Product Portfolio Rationalization Using Canonical Data Model
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprises face challenges in managing large product portfolios with redundant functionality, gaps, and divergence due to lack of coordination and interaction between development groups, leading to inefficient and labor-intensive manual rationalization processes.
Innovation Solution
Structured product portfolio rationalization using a canonical data model and defined processes to identify and address gaps, overlaps, and divergences by comparing product features with defined functions and timelines, enabling automated identification of actions to modify or align products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual rationalization processes are used to manage product portfolios, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but productivity is reduced and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-assessment of product portfolios by automatically collecting product data, comparing features against defined functions, identifying gaps/overlaps/divergences, and generating rationalization recommendations without requiring manual intervention for each analysis step
Solution Approach 2:
Manual rationalization processes are replaced with an automated computer-implemented system that uses algorithms to compare product features, analyze portfolio composition, and generate recommendations, substituting human mechanical analysis with automated computational processes
2Reliability
If development groups work independently without coordination, then each group can develop products autonomously, but product portfolio quality deteriorates due to redundant functionality, gaps, and divergence
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automated feedback to development groups by identifying specific gaps, overlaps, and divergences in the product portfolio and recommending actions to address these issues, enabling continuous improvement of portfolio quality through systematic feedback loops
Solution Approach 2:
The rationalization system serves multiple functions including gap analysis, overlap detection, divergence identification, and recommendation generation, providing a universal platform that manages all aspects of product portfolio quality across different development groups
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive manual analysis of product portfolios is performed, then detailed identification of gaps, overlaps, and divergences is achieved, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated analysis of the entire product portfolio before detailed examination, pre-identifying potential gaps, overlaps, and divergences through algorithmic comparison, which accelerates the subsequent detailed analysis phase while maintaining high identification accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A representation of functions and features associated with respective functions is received, the representation being according to a model. Features of a plurality of the products are compared to the features of the functions. Based on the comparing, a check is made for an existence of a gap of at least one of the plurality of products relating to omission of a feature, an existence of an overlap of features between multiple products of the plurality of products, and an existence of a divergence in timings of release between dependent products of the plurality of products.