This study addresses the role of visual representations in supporting communication between an R&D team and geographically distributed suppliers for a new product development (NPD) project. It specifically focuses on the design and use of visual representations as a feasible way for communication between the distributed actors when they face communication challenges originating from differences in skills in the English language, but also from differences in work experiences. Relying on empirical materials from a Swedish manufacturing company in the mechanical engineering industry, this paper makes the following contributions to the literature. First, it shows that visual representations are effective boundary objects able to support process-oriented and product-oriented communication in distributed NPD projects. Second, it illustrates that visual representations do not necessarily have to follow graphic design principles, but can still be effective if distributed actors share the same project context. Finally, it highlights the need for a dynamic and context-dependent perspective on communication in NPD projects.

中文翻译：

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地理分布的新产品开发项目中通信的可视化表示

本研究探讨了视觉表示在支持研发团队与新产品开发 (NPD) 项目的地理分布供应商之间的沟通中的作用。它特别关注视觉表现的设计和使用，作为分布式参与者之间沟通的可行方式，当他们面临源自英语语言技能差异以及工作经验差异的沟通挑战时。依托瑞典机械工程行业制造公司的经验材料，本文对文献做出以下贡献。首先，它表明视觉表示是有效的边界对象，能够支持分布式 NPD 项目中面向过程和面向产品的通信。第二，它说明视觉表现不一定必须遵循图形设计原则，但如果分布式参与者共享相同的项目上下文，则仍然可以有效。最后，它强调了在 NPD 项目中对交流的动态和上下文相关的观点的必要性。