Validating a method to enable distributed development teams in an engineering simulator

To improve distributed collaboration of product development teams, the EDiT method (Enabling Distributed Teams) was developed as support. To successfully introduce the EDiT method into development practice, it is essential to validate the method in a practice-oriented but at the same time controllable environment. Therefore, this contribution aims to validate the EDiT method in the laboratory-based validation environment of an engineering simulator. The engineering simulator covers the further development of a bending machine within two agile sprints in two days. Through the validation in a test and control group design, the effects of the EDiT method on the teams’ collaboration are investigated based on three criteria: functional fulfillment, monetary return, and improvement in fields of potential. The analysis of the functional fulfillment of the developed bending machines shows that only the test groups were able to achieve comprehensive functional fulfillment. Moreover, the test groups achieve an average monetary return of €21, whereas the control group recorded a loss of €3. Finally, a subjective evaluation of the satisfaction in the fields of potential based on a 1 (not satisfied) to 5 (totally satisfied) scale shows an improvement in all measured fields of potential for the test groups compared to only one improved field of potential for the control group.