[SRE:2152] Re: What is a product?

From: Kelson C. K. Chan (kelson@mtrcorp.com)
Date: Wed Feb 09 2000 - 13:52:45 EST


Brent

ISO 9000-3 suggests the definition of product as "result of activities or =
processes" and further qualifies that a product can be tangible or =
intangible (e.g. knowledge or concepts), or a combination thereof.

Since I don't know the details behind your question, I am a bit confused =
by the two terms you used - "technological component" and "technology." I =
would suggest that:
- "technological component" refers to the final/intermediate product/servic=
e; and
- "technology" refers to the means by which one produces/achieves the =
product/service.

I can see that in software terms, the two may start to overlap a bit. And =
one subtle difference is that the customer of a technological component =
should only have the license-to-use the component whilst the producer have =
the license-to-modify the component using the "technology"

Having said that, if the customer want to customise some software to suit =
his/her own needs
- without changing the fundamental architecture of the "technological =
component"; and
- without the need to know the details of the "technology" behind; and
- therefore don't need the "technology transfer" from the producer,
then I would consider that is still within the licence-to-use spirit.

I may have side-tracked a bit from your question but I hope this will help =
in giving you some thought about the difference.

Regards
Kelson Chan

>>> "Capps, Brent" <bcapps@sharplabs.com> 09/02/2000 7:03AM >>>
I know this may seem like one of those really obvious things, but can =
anyone
give a good definition of what a "product" is? ANSI/IEEE Std. 610.12-1990
doesn't seem to have a definition.

Specifically: is a technological component produced by one internal group
for one or more other internal groups a product?

I think the answer is yes, but not everyone agrees, which tells me that =
our
definitions don't agree.

If a technology is not a product, then what makes it different?

Regards,
Brent

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Brent Capps
System Engineering Process Group Leader
Sharp Labs of America
5750 NW Pacific Rim Blvd.
Camas, WA 98607
(360) 817-8542 Phone
(360) 817-8436 Fax
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