Social Issues of Product Lifecycle Management: Developing Cross Cultural Virtual Teams; Supporting Today’s Green Manufacturing Imperative; Educating and Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce; and Impacting Inter-Organizational Relationships in Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Product Lifecycle Management, as an enterprise-wide, information-driven business approach to reducing wastes and reallocating captured resources in support of product and process innovation, is not without its challenges. Major social issues are considered in this chapter, concluding with an example of a PLM-like application. The first topic for consideration addresses the context in which PLM is practiced, namely, the virtual environment. In particular, the challenge of working in a cross-cultural virtual team environment is presented and a theoretical model in support of creating a successful and productive team is suggested. The second topic addressed in this chapter proves to be timely given the current debate on how best to mitigate and adapt to the effects of global climate change. In this section, PLM is presented as a strategic business initiative that simultaneously drives green manufacturing while supporting organizational sustainability. The third topic addresses how best to prepare tomorrow’s workforce for a PLM environment. The issue of education is discussed in terms of a practitioner-based, competency model. Finally, an example of a PLM-like application in support of the development of inter-organizational relationships in supply chain management in higher education is presented.