Tech's New Headache: Feature Creep

Source: www.primavera.com
Topic: Playstation 3

Short Desciption:
To them the PS3 delay is a. classic case of a mismanaged project and feature overload. "You can't wait for certainty. In the technology ...

 

Content Inside:
Tech's New Headache: Feature CreepPage 1Close WindowAPRIL 12 2006 TechnologyBy Kenji HallTech's New Headache: Feature CreepSony's PlayStation 3 and other hot items are experiencing major delays. Should companies keep stalling releases while they develop new features?When Sony's (SNE ) video games chief Ken Kutaragi announced in midMarch that the company's new PlayStation 3 console would be delayed he offered what seemed a good excuse. Sony had risked far too much time and money to settle for anything but the topoftheline technology he said. The main holdups were a copyright protection mechanism for the PS3's highdefinition DVD player and extra features that had been stuffed into the box. Who could blame him for making sure the console wouldn't be outdated the moment it arrived on store shelves? But ask management gurus what they think and they'll wag a disapproving finger. To them the PS3 delay is a classic case of a mismanaged project and feature overload. "You can't wait for certainty. In the technology business that's always true" says Joel Koppelman CEO of Primavera a Bala Cynwyd (Pa.)based company specializing in product planning. "There's always something better coming along." Sony is just one example of how Asian tech firms have been a victim of their own promises to roll out the latest electronics goods. In recent weeks a handful of companies have delayed the kickoff of critical products because they couldn't secure vital parts or costs skyrocketed beyond initial projections. STILL WAITING. On Mar. 8 Toshiba (TOSBF ) and partner Canon said they would postpone the spring 2006 rollout of new flatscreen TVs featuring surfaceconduction electronemitter display or SEDs until late 2007. Three weeks later Toshiba announced its highdefinition DVD player known as HD DVD would hit stores in Japan months after its scheduled launch and wouldn't sell in the U.S. until mid April. On Apr. 3 Page 2Korea's Samsung Electronics blamed the rescheduling o ...