Progressive elaboration

In terms of a supply chain initiative, the initial project might develop the strategy. This would be followed by other projects to implement the 

Strategy. The usual process for supply chain improvement sets result-type objectives. The strategy begins the project and delivers the roadmap for achieving the results. As the project proceeds, progressive elaboration causes the strategy and the follow-on projects to be redefined. 

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The Project Management Institute reinforces the message. Its PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) describes the progressive elaboration property of projects (see Section 8.3). Change management processes built into the project make mid-course corrections. 

Early decisions made purely for process reasons often can lead to problems of safety and health (and environment) which require complex and often expensive solutions. It is far better to consider them early as the design progresses. Designs that avoid the need for hazardous materials, or use less of them, or use them at lower temperatures and pressures, or dilute them with inert materials will be inherently safe and will not require elaborate safety systems. ... 

There is a view developing concerning the accomplishments of shock-compression science that the initial questions posed by the pioneers in the field have been answered to a significant degree. Indeed, the progress in technology and description of the process is impressive by any standard. Impressive instrumentation has been developed. Continuum models of materials behavior have been elaborated. Techniques for numerical simulation have been developed in depth. 

It is worth to remark that the opposite also happens. There is an evolution in the experimental teehniques too, and in some eases this progress makes possible ( or competitive) the measurement of a quantity formerly available via computations only. One example is the detailed measurement of the electronic density of a molecule, and of the related molecular electrostatic potential. The determination of these two observables has been for many years a task feasible only by quantum-mechanical methods, now the progresses in the elaboration of diffraction technique measurements makes possible a direct determination. 

Fig. 11.1. Atherogenesis is a persistent inflammatory response that occurs in response to conditions that cause endothelial damage (e.g., hypercholesterolemia and oxLDL). After endothelial cells are activated, they elaborate cytokines, chemokines, and other mediators that recruit mononuclear cells (monocytes and T lymphocytes) to extravasate into the vessel wall where they are activated and release additional proinflammatory factors. Macrophages are able to take up oxLDL via scavenger receptors causing them to differentiate into foam cells and form a fatty streak that progresses to an atheroma with a necrotic lipid core and a fibrous cap. Chemokines can lead to weakening of the fibrous cap and eventual plaque rupture leading to thrombosis and occlusion of the involved vessel.

Throughout this article we have indicated areas where further development is continuing. This section elaborates on work which is incomplete but in progress. 

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