Chapter 4: Comparison of Technical Principles and Key Functionality

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Overview

The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names. —Chinese proverb

Chapters 2 and 3 gave general and coherent descriptions of the PDM and SCM domains, respectively. In this chapter, we will continue discussing these domains but focus on a technical comparison. We will compare the typical functionality of tools within the two domains, both on a fundamental principle level and with respect to specific functions.

Many companies use various PDM and SCM methods and tools for similar purposes. It might seem easy to compare a PDM and an SCM tool, but this is not necessarily the case. The same or similar terminology is used in both domains but often with different meanings, and a thorough analysis of their use shows that there are significant differences. Different ranges of functionality and different user cultures are two more factors that make a comparison difficult. For example, Estublier [1] considers that although the PDM and SCM domains appear to be very similar, this is only on a principle level, as their implementations are very different.

We begin this chapter with a comparison of some fundamental principles of PDM and SCM:

  • System architecture;

  • Product model;

  • Evolution model;

  • Process model.

We then compare specific functionality important in one or both of the domains. These are:

  • Version management;

  • Product structure management;

  • Build management;

  • Change management;

  • Release management;

  • Workflow and process management;

  • Document management;

  • Concurrent development;

  • Configuration/selection management;

  • Workspace management.

The comparisons of principles and functionalities overlap. In the comparison of principles, we discuss differences and similarities in a more conceptual way, whereas when comparing specific functionality, we compare tool functionality.



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Implementing and Integraing Product Data Management and Software Configuration[... ]ement
Implementing and Integrating Product Data Management and Software Configuration Management (Artech House Computing Library)
ISBN: 1580534988
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 122

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