Integrated Team Organization

Abstract

During the twentieth century, there has been an exponential growth in our ability to design and manufacture goods. This growth has stimulated and, in turn, been stimulated by a corresponding increase in demands for these manufactured goods. As a result, the twentieth century has been a time of significant change in product and manufacturing engineering.

“To get the bad customs of a country changed and new ones, though better, introduced, it is necessary first to remove the prejudices of the people, enlighten their ignorance, and convince them that their interests will be promoted by the proposed changes, and this is not the work of a day.” (Benjamin Franklin, 1781)

“There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new order of things…. Whenever his enemies have occasion to attack the innovator they do so with the passion of partisans, while the others defend him sluggishly so that the innovator and his party alike are vulnerable.” (Niccolo Machiavelli, 1513)