Teredyne

Teradyne Deliverable

With Jaguar, Teradyne implemented for the first time a rigorous project execution strategy, which included up-front planning, far less autonomy, specific processes, and focused top management attention during the front-end stage. Project management tool valuation increases over time. For example, an organization gets better at estimating the time duration a certain task will take by compelling itself to utilize the tools. When tools are first used, estimates will most likely not be exact.

On previous projects Teradyne was not meticulous in deciding which features to include in a product; often undertaking too much capability, the result being budgeted timelines for activities were commonly not realistic. In addition, the leaders of project teams and top management consistently did not have suitable information concerning whether the project was tracking according to schedule. Even though there may have been a notion that a project was beginning to lag behind, hard data was most often not available until after a primary phase review. At that point it was too late to take corrective actions. This is why when starting the Jaguar project, a rigorous approach to product development was implemented. Particularly the following specific concepts and tools were applied.

Intensive Concept Development and Planning Phase: The project team was mandated to develop an in-depth project plan. Including target specifications, performance, and features based on both technical applications and market prerequisites. In addition, the team was pressed to identify the critical technical risks and prepare contingency plans for handling them. Top management did not approve funding for the project until an accurate plan was in place. In fact, the initial plan for Jaguar was rejected. After reviewing the projections the team came up with the end project plan which included a 75-page presentation that was finally approved.

“Integrated Project Team Structure: The...