The changes currently required in product development resemble the lean manufacturing techniques that have transformed mass-production lines. Besides optimizing the efficiency of each station on the factory floor, lean procedures create a flexible, efficient work flow that's intended to meet customer demand just in time. To minimize waste and inventory and to optimize the efficiency of the line, parts are fed into the process as they are needed.
By contrast, the current approach to developing new products resembles the traditional mass-production line: Companies follow a fixed sequence of steps, moving from market research to product concept, design specification, prototype testing and so on. Like a production line, this process can be improved significantly by ensuring a continual flow of work. To achieve the next step, change in performance, companies must improve the efficiency of the entire process, from generating ideas to launching products.
Interesting article - the whole article can probably be boiled down to the bullet points put forth by the Agile Alliance, IMHO. However, McKinsey has a lot more influence than the Agile Alliance does; they should run with this stuff.
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