PRODUCT STRATEGY

GBA works with clients to articulate and refine product strategies. Our structured approach addresses the challenges of complex integrated software hardware products. They enable the mapping of goals, insights, opportunities, challenges, and the identification of product options. While agile methods defer longer-term thinking, lean hardware seeks to reduce the physical product to a minimum; we leverage agile-systems-waterfall approaches to full product-program planning. Our innovation engagements follow a high-level set of steps - 

• Articulating strategic goals 

• Mapping goals and specific requirements

• Identifying success + failure modes

• Creating product alternatives

• Decision-making and communication 

Product development is challenging, and having this map allows for clear thinking and decision-making through the entire product life cycle.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

GBA specializes in leading the development of complex integrated digital-physical products. We have unparalleled experience managing large multi-domain teams to deliver products to customers. Our programs typically encompass elements of deep technology-intellectual property development integrated into programs that span product management, design/UX, digital/web/app/cloud, hardware/firmware, mechanical, supply chain development, and NPI. 

We run highly delegated program teams emphasizing direct and open communication and a culture encouraging active discussion of challenges and solutions. Teams use multiple methodologies and tools appropriate for their domains and deliverables. We focus the team and the development efforts on regular full-technical stack prototypes. Each iteration of prototypes or proof of concept platforms enables discovery and provides confidence in solutions. 

Product development is not linear; new products involve uncertainty, risk, and technical discovery. Our program leads work to make this process transparent and clear by reviewing task, technical, and program status daily, weekly, and monthly. Our regular status reporting and program reviews focus on communicating short-term and long-term activities, product-technical milestones, related risks, and mitigation strategies.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Developing complex products is challenging for even the most experienced teams. Clear, concise product development process frameworks help teams avoid unexpected issues and timeline delays. GBA has worked with many teams to develop simple, lightweight process frameworks to minimize program resets, streamline development timelines, and provide high levels of financial predictability.

PRODUCT INNOVATION

We partner with clients on deep technology innovation programs using a structured process that combines broad objectives and requirements with blue ocean ideation and real world prototyping.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

Complex digital and physical product developments require careful planning, and we understand that one size does not fit all. Where agile is the accepted standard for software development, digital-physical product development requires a hybrid of agile, system engineering, and waterfall methods. These methods include focused efforts to identify conflicting requirements, critical integrations, high-risk failure modes, and baseline technical challenges. Our planning approach comprises the creation of a full 360 view of the product and product development from development resources, costs, and time timelines to CoGs, cash flow, product P/L, and ROI. We address product-sales-goto-market and technical challenges by structuring the product management and product development phases to address these challenges directly. In addition, we work with clients to communicate clear frameworks for decision-making about the product development program and the product.

ODM-JDM PARTNERSHIPS

GBA has over thirty years of experience working with off-shore manufacturing and development partners across Asia. Our partnerships with international partners enable our clients access to leading tier-one manufacturing partners, and  smaller specialized resources. Our US-trained Asian teams provide on-the-ground management of partners, allowing GBA programs to avoid the communication and technical challenges that many companies experience working off-short. We maintain executive-level relationships with partners across a wide range of product spaces from fitness, industrial IoT, mobile computers, and appliances.  We support our clients with leadership and resources through the entire product life cycle from development, NPI, mass production, quality, ORT, and end-of-life.

SUPPLY CHAIN 

The manufacturing supply chain landscape is changing. While Asian suppliers continue implementing automation to address labor shortages and increase efficiencies, the same automation drives down costs for near-shore and on-shore manufacturers. These changes enable companies to consider near-shore and on-shore solutions with their logistics efficiencies for a much broader set of products. At GBA, we believe that while there are still significant dependencies on Asian suppliers, integrated Latin American and US supply chains are viable for many companies and products. We have established a Mexico-based technical and supply chain team and partnerships with Latin American and US manufacturing suppliers to enable near-shore/on-shore supply chains for our clients.