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Credits : geishaboy500
I wrote about collaborative product design on my blog some time ago. Now, thanks to an innovative initiative by Luis Arias this idea will come true at XPertNet. The Design Café will be a place where our customers and prospects will be able to exchange information about their projects and share their XWiki experiences.
Issues in product development
Has it ever occured to you that the specifications of a product chnaged in the middle of the development process? Do you sometimes end up with a result miles away from what you expected? This kind of problems often results from coordination and communication problems happening during the first stages of a new product development. Those issues are often overlooked and result either in a delayed development process or a final product that does not meet initial requirements. Using a wiki for collaboative product development changes this.
Designing Solutions Together
With the help of a wiki, all parties involved in product design can now interact in one given place, without the hassle of multiple threaded e-mails and non-versioned attached documents. What's more, RSS feeds provide feedback instantly on what is happening on the wiki. Specifications can be worked on simultaneously since they are centralized on a virtual workspace. Involved actors always get access to the latest available version wich reduces the rate of problems. On the whole, products are designr mor quickly and efficiently than with traditional ways of doing.
Benefit from the Community
The wiki concept goes further than collaborative design. The wiki can also be used as a place where a community of practice will gain from the experinences of its members. Best practices tips and success stories can be shared easily. Now, depending upon our clients choices, customers will be able to see what are the different projects based on XWiki, exchange tips and ideas and, why not, start new XWiki-based business ventures...
Ever thought that a better interaction model was required with your customers? Our tools are market-tested every day and improved through their very creation process. We use them successfully to create innovative ways of collaborating with our customers. Want to give them a try?
