TECHNOLOGY-ECONOMY-DESIGN: TED INTEGRATED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN CROSS DISCIPLINARY TEAMS

Integration of engineering and non-engineering elements in applied product development projects, as well as co-operation in cross-disciplinary teams, are essential features in the training of engineering students. Teamwork is a key factor for success in industrial work. During the last decade, this has been formalised by establishing Product Development Process models based on the principles of Integrated Product Development in many corporations. It is of utmost importance that persons with different background and representing different specialities can communicate and work closely together. This is not only a matter of formal communication. A deeper understanding of other professions “language” and a capability of accepting views and opinions of persons with a different educational background and frame of reference will be essential for success. This ability to work cross-disciplinary should be trained already during the sub graduate education, to support future co-operation in industry, between different specialists. In particular, our experience from joint student teams for product development, in co-operation between engineering students from KTH (Engineering Design), students from University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Industrial Design) and students from Stockholm University/Market Academy (Marketing) will be discussed in this paper.