We all procrastinate sometimes, but waiting until late in the implementation cycle to plan user acceptance will only exacerbate the risks, already cited in our previous posts. Scrambling at the last minute in reaction to user sensitive problems may trigger even more resistance: fear of excessive work pressure and loss of control at the time of “going live.” In this unfortunate circumstance, the possible rewards of the new processes may no longer appear adequate or satisfying.

In complex product-based companies, which face blistering competition in today’s marketplace, constant change is expected, usually at lightning speed and driven by customer demands.

One of the biggest risks in product modeling is to have customers find errors in the product models after the models ”go live”. This type of mistake may not only result in an immediate lost sale, but also negatively impact your entire brand image as customers do not trust brands that make this type of mistake.

Most companies will have a choice of which product family to select for their initial product modeling effort. There are often two extremes to evaluate, simple or complex – each with attendant risks. Starting with a complex family that promises greater benefits may be tempting, because of the desire to gain the greatest immediate benefits with improved product configurability.