Additional information
by Filipe Altoe (Author)
The test and measurement industry certainly has evolved significantly in the last two decades. The typical challenges of the past were heavily associated with the tool set available to the typical Test Engineer. Therefore, one can state that the technical challenges imposed by test and measurements projects were the main drivers of project failure back in those days. As technology advanced and test and measurements tools allowed Engineers and Scientists to better materialize their ideas for the solutions of the most various problems, the overall complexity of these systems reached unprecedented heights. Statistics of complex technical projects show that well over two thirds of these projects fail. The mastering of test and measurements tools by test engineers is no longer enough to increase the odds of project success. Moreover, project management via application of industry standard project execution frameworks is no longer ensuring test and measurements project success. Millions and millions of dollars are being wasted in product development initiatives that never see the market light of the day due to over expenditures in their test solutions. Excellent ideas never come to implementation fruition due to failed project executions. Service-based organizations go out of business due to their inability to make profits from their system integration project-based service offerings. There is a clear open problem to be solved in the industry, which is to change the current statistics of test and measurements (T&M) projects' outcomes in favor of successful execution. There is a nagging question that needs an answer: Why do complex test and measurements projects fail? This book focus on this question by first providing a complete root cause analysis in the attempt of identifying the culprits for the issue, presenting the current technical project execution frameworks most utilized in the industry, identifying the gaps of such frameworks related to the root issues of failed test and measurements projects and presenting a new framework tailored for the execution of this type of project, the TMPM framework. The book details the process that was utilized for the root causes of real life failed test and measurements project to be identified, which actually revealed the real underlying issues that drove those root causes. Once those issues were brought to life, the TMPM process was derived, focusing on addressing the real test and measurements project problems by adapting the existing project execution frameworks into one that is tailored for these projects. The involvement by end clients of services organizations that focus on test and measurements project integration is no longer a guarantee for project success. Contrary to what many may think, this also brings about challenges to the successful execution of a complex project. Regardless of the level of expertise the hired services company brings to the table, as this book shows, there is a set of problems that need to be addressed to foster success of this relationship. This book has three main high-level goals: 1)To explore the root causes for T&M project failure and to determine the real reasons why these projects fail 2)To explore the root causes for failure in engaging a system integrator company 3)To provide a modified framework that facilitates both the successful management of T&M projects as well as the engagement of system integrator companies This book is targeted to test engineers; professional LabVIEW and National Instruments consultants; project managers of test and measurements projects; test managers and any other functional managers that are involved in test and measurements project execution; engineering and product development executives of service, technology, and product development organizations; and any organization that is faced with the challenging business of implementing and managing test and measurements projects.
