Production and incident process management: continuous improvement and monitoring of studio KPIs

Research article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60797/IRJ.2024.149.108
Issue: № 11 (149), 2024
Submitted :
06.08.2024
Accepted:
12.11.2024
Published:
18.11.2024
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Abstract

Nowadays, the business sphere is experiencing a noticeable change in emphasis: from traditional management, they are moving to strategies aimed at continuous improvement and constant monitoring of key performance indicators. This is especially in demand in the creative industries, IT and game development, where production processes and incident events play a leading role in achieving success. The importance of effective management of production processes should be noticed, because it is a key aspect of the successful work of the organization. So, it includes planning, control, and coordination of all stages of production, taking into account the desire for optimal results. IT incidents, which represent one of the fundamental processes in the support service activity, also deserve special attention when considering this topic.

In this article, the author focused on the following aspects: the role of production process management, the basic principles, and methods of this strategy, as well as identifying the advantages and challenges that managers have to contend with in this area and in the field of incident processes. In addition, the impact on the business sphere of continuous improvement and tracking of key performance indicators as factors contributing to improving work in the organization were analyzed.

The methodology of this article includes an extensive analysis of scientific publications, articles, and research on such topics as Management of production and incident processes, Continuous improvement, and monitoring of studio KPIs. This will allow you to understand this area's current state and development trends.

1. Introduction

In the contemporary organizational landscape, the execution of intricate projects demands a sophisticated orchestration of expert personnel and judicious resource allocation. Within this framework, the management of production processes emerges as a critical determinant in the realization of strategic objectives.

The domain of production process management encapsulates a comprehensive approach to the planning, organization, and supervision of all production phases. This holistic methodology spans the entire operational continuum, from the procurement of raw materials to the delivery of finished goods, with the dual aims of maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing both financial expenditure and potential risks.

It is imperative to recognize that the efficacy of production process management exerts a direct and substantial influence on an organization's market positioning. The refinement of internal processes facilitates a more precise alignment with client requirements, thereby augmenting the enterprise's competitive edge in an increasingly saturated marketplace.

A crucial aspect that warrants particular scrutiny is the management of incidents within the production ecosystem. Despite meticulous planning and foresight, the manifestation of unforeseen circumstances remains an inescapable reality of operational dynamics. These incidents may manifest as technical aberrations, client-related discordances, or abrupt shifts in project parameters. The absence of prompt and adept responses to such exigencies can precipitate significant disruptions in workflow continuity, compromise adherence to established timelines, and engender unplanned escalations in operational costs.

The issue of incident management becomes especially pertinent in the field of information technology. In this domain, a system malfunction can negatively impact both individual users and the organization's activities as a whole. Consequently, the presence of an effective mechanism for responding to such situations is critically important.

Incident management in the field of information technology includes a complex of measures for problem identification, their operative resolution, and restoration of normal service functioning. This process is initiated from the moment a malfunction report is registered, and concludes only after the problem is fully resolved. All actions taken must comply with the timeframes specified in the service level agreement

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In conclusion, it should be emphasized that effective management of production processes and incidents represents not merely a set of techniques, but a comprehensive approach to business conduct, ensuring the organization's competitiveness in current market conditions.

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of process management and incident resolution in a studio environment. Attention is focused on the continuous improvement of these processes and the monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs). The results of the study will help identify the most effective practices that contribute to stable productivity and enhance competitive advantages in the market.

2. General characteristics and stages of incident management

In organizations characterized by complex collaborative structures and diverse resource utilization, effective incident management is paramount. This domain, where specialists synergize their expertise and manage varied resources, demands a robust approach to unforeseen circumstances as a cornerstone of operational success. Incident management encompasses the development of strategic response protocols, personnel training, and continuous incident analysis for process enhancement.

A critical component of this framework is the formulation of comprehensive action plans tailored to various incident scenarios. These plans should delineate clear notification protocols, precisely define staff roles and responsibilities, and allocate necessary resources for efficient incident resolution.

The preparedness of personnel through rigorous training is instrumental in ensuring prompt and effective responses to incidents. Implementing regular training sessions and educational programs significantly elevates the organization's readiness for exceptional situations.

Post-incident analysis is crucial, even in cases of successful resolution. This practice facilitates the identification of root causes and informs the development of preventive measures for future occurrences.

Effective incident management systems streamline information collection processes, mitigating the chaos often associated with email correspondence. User-friendly portals with standardized forms can be implemented to ensure accurate and timely data capture when initiating incident reports.

Classification and prioritization constitute the subsequent vital phase of incident management. This stage determines the urgency and impact of incidents on individual users and the broader business operations. Proper classification enables efficient routing of incidents to appropriate specialists, optimizing resource allocation. The classification criteria may include factors such as business impact and urgency, differentiating between critical incidents that could significantly disrupt core organizational services and minor incidents affecting individual users or specific departments.

Each incident should culminate in a thorough retrospective analysis, informing tasks aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.

Concurrently, the project monitoring and control process, which spans from project initiation to closure, focuses on tracking and analyzing project progress. Undetected or unaddressed deviations can lead to unintended and potentially detrimental project outcomes. This process ensures early detection of discrepancies and facilitates timely interventions to prevent escalation into serious and costly issues.

The ITIL model's incident management lifecycle aims to minimize downtime and mitigate the impact of failures. This process encompasses several key stages:

1. Registration: Immediate documentation of incident reports, including the reporter's identity, timestamp, and a comprehensive description of the issue.

2. Classification: Categorization of incidents facilitates appropriate routing, enables analysis of recurring failures, and provides a foundation for root cause identification in subsequent problem management processes.

3. Prioritization: Incidents are prioritized based on urgency and their impact on business processes, determining the sequence of resolution efforts.

4. Routing: Incidents are directed to technical specialists possessing the requisite knowledge and skills. In cases where resolution within the allocated timeframe is unfeasible, escalation occurs, involving additional personnel or transferring the task to a higher support tier with more specialized expertise. ITIL delineates multiple support levels: first-line for typical, straightforward issues; second-line for problems requiring specialized knowledge; and third-line for complex issues necessitating highly qualified specialists.

5. Recovery: Upon identification of a system fix or temporary solution, the resolution's efficacy is verified, and the process is documented to expedite future diagnosis and resolution of similar incidents.

6. Closure: The incident is closed upon user confirmation of service restoration. In the absence of such confirmation, work on the incident resumes

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In the realm of incident management, automation emerges as a transformative force, dramatically enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness. By leveraging automated processes, organizations can significantly reduce response latency, mitigate human error, and elevate overall performance. The impact of automation is particularly pronounced in several key domains:

1. Incident Identification and Alert Dissemination: Advanced automated surveillance systems facilitate real-time incident detection, employing sophisticated algorithms to identify anomalies and trigger alerts based on predetermined thresholds. This proactive approach substantially accelerates response initiation, effectively reducing the mean time to resolution.

2. Incident Triage and Resource Allocation: Automation revolutionizes the incident escalation and assignment paradigm through the implementation of predefined routing protocols and allocation algorithms. This ensures the expeditious direction of incidents to the most appropriate teams or individuals, taking into account incident severity and adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

3. Standardized Response Protocols: The development and implementation of automated response playbooks for specific incident categories introduces a systematic and consistent approach to incident management. This standardization not only ensures uniformity in response but also significantly reduces the time required for incident evaluation and resolution initiation.

4. Post-Incident Forensics and Continuous Improvement: Automation plays a crucial role in facilitating comprehensive post-incident analysis by aggregating and processing vast amounts of incident-related data. This automated analysis extracts valuable insights and generates detailed reports, enabling the identification of recurring patterns and areas requiring enhancement. Furthermore, automated retrospectives and post-mortem analyses distill critical learnings, empowering teams to implement targeted preventive measures with heightened efficacy.

The criticality of the system is determined by the following criteria.

Table 1 - Determination of the criticality of the system and the criterion

Criticality of the system

Criterion

1

The system participates in the organization of business processes and has a direct impact on the Company's customers

2

The system has an indirect impact on the main business processes of the Company

3

The auxiliary system is not connected with the main business processes and clients of the Company

The criticality of incidents directly depends on the business processes associated with them, and is determined under the following criteria.

Table 2 - The criticality of the incident and the criterion

Criticality of the incident

Criteria

Blocking

Affected critical external or internal business processes

Critical

Non-critical external or internal business processes are affected

Average

Are auxiliary business processes affected or not affected at all

The type of incident is determined according to the following scheme (Fig. 1)

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Determining the type of incident

Figure 1 - Determining the type of incident

The critical incident management process initiates with the "identification and registration" phase, encompassing two primary steps:

1) registration of potential critical incident indicators;

2) verification of critical incident occurrence.

Each critical incident undergoes thorough analysis through the creation of an incident card in Confluence, specifically within the "Critical Incident (MI)" section. This card must be generated within 12 hours of the incident's onset. The lifecycle of an incident card progresses through the following statuses:

1. NEW: Active investigation phase; card information is being populated.

2. Postmortem: Incident resolved; card fully completed, review meeting conducted, and preventive measures approved (status change executed by IT owner).

3. MI: Critical incident status confirmed (status change executed by Director of Information Systems Maintenance or Director of Information Security).

4. NOT MI: Critical incident status unconfirmed (status change executed by Director of Information Systems Support).

The IT service management paradigm extends far beyond the rudimentary association of requests with incident management protocols. It represents a sophisticated, holistic framework that empowers service project professionals to conduct thorough investigations, maintain comprehensive documentation, and implement effective resolutions for service disruptions. The primary objectives of this approach are to minimize operational downtime and mitigate the potentially detrimental effects on business continuity.

In this context, Jira Service Management emerges as a pivotal tool, offering a meticulously crafted incident management workflow that adheres to the rigorous standards set forth by the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). This workflow, known as the ISD: Incident Management Workflow for Jira Service Management, serves as an exemplary starting point for organizations embarking on their incident management journey.

The incident management process encompasses the following key phases:

1. Incident Logging: Problem reporting by end users, monitoring systems, or IT professionals.

2. Incident Recording: Consolidation of related crash reports by service project agents.

3. Detail Documentation: Automatic capture of date, time, reporter name, and unique incident identifier by the service project.

4. Problem Categorization: Application of appropriate categories to incidents by agents for subsequent verification and reporting.

5. Priority Assessment: Determination of incident priority based on impact and urgency by assigned agent.

6. Diagnosis and Solution Formulation: Root cause identification and solution development, involving communication with reporters for clarification.

7. Problem Escalation: Referral to second-level support service for advanced analysis when necessary.

8. Troubleshooting: Problem resolution, success verification, and detailed process documentation for future reference.

9. Incident Closure: Automatic closure of the incident by the service project upon successful resolution.

This systematic approach to incident management ensures effectiveness, structure, and efficiency in addressing problematic situations

. However, the process encompasses numerous challenges and tasks, including:

1. Inadequate transparency regarding application status and anticipated resolution timelines for end-users.

2. Suboptimal documentation of historical incidents.

3. Inability to systematically record solutions for recurrent or analogous issues.

4. Elevated risk of operational downtime, particularly during critical incidents.

5. Prolonged resolution timeframes.

6. Limited reporting capabilities.

7. Diminished customer satisfaction levels.

Implementation of a comprehensive incident management system confers multiple advantages, enhancing organizational effectiveness:

1. Centralized Incident Repository: Facilitates structured, readily accessible data storage for all incidents.

2. Automated Incident Classification: Considers priority, urgency, potential impact, and relevant departmental involvement, optimizing resource allocation and investigation timelines.

3. Service Level Agreement (SLA) Integration: Links incident requests to corresponding SLAs, ensuring adherence to service deadlines and standards.

4. Efficient Incident Assignment: Streamlines allocation of incidents to appropriate specialists or support teams, expediting investigation and resolution processes.

5. Systematic Resolution Identification: Facilitates the determination of optimal incident resolutions or development of alternative problem-solving methodologies, enhancing productivity and solution quality.

6. Knowledge Base Development: Documents all decisions and experiences, ensuring information availability for future reference and mitigating the likelihood of incident recurrence.

7. Analytics and Reporting: Enables creation of interactive dashboards and generation of support service data reports, facilitating analysis of incident management effectiveness and informing continuous improvement initiatives.

These factors collectively contribute to enhanced support service efficiency and overall service quality

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3. Production Process Management

Production process management stands as a cornerstone in the operational excellence of diverse IT studios, encompassing gaming, enterprise, and product development sectors. This multifaceted approach to management strives to achieve a constellation of strategic objectives, each of which can be illuminated through tangible, real-world applications to foster a deeper understanding.

1. Productivity Optimization: The judicious application of production process management principles facilitates the strategic allocation of resources, enhances planning precision, and orchestrates seamless workflow coordination, culminating in substantial productivity gains. A salient example is the adoption of Agile methodologies, such as Scrum, by gaming studios. This approach engenders heightened team efficiency and adaptability, manifesting in accelerated development cycles and elevated game quality standards.

2. Quality Assurance: The implementation of rigorous, continuous quality control measures across all production stages serves to mitigate defects and deviations, thereby ensuring the delivery of high-caliber end products. In the realm of enterprise IT, the deployment of sophisticated automated testing frameworks, exemplified by Selenium, enables continuous code evaluation. This proactive approach significantly reduces the incidence of bugs and enhances software reliability prior to deployment.

3. Resource Optimization: Effective management practices enable judicious resource utilization, cost containment, and streamlined inventory control. Product IT studios can leverage cloud computing services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), to implement scalable resource management solutions. This approach allows for dynamic resource allocation in response to fluctuating demands, thereby optimizing cost structures and maximizing operational efficiency.

4. Customer-Centric Development: Production process management aligns product development trajectories with customer requirements and expectations, thereby enhancing user satisfaction and bolstering market competitiveness. The integration of user feedback platforms, such as UserVoice, empowers product studios to gather real-time user insights. This data-driven approach informs development priorities, ensuring a closer alignment with user expectations and fostering improved overall satisfaction.

5. Environmental Adaptability: This objective empowers organizations to swiftly integrate emerging technologies, innovative processes, and novel methodologies, ensuring sustained competitiveness in an ever-evolving market landscape. For instance, a forward-thinking gaming studio might proactively incorporate cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) technologies into its development pipeline. This strategic maneuver allows the studio to maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic gaming industry, rapidly adapting to shifting market trends and technological advancements.

Production process management is underpinned by a set of principles that contribute to efficiency and optimal resource utilization:

1. Continuous Improvement: This principle posits that existing processes can always be enhanced. It involves ongoing analysis of working methods to identify and optimize bottlenecks. For instance, a gaming studio might employ retrospective meetings following each sprint to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements in subsequent development cycles.

2. KPI Measurement: Regular tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aids in assessing achievements and responding promptly to issues. The nature of these KPIs varies across different studio types:

1) in gaming studios, relevant KPIs might include bug detection rate, sprint velocity, and user engagement metrics;

2) enterprise studios may focus on project delivery timelines, Service Level Agreement (SLA) adherence, and client satisfaction scores;

3) product studios might prioritize user retention rate, feature adoption rate, and churn rate as key indicators.

Table 3 - KPIs for different types of studios

Type of Studio

Goals

KPI

Processes and Tools

Impact

Final Outcomes

Game Studios

Maintaining quality, Increasing user engagement, Efficient planning

Bug detection rate, Sprint velocity, User engagement metrics

Test automation, Agile methodologies, User behavior analytics

Reducing technical debt, Accelerating releases, Increasing user satisfaction

High user ratings, Increased user retention, Revenue growth from sales and microtransactions

Corporate Studios

Reliability and accuracy in project delivery, High service quality, Client satisfaction

Project delivery timelines, SLA adherence, Client satisfaction scores

Project management (PMI, PRINCE2), SLA monitoring, Client feedback surveys and analysis

Reducing project risks, Increasing team efficiency, Improving client relationships

Strengthening reputation, Increasing repeat business, Revenue growth from long-term contracts

Product Studios

User retention, Market adaptability, Extending product lifecycle

User retention rate, Feature adoption rate, Churn rate

User data analytics, A/B testing, Customer segmentation

Increasing product value, Rapid response to market changes, Reducing user churn

Increasing market share, Revenue growth from subscriptions and updates, Long-term user retention

3. Modern technologies and automation tools significantly enhance production process efficiency. Enterprise studios often use project management software like Jira to streamline task planning and monitoring. Product studios implement continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate testing and deployment, ensuring rapid delivery of new features and updates.

4. Effective planning encompasses goal setting, strategy development, and the creation of short-term and long-term plans, optimizing resource usage. Product studios might use Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to align team efforts with strategic goals, ensuring coherent progress across the organization.

5. Monitoring and evaluating production results to detect deviations and issues is integral for rapid response and adjustments. Implementing CI/CD pipelines in gaming studios ensures continuous testing and quick identification of issues, allowing for immediate corrective actions.

6. Collaboration and effective interaction between different levels and departments within an organization are crucial. This facilitates information exchange, problem-solving, and achievement of common goals. Enterprise studios might use collaboration tools like Slack and Confluence to enhance communication across departments, improving project efficiency and cohesion.

By embracing this comprehensive approach, organizations position themselves to achieve efficient production process management, optimize resource allocation, elevate productivity and product quality benchmarks, and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly dynamic market ecosystem. This strategy not only streamlines operational workflows but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, essential for sustaining long-term success in the rapidly evolving IT industry landscape

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4. Methods and Tools for Production Process Management

The orchestration of production processes encompasses a diverse array of methodologies and instruments, each designed to maximize operational efficiency and optimize resource allocation. Key strategies in this domain include:

1. Process Visualization and Analysis: This approach involves the creation of graphical representations of production workflows, leveraging sophisticated tools such as Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). Such visual models serve to elucidate complex processes, facilitating the identification of inefficiencies and areas ripe for enhancement.

2. Inventory Optimization: This critical facet of operations management focuses on striking a delicate balance in the levels of raw materials, work-in-progress components, and finished goods. Employing methodologies such as Just-in-Time (JIT) and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), this approach aims to mitigate excess inventory costs while ensuring production continuity and efficiency.

3. Quality Assurance Frameworks: This encompasses the establishment of rigorous quality benchmarks, continuous monitoring of processes and outputs, and the implementation of iterative improvement cycles. Techniques such as statistical process control (SPC), Pareto analysis, and Ishikawa diagrams are instrumental in maintaining and elevating product quality.

4. Resource Allocation Strategies: This dimension involves the meticulous planning and regulation of equipment utilization, workforce deployment, and material consumption. Leveraging advanced tools like Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and sophisticated capacity planning algorithms, this approach seeks to maximize resource efficiency and productivity while minimizing operational costs.

5. Temporal Management and Scheduling: This aspect focuses on the precise planning and monitoring of production timelines. By implementing robust scheduling systems and real-time monitoring tools, organizations can significantly reduce delays and downtime, thereby enhancing overall production efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

The application of these methods and tools provides several advantages to organizations, as outlined in Table 4.

Table 4 - Advantages of using production process management methods

Name of the advantage

General characteristics

Increased productivity

Resource optimization and more efficient planning lead to increased productivity and, as a result, increased competitiveness.

Cost reduction

Effective process management reduces costs and helps optimize resource usage.

Product quality improvement

Quality control and continuous process improvement contribute to high product quality and customer satisfaction.

Flexibility and adaptability

The organization becomes more flexible and adaptable to changes in the external environment and market requirements.

Improving communication and collaboration

Clear definition of roles and responsibilities and effective communication contribute to reducing conflicts and improving team performance.

In conclusion, effective production process management is crucial for an organization's success, enabling it to achieve high productivity, reduce costs, enhance product quality, and remain adaptable in the market

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5. Continuous Improvement and KPI Monitoring for the Studio

In the realm of contemporary business operations, cutting-edge technological innovations serve as pivotal instruments for optimizing both production workflows and incident management protocols. The dual methodologies of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) analysis and perpetual process refinement have emerged as indispensable tools in the pursuit of operational excellence.

KPIs function as quantifiable metrics, offering a multifaceted lens through which to evaluate studio performance:

1. Fiscal Vitality: Encompasses profit trajectories, budgetary adherence, and other pecuniary benchmarks.

2. Operational Prowess: Scrutinizes the efficacy of production cycles, project governance, procurement strategies, and ancillary business functions.

3. Client Contentment Quotient: Gauges the degree of customer satisfaction and loyalty.

4. Quality Assurance Metrics: Evaluates the caliber of studio output vis-à-vis client expectations and industry standards.

5. Marketing Efficacy Indices: Quantifies the impact and reach of promotional initiatives.

These indicators serve as a compass, guiding studios in gauging their achievements, pinpointing areas of suboptimal performance, and identifying spheres ripe for enhancement.

The philosophy of continuous improvement, a cornerstone of modern management doctrine, posits that business processes are inherently amenable to ongoing refinement. This ethos advocates for relentless pursuit of process optimization and the setting of ever-higher performance benchmarks.

Strategies for fostering continuous improvement include:

1) conducting regular, in-depth analyses of KPIs to uncover improvement opportunities;

2) cultivating an inclusive environment that harnesses employee insights for process optimization;

3) embracing avant-garde tools and technologies to augment operational efficiency;

4) prioritizing workforce development through strategic training initiatives

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The synergistic application of state-of-the-art technologies, coupled with astute management practices centered on KPI analysis and continuous improvement, has the potential to catalyze a transformative shift in business performance, elevating an enterprise to new heights of prosperity and market competitiveness.

6. Conclusion

The orchestration of manufacturing processes emerges as a pivotal challenge for contemporary organizations, necessitating a synthesis of long-term strategic foresight, meticulous operational oversight, and synergistic teamwork. The managerial landscape is fraught with multifaceted obstacles, ranging from the intricacies of formulating adaptive planning frameworks to the nuanced task of resource optimization. Additional complexities arise in the form of comprehensive process surveillance, adaptation to environmental flux, and the cultivation of robust interpersonal dynamics within the workforce.

Navigating this labyrinth of challenges emerges as the linchpin for achieving manufacturing excellence and bolstering an organization's market position. This endeavor demands an unwavering commitment to perpetual refinement and a laser-focused attention to performance metrics.

In the current paradigm of organizational management, the twin pillars of continuous improvement and systematic Key Performance Indicator (KPI) analysis assume paramount importance. These methodologies serve not merely as tools for quantifying achievements but as catalysts for the ongoing evolution of operational paradigms. By leveraging these approaches, organizations can foster an environment of sustained innovation and adaptability, crucial for thriving in the ever-shifting terrain of modern commerce.

Thus, based on the above, it can be stated that studios that implement systematic strategies in the management of production processes will achieve significant improvements in resource allocation. This will result in shorter project timelines and increased overall operational efficiency. A reduction in the development cycle indicates more efficient workflows and optimal use of resources, aligning with the strategic goal of productivity enhancement. Furthermore, the use of tools like Jira for project management and automated CI/CD pipelines will improve task management, leading to a reduction in bottlenecks. 

In the field of incident management, automating detection systems will allow studios to reduce the time required for incident resolution. These systems can efficiently categorize incidents by severity and promptly allocate resources for their resolution. The preventive identification of potential system failures before they escalate will also help reduce the frequency of critical incidents. A decrease in the number of defects confirms that continuous process evaluation and optimization improve product quality, contributing to long-term success and customer satisfaction. 

The integration of key performance indicator (KPI) monitoring into decision-making processes will provide studios with the ability to make data-driven decisions, enhancing their capacity to respond quickly to market changes. In turn, an increase in user retention demonstrates that aligning development strategies with customer needs leads to the creation of user-oriented products.

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