Identifying Requirements - Revision history

Stsb11: /* Focus Groups */

2025-07-01T15:30:14Z

Focus Groups

Stsb11 at 15:38, 22 April 2024

2024-04-22T15:38:06Z

Stsb11 at 15:37, 22 April 2024

2024-04-22T15:37:26Z

Show changes

Stsb11 at 08:08, 2 October 2023

2023-10-02T08:08:55Z

Stcd11: Spelling error fixed

2023-03-21T16:09:46Z

Spelling error fixed

Stsb11: /* Commercial Partnerships */

2023-01-26T09:14:22Z

Commercial Partnerships

Stsb11: /* Enterprise */

2023-01-18T17:38:36Z

Enterprise

Stsb11 at 17:31, 18 January 2023

2023-01-18T17:31:48Z

Stsb11 at 10:04, 2 September 2022

2022-09-02T10:04:26Z

Stsb11: /* 1.3bii User comfort, control layout and software user-interface */

2022-08-16T14:26:13Z

1.3bii User comfort, control layout and software user-interface

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 #Focus groups are meetings in which the engineering team meet with different stakeholders to discuss the new product. They may produce a SWOT analysis collaboratively as part of this.
 #Qualitative Observation. The process of design engineers watching a pre-existing system operating in a live environment (e.g. a factory in which frozen pizzas are manually topped). By watching the process, engineers can fully understand the steps in the existing system and consider different solutions to improve the current system.
-#Market Research. The process of looking online (or through product catalogues) at other ways in which the problem can be solved using products designed by other companies. Unless it can be made more cheaply, there is little point in releasing a product which another supplier is already selling. Equally, if an existing product has reviews stating that it lacks a particular feature, the opportunity to release a rival product to compete with it might arise.
+#In the preliminary design stages when developing new product ideas, focus groups can help to develop a realistic design brief.
-#Developing New Product Ideas.
+#They can help determine users needs and wants and lead to a product specification.
 ===Enterprise===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==1.1. Exploring Contexts==
+==Section 1.1. Exploring Contexts==
 #Before starting the course, you will come across many new words and technical terms.
 #[https://www.electricalschool.org Electrical School] have created, and are continuing to develop, a glossary of electrical terms.
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ##How long does the manufacturer/customer want the product to last? The answer isn't always 'forever'. Fast food packaging is a good example, needing to only last an hour or so and to then be easily recycled.
 #A water purification unit for refugees in a third-world country would need to be built as cheaply as possible (to maximise the number of people who can have one), while ensuring that the product works consistently and safely. Any unnecessary flourishes (e.g. branding, nice-to-have features like an LED indicator) would need to be stripped away to the bare minimum amount of hardware to produce the desired result.
 ===Product Opportunities===
 #Events happen around the World daily. These can often represent opportunities for entrepreneurs. Some are short-term (e.g. fidget spinners becoming cool) and others may be longer-term (e.g. combating global warming), necessitating new products to solve new problems. By looking for trends and following global events, designers and engineers can identify new, unsolved problems and create successful products to tackle them.
-==1.2. Stakeholder Analysis==
+==Section 1.2. Stakeholder Analysis==
 #What can be learnt by undertaking stakeholder analysis?
 #Demonstrate an understanding of methods used for investigating stakeholder requirements, such as:
@@ Line 136: / Line 135: @@
 ##Crowd funding – asking a large amount of people for a small amount of money (1), who may or may not then own a share in the company (1).
-==1.3. Designing Prototypes==
+==Section 1.3. Designing Prototypes==
 *How can usability be considered when designing prototypes?
 ===1.3a Learners should be able to analyse and evaluate factors that may need consideration in relation to the user interaction of a design solution, including:===

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 #Once the product prototype has been built, the engineering team can test the product against the specification to demonstrate that they have designed a product or system which does exactly what the client asked for.
-==Economic and Market Considerations==
+==Social, Economic and Market Considerations==
-#All clients have a budget. At the outset of a new project, they will advise on what their development budget (how much they want to spend on manpower + prototypes to develop a mass-producible product) is, and will indicate the budget for building the actual new product (e.g. Should cost no more than £3 to manufacture per unit).
+#When developing a product, it's context (i.e. how/where/when it will be used and by who) needs to be carefully considered in order to maximise the chance of it selling well.
-#The market that the product is to be aimed at will influence this heavily; a water purification unit for refugees in a third-world country would need to be built as cheaply as possible (to maximise the number of people who can have one), while ensuring that the product works consistently and safely. Any unnecessary flourishes (e.g. branding, nice-to-have features like an LED indicator) would need to be stripped away to the bare minimum amount of hardware to produce the desired result.
+#This topic comes up quite often in Paper 2 in the form of long-answer questions. You can practice this by thinking of everyday objects and coming up with examples for them.
-#The market for a new top-spec iPhone would be very different, and to ensure that the client feels they’re receiving value for money, the quality of the product would need to be of the highest standard available in order to justify the price tag that such an item could be expected to command.
 ==Product Opportunities==

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 21 March 2023
Line 49:		Line 49:


−	[[File:SWOT_analysis.png\|400px\|thumb\|center\|~~WOT~~ Analysis]]	+	[[File:SWOT_analysis.png\|400px\|thumb\|center\|SWOT Analysis]]

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ===Commercial Partnerships===
 #This could be a partnership with another person or company, to use their skills or expertise in the field. Doing so means sharing the risk with them and reducing the risk by using someone who has been in that field before.
 #Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_incubator

@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 ===Entrepreneur===
-#An entrepreneur who has a high level of self-belief in her product might elect to borrow their start-up capital from a bank in the form of a large loan. As the bank will be taking a considerable risk (i.e. if your product doesn’t take off, they’ll lose their money), they would typically expect that you would demonstrate your commitment by sharing the risk. This usually comes by you putting up your own money (if you have enough) or your home against the loan, so that if your business fails, your house can be sold to allow the bank to recover their money. The advantage of this approach is that if you are able to launch a new product, you’ll be able to enjoy all the profits after you’ve paid back your debt. The disadvantage of this is that should your idea not be a success, you risk losing your home and any other assets you may have.
+#Entrepreneurship has traditionally been defined as the process of designing, launching and running a new business, such as a start-up company, often offering a product or service. Entrepreneurs are the people behind such initiatives or start-ups.
-#They will take the risk in hope for profit with the sector. The entrepreneur may already have businesses in other areas similar to the area they are interested in breaking into.
+#An entrepreneur who has a high level of self-belief in her product will need funding. They might elect to borrow their start-up capital from a bank in the form of a large loan. As the bank will be taking a considerable risk (i.e. if your product doesn’t take off, they’ll lose their money), they would typically expect that you would demonstrate your commitment by sharing the risk. This usually comes by you putting up your own money (if you have enough) or your home against the loan, so that if your business fails, your house can be sold to allow the bank to recover their money. The advantage of this approach is that if you are able to launch a new product, you’ll be able to enjoy all the profits after you’ve paid back your debt. The disadvantage of this is that should your idea not be a success, you risk losing your home and any other assets you may have.
 ===Commercial Partnerships===

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 ==Enterprise==
-In the design context, the term 'enterprise' relates strongly to innovation. It captures brave and courageous decision-making, initiative, resourcefulness, making the most of opportunities to earn money, create or support new businesses, new and energetic undertakings, adventure and challenge.
+#Demonstrate an understanding of how enterprise can help drive the development of new product ideas through routes to innovation such as:
-#Demonstrate an understanding of how enterprise can help drive the development of new product ideas through routes to innovation such as:
+===Entrepreneur===
 #An entrepreneur who has a high level of self-belief in her product might elect to borrow their start-up capital from a bank in the form of a large loan. As the bank will be taking a considerable risk (i.e. if your product doesn’t take off, they’ll lose their money), they would typically expect that you would demonstrate your commitment by sharing the risk. This usually comes by you putting up your own money (if you have enough) or your home against the loan, so that if your business fails, your house can be sold to allow the bank to recover their money. The advantage of this approach is that if you are able to launch a new product, you’ll be able to enjoy all the profits after you’ve paid back your debt. The disadvantage of this is that should your idea not be a success, you risk losing your home and any other assets you may have.
-#<strong>Commercial Partnerships.</strong> Some engineers might seek funding through startup-incubators (similar to the TV show, Dragons’ Den). By ‘pitching’ your idea and presenting your business plan to a panel of experienced investors, you may be able to negotiate to obtain the funding you need in exchange for a (often considerable) percentage of your profits if/when your product takes off. Incubators are often able to supply experienced business people to offer advice as well as providing office space for start-ups.
+#They will take the risk in hope for profit with the sector. The entrepreneur may already have businesses in other areas similar to the area they are interested in breaking into.
 #Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_incubator
-#<strong>Venture Capitalists (VCs)</strong> are similar to a start-up incubator. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_capital
-#<strong>Crowd Funding Websites.</strong> investors to pay for different ‘rewards’, typically at considerably lower prices than the retail price of the product once launched to the general public.
+===Venture Capitalists (VCs)===
-##If the designer is able to reach a certain level of funding, the website transfers them the money pledged by the individual investors and they are then able to create and launch their product. If they don’t reach the intended funding level, the investors’ money is returned. This has the advantage of not requiring any up-front investment by the engineer and doesn’t expose the investor to as much risk. The disadvantage is that one may not reach their funding target, and that the inventor may not actually be able to deliver the product they’ve promised with the funding they raise if their calculations are incorrect.
+#A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_capital VC] is similar to a start-up incubator.
-##Made popular through sites such as www.Kickstarter.com. Crowd funding works by the engineer creating a web page outlining the details of the product they intend to design and create, and allowing prospective.
+#Some engineers might seek funding this way (similar to the TV show, Dragons’ Den). By ‘pitching’ your idea and presenting your business plan to a panel of experienced investors, you may be able to negotiate to obtain the funding you need in exchange for a (often considerable) percentage of your profits if/when your product takes off. Incubators are often able to supply experienced business people to offer advice as well as providing office space for start-ups.
-#<strong>Bank loan.</strong> By taking a loan from a bank, it may be possible to secure enough funding to launch a product. The advantage of doing so is that if the invention is successful, the inventor retains full control of their product and is entitled to all the profits from it. The risk is that if the product is not successful, the inventor will be left with considerable debts in their name that may be secured against their home and will likely be very difficult to repay.
+#Using a venture capitalist to secure funding will remove some of the risk to the person wanting to start this new venture.
 ===Exam style questions===

@@ Line 158: / Line 158: @@
 ##Reduce Static Load - Static load refers to the position where the person stays in the same position or holds something for a long time. This load create discomfort fatigue. If the product requires the consumer to stand still for a long time such as holding a specific tool, a fixture solution needs to be applied in order to eliminate the need to hold the object.
 ##Minimise Pressure Points - The pressure point refers to the point where the object is in contact with the consumer body during the usage of the product. For example, high chairs makes a pressure point between the user legs and table or desk. Therefore, designing the chair should allow users to modify the height and subsequently it can be used with any table height.
-##Provide Clearance - The design for products and interior should provide a space for the user to move freely and avoid dumping into any of the objects. The same concept is applied in the digital domain. Placing the functions and elements in the website design or mobile application device should allow the user to move between the function smoothly and avoid any confusion such as clicking on wrong buttons.
+##Provide Clearance - The design for products and interior should provide a space for the user to move freely and avoid bumping into any of the objects. The same concept is applied in the digital domain. Placing the functions and elements in the website design or mobile application device should allow the user to move between the function smoothly and avoid any confusion such as clicking on wrong buttons.
 ##Enable Movement and Stretching - The product design should consider the user needs to move, exercise, and stretch. For example, seat design includes options to adjust the setting style. Tables that forces one to stand up or be in in one place may be modified in some places to avoid the a long setting time.
 ##Reduce Excessive Vibration - Vibration has a serious impact on consumer health. Contacting vibrating tools may cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Therefore, designing products that use motors or vibrate while holding should consider this principle. For example, the motor part can be separated from the tool itself and connected to it using a cord instead. This reduces the vibration on the tool.
@@ Line 167: / Line 167: @@
 #The design team are drafting specification points for different stakeholders. One point the bridge crew have identified is that it must be possible to reliably communicate with the different teams on the ship at all times. For each of the two stakeholder groups you identified above, describe one specification point they might suggest when designing the new ship.
 #Describe the term, ‘focus group’.
-#Mary has recently finished her A-levels and has designed a mobile phone charger with an integrated radio and flashlight. She wants to release it as a commercial product, but has never launched a product. Suggest a funding mechanism she could use, and justify your choice.
+#Mary has recently finished her A-levels and has designed a mobile phone charger with an integrated radio and torch. She wants to release it as a commercial product, but has never launched a product. Suggest a funding mechanism she could use, and justify your choice.
 #A stationary company wants to create a pencil dispenser that can be put into school classrooms to allow students who have forgotten their pencil to take a replacement.
 ##The company want to set up a focus group.

@@ Line 143: / Line 143: @@
 ==1.3bii User comfort, control layout and software user-interface==
-The user experience is the core of the design process.
+===Practice questions/Recap===
 #Apart from the bridge crew (i.e. Captain and first officer), name two different stakeholder groups that might be identified when designing a new cruise ship.
 #The design team are drafting specification points for different stakeholders. One point the bridge crew have identified is that it must be possible to reliably communicate with the different teams on the ship at all times. For each of the two stakeholder groups you identified above, describe one specification point they might suggest when designing the new ship.