Implementing the HCD method into the developing process of a CPD system

This paper aims to investigate collaborative product development activities and highlights the importance of human perspectives for developing a collaborative product development (CPD) system. For CPD systems to be useful, it is necessary to effect usable and useful interaction. Therefore, the human-centred design (HCD) method had been implemented into the developing process of a CPD system. The modified HCD method specifies how the activities fit into the overall system development process. A proposed plan guides: (1) the design process activities described, (2) procedures for integrating these activities with other system development activities, (3) the individuals and the organisation(s) responsible for the design activities and the range of skills and viewpoints they provide and (4) effective procedures for establishing feedback and communication on design activities as they affect other design activities and methods for documenting these activities. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.