Valuing flexibility in product platforms : an analytical framework

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift." - Einstein. "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." - Goethe. It is only with considerable help that I have traversed the steps that culminated in my signature on the cover of this document. I'd like to thank my advisor, Richard de Neufville, for his insightful guidance in completing this work. This document is more compelling, more cohesive, and more comprehensive than it could ever have been without his help. To the many wonderful professors, instructors and lecturers who I have learned from during my time at MIT, I thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. In particular, to Michael Davies and Tom Steenburgh - thank you for leading me to discover that it is neither the courses, the research, nor the degree that make this journey worthwhile; rather, that the greatest gift of my time here will be a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and the boldness to take on incredible projects. To Jim Utterback - thank you for leading me to appreciate that intellectual, technological and managerial practice are, at their core, humanistic pursuits. Finally, thank you to Pat Hale and the SDM staff for the incredible job you do in pulling together the phenomenal System Design and Management Fellows program. To the friends that I've made at MIT, thanks for continuously pushing me to learn more, work harder, and be smarter; I look forward to hearing about, and sharing in, the incredible exploits that await you in years to come. To my friends in Vancouver and scattered around the world, know that I draw strength from your existence, and that I look forward to seeing you again soon. Finally and most importantly: To my family. Thank you for your unwavering support as I have pursued my studies at MIT. In many ways, I embarked on this journey on your behalf; I hope that my experience here will, in the end, enrich all of our lives together.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Harper, Matthew A. M. (Matthew Albert MacLennan)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Richard de Neufville.

• Engineering Systems Division.
• System Design and Management Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/67556

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/67556