Decoding Huawei's IPD: A Glossary for Beginners

Demystifying IPD: A Deep Dive into Core Concepts

For newcomers, the jargon and concepts surrounding Integrated Product Development (IPD) can seem daunting. This article aims to demystify IPD by exploring key concepts like pipeline management, business planning, and IPMT investment activities, providing a clearer understanding of IPD's "insider language."

Learning any new concept starts with foundational knowledge.

Recently, a friend asked me about array slicing in Python, a topic unfamiliar to me. Despite my background in C programming, I approached it by leveraging my existing understanding of arrays and applying logic. Researching the concept online and analyzing examples quickly clarified the matter. This highlights the importance of starting with familiar concepts and building upon them.

Applying this principle to IPD:

Let's continue from our previous exploration of IPD (IPD Black Talk 1.0), diving deeper into specific concepts:

1. Pipeline Management:

Introduced in the book "The Power of Persuasion," pipeline management refers to the ongoing process of balancing available resources ("pipeline supply") with resource demands ("pipeline demand").

Think of a company's resources as a pipeline. Within these limitations, R&D projects must be executed effectively.

By managing pipeline capacity, load weighting, and prioritization, companies can maximize the output (research value) while ensuring efficient resource utilization. In IPD, pipeline management involves the IPMT team balancing projects and their required resources throughout the development process.

2. Business Plan:

A crucial document in product development, the business plan outlines the product's market positioning, marketing strategy, development schedule, manufacturing approach, and financial analysis. It undergoes continuous refinement and expansion during various development stages.

The business plan serves as a foundation for decision-making and guides resource allocation.

3. IPMT Investment Activities:

The Integrated Program Management Team (IPMT) acts as the "investor" in IPD. They evaluate new product development proposals, much like venture capitalists assessing startup pitches.

IPMT operates by:

• Prioritizing investments based on project potential and market relevance.
• Implementing staged investment across different development phases. Each stage includes decision points (DCPs) where the IPMT reviews deliverables and assesses progress before committing to further investment.

4. Decision Points (DCPs):

These crucial checkpoints occur throughout the product development cycle, allowing the IPMT to evaluate the project's market viability and return on investment (ROI).

• Beta Testing: Conducted in real-world user environments, beta testing verifies functionality and usability beyond laboratory settings.
• Early Sales Support (ESS): Providing "emergency" products outside of regular schedules to address customer needs quickly.
• Early Customer Support (ESP): Conducting validation activities to ensure the product is ready for General Availability (GA).

Understanding these key concepts will equip you with a solid foundation for navigating the world of IPD. Remember, continuous learning and exploration are essential in this dynamic field.