Product Team Quote by James P. Womack
““the need to include employees of key component and material supply firms as dedicated members of the product team raises difficult questions of where one firm stops and the next begins, the second major topic of Part III.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Machine That Changed the World, 1990
Integrating suppliers into product teams blurs firm boundaries and raises governance challenges.
In simple terms: Including suppliers in teams creates unclear responsibilities.
Key Takeaway
Define clear roles when adding suppliers.
Themes
collaboration
supply chain
management
governance
innovation
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
strategic
operational
When to use this quote
- product development
- strategic sourcing
- contract negotiation
- cross‑functional meetings
Key Concepts
systems thinking
boundary spanning
team dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How will decision‑making authority be shared?
- What safeguards prevent over‑dependence on a single supplier?
A Different Perspective
Risk of diluted accountability and conflict of interest.
