Title: Early Validation through the A3 method
Abstract
We observed in our company that there is too little communication between development groups and external stakeholders, like system users and sales and marketing. Large organizational distances can explain these problems. Lack of communication can lead to validation problems, due to requirements developed on the wrong basis. For development groups it can be hard to see real customer needs.
A3 reports emerged as tool from Toyota’s lean development, as a problem-solving tool. Toyota’s success with this method led to the method spreading to other domains, such as health care. There is a variety of A3 types. This study applied the method of using A3 sheets, with modeling and text, for early validation and communication purposes.
This study’s goal was to create tool for early validation and communication, for system design. The study shows that by using A3 reports for early validation designers can improve communication, build a common understanding, and contribute to the early validation for a system or a system function. This research focuses on a top-level system function, developed in a large multidisciplinary project. The function interfaced many systems and required extensive communication. By using A3 reports knowledge was collected, systemized, analyzed, shared, and incrementally improved, to the point of early validation.
