet customer requirements for competitively priced, customised products, delivered in shorter lead times. It is argued that to meet these demands there is a need to integrate the design, development and production functions within a concurrent engineering (CE) environment. The literature reports many cases of failed CE projects. One of the main reasons for this failure is believed to be a lack of formal methodologies to assist organisations with the processes required to move from sequential to concurrent product development phases. This paper describes the Cougar methodology which has been developed specifically to address this issue. The paper initially outlines briefly the progression of ideas within organisational theory from classical to contemporary strategy. It then considers the development and application of the Cougar methodology. Finally, a case study is described detailing the success of the concept within a leading UK engineering company with observations and proposals for further organisational analysis.

Keywords

Citation

Tucker, D. and Hackney, R. (2000), "Towards the integration of concurrent engineering environments within organisational strategy: Perspectives on the Cougar methodology", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 179-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710010318765

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited

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