Product System Development & Design

Product Roadmap

All programs benefit from an analytically based Roadmap that is developed through the use of a disciplined and logical methodology.  A Roadmap provides the implementation plan and time phasing for a program/system and is a vital component of effective strategic planning.  The need for a Roadmap is even more critical in a fiscally constrained environment in order to factor the impact of a funding stream on the viability of the program/system.

No matter the stage of a program/system, a long range Roadmap should address factors such as changes in mission, in the environment (operational, threat, and political), to system capabilities both in the employment and sustainment areas and in the fiscal landscape.  Because all of these factors are dynamic, a methodology to develop a Roadmap which is repeatable, traceable, and supportable is critical to any program office.

Obsolescence and the need to update systems is an issue faced by even the most recently fielded programs, especially in the realm of Information Technology (IT).  A dynamic roadmap process accommodates the capability to integrate rapidly developing technology improvements.

WBB has developed a Roadmap process/methodology that considers all of the above factors as well as the fiscal constraints that are a reality across all programs.

Product development and design changes are often necessary for products remaining in service for many years.  These products regularly require capability upgrades in order to remain viable throughout their life cycle.

WBB clients frequently find themselves with systems that have gradually become outdated, especially with regard to product development of electronic components as their product designs become lighter, smaller, and less expensive, but more capable.  The environment in which many systems operate also changes over time and a flexible product roadmap will assist with adapting to new and emerging user demands.

WBB clients typically lack the internal capacity to objectively evaluate their systems among all these changes and develop short and long-term product roadmaps that will address critical investment decisions.

WBB consultants possess the requisite backgrounds and operational experience, coupled with an understanding of a system's capabilities, to best interpret future system integrated needs.

WBB uses a collaborative roadmap development process to bring all these factors together into a cost versus capability model from which an analytically based set of alternatives provides reasonable investment decisions that benefit both the system producer and the end-user.

WBB first works with the system producer to thoroughly understand its current and projected capabilities.  Research is then conducted to project the future operating environment for the system in consideration.  This product design research allows WBB consultants to approach the problem not only from a product modernization perspective, but also from a product sustainment perspective.

WBB then develops Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) models to weight and prioritize those capabilities that are important to the end-user.  Subject matter experts from varying end-user communities, system developers, and program managers are utilized in these weighting efforts.

This process uses group decision software applications, such as Team Expert Choice™ and ThinkTank™, to analyze and assess capability gaps.  System upgrades are then rated by the subject matter experts against these capabilities to determine the value and benefit provided over time.  Cost estimates for the product design upgrades are then introduced to provide a cost benefit analysis.

This product development approach provides a product and technology roadmap that enables a decision-maker to conduct comparisons quickly and efficiently, providing tremendous insight to a much greater depth and rigor than was previously available.  As funding or program strategies change, the models developed can be reviewed to highlight the change in total benefit and identify potential upgrades for addition or deletion to maintain an optimal investment strategy.

The end goal is to provide the customer an optimization tool that maximizes capability within a given resource constrained environment of resources.

Please feel free to contact us for additional information about Product Development at: 703-448-6081 ext: 0