Definition:
Concept Number: *052
English Master: Downstream
Synonyms, Variations & Acronyms: none
Detailing
none
Illustrations
Illustration: none
Type
Domain: Process.
Examples
Goal [Processes <~ Systems Test] 99.5% “means the Goal Level is for Processes downstream from Systems Test.”
Notes
Rationale:
Interest in the downstream Concept stems from two ideas:
1. The costs of fixing Defects, which get injected upstream, become, on average, one or two orders of magnitude worse when we encounter them downstream during test or in the field.
2. The value of both “early Quality-Control” and of” Process-Improvement in upstream development stages”, is a Function of the potential downstream damage, which apparently-small upstream Defects can cause. (Compare to the “Butterfly Effect” in Chaos Theory).
Keyed-Icons
<~ A <~ B Means A is downstream of B
Notice similarity with source arrow. Upstream is source or downstream pollution.
Drawn-Icons
none
Related-Concepts
none
History-of-Concept
none
Usage
“Customer use” is downstream from “pilot testing”
Parameter
Downstream. Long form = Downstream From
This Concept entered by Lisa.