Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

What is a disadvantage of using integral design?

1. Increased adaptability

2. Potentially higher initial costs for product development

3. Improvements in stakeholder collaboration

4. Enhanced product quality consistency

The correct answer is: Potentially higher initial costs for product development

Using integral design approaches can indeed lead to potentially higher initial costs for product development. This is primarily because integral design emphasizes the comprehensive integration of functions and components at the early stages of the design process. While this can result in a more cohesive and user-centered product ultimately, it often requires significant upfront investment in terms of research, resources, and cross-department collaboration. The initial costs may rise due to the need for extensive prototyping, rigorous testing, and the involvement of various teams engendering a more complex coordination process. While the long-term benefits—such as improved quality and customer satisfaction—can offset these costs, the immediate financial outlay for an integral design can be a substantial consideration for companies. On the other hand, increased adaptability, improvements in stakeholder collaboration, and enhanced product quality consistency are often seen as advantages of integral design. These factors contribute positively to the overall effectiveness of product development in a dynamic market, fostering a culture of innovation and responsiveness to customer needs.