Creativity Innovation Entrepreneurship Concept Development Process Think Outside

Creativity Innovation Entrepreneurship Concept Development Process Think Outside Yourself

Product Concept § Q: What is a “Concept”? § A: Approximate description of : § general technology § general working principles § form and function § Concise description of how the process will satisfy customer/stakeholder needs

Typical Problems in Design Teams § Consider only 1 or 2 concepts § Miss entire categories of possible approaches § Ineffective integration of promising partial solutions § Ignore ideas from elsewhere § other solutions § unrelated processes § different fields

Concept Generation § Very inexpensive & quick § Huge impact on process quality & success in satisfying customer/stakeholder needs § Possible to quickly generate hundreds of possible concepts § Basic idea: SYSTEMATICALLY explore FULL RANGE of possibilities

Concept Generation

Basics of Methodology § Split problem into simpler sub-problems § Tool: Functional diagram or functional decomposition § Generate WIDE RANGE of possible approaches to each sub-problem § Tool: External & internal searches for ideas § Systematically explore alternate combinations of sub-solutions § Tool: Combination tables & classification trees § An iterative process: not once & done

Concept Generation Example: Industrial Power Nailer

Decompose problem Outputs? Inputs? Energy? Materials? Signals? BLACK BOX Overall Function of Process Energy? Materials? Signals?

Problem Decomposition: Function Diagram

Search Externally for Sub-problem Solutions § External sources of ideas: § Users § Competitors and their products § Related technologies – Unrelated Technologies § Experts § Trade publications § Patents § Requires detective work (fact-finding mission)

Search Internally § Use knowledge & creativity of team § QUANTITY BREEDS QUALITY § higher probability of winning process § best ideas not likely to be first § one idea may stimulate others § GO NUTS!!!!! § expand boundaries of your thinking § welcome ideas that at first seem infeasible § Avoid shooting down each other’s ideas

Sub-problem: Store Energy

Sub-problem: Store Energy � � � � - Chemical reaction emits high pressure gas - Carbide (like lanterns) - Combust sawdust - Gun powder - Sodium azide (airbag explosive) - Fuel-air combo (e. g. propane, butane, acetylene) - Compressed air - Carbon dioxide in tank - Electric wall outlet & cord - Hydraulic oil pressure - Flywheel w/ spin-up station - Carbon Dioxide in tank - Electric wall outlet & cord - Hydraulic oil pressure - Flywheel with spin up station � � � Battery pack Fuel cell Human power (arms, legs) Methane from dung “Burning” like chemical hand warmers Nuclear reactors Cold fusion Solar cells Steam from solar Steam supply line Wind Geothermal

Explore systematically § Concept combination table § Concept classification tree § Identify under-explored and/or most promising branches

Systematic Exploration: Concept Combination Table

Systematic Exploration: Concept Classification Tree Chemical Pneumatic Store Energy Fuel-Air Systems Explosive Systems Hydraulic Wall Outlet Electrical Purpose Look for Under-Explored Idea Spaces Battery Fuel Cell Nuclear