Requirement managers’ roles in industrial, platform development

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the role of requirement managers in new product development projects. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a case study of an industrial platform project. Sixty-eight persons were interviewed and project prerequisites and requirement specifications documents were studied. The roles of specific individuals and their formal role as requirement managers are reported. Findings – The requirement manager's role fulfillment is performed through five major activities described as developing, anchoring, re-organizing, routinizing, and positioning. These activities are essential in order to manage working with a large flagship project. Research limitations/implications – Because the research was based on a single case study, there are of course limitations. The findings in this study may therefore not be generalized, but merely suggest other areas of research. Practical implications – This paper argues that functional roles should not be taken for granted. Even though significant efforts may have been performed in order to establish a new role within a project management setting, the process of establishing new work practices is complex. Managers should therefore investigate inter-functional integration on ongoing bases. Originality/value – This paper provides important insights into aspects of requirement manager's ongoing project activities.