Methods Flashcards
black box method
Purpose: Understand the function of a system without considering internal workings.
Use: Break down a problem into inputs, outputs, and the system that connects them.
Application: Simplifies complex systems, focusing on what the system should do rather than how.
benchmarking
Purpose: Compare your design with industry standards or competitors.
Use: Analyze existing solutions to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
Application: Helps ensure a design meets or exceeds market expectations.
how/why tree
Purpose: highlights the primary functions and then identifies secondary functions (how: primary –> secondary [down], why: secondary –> primary [up])
Use: Break down complex problems into hierarchical cause-and-effect relationships.
Application: Common in root cause analysis and brainstorming
pairwise comparison
Purpose: Rank or prioritize options by comparing them in pairs. Giving values of 1 or 0
Use: Evaluate options based on specific criteria to determine relative importance.
Application: Useful in decision-making with multiple alternatives.
morph chart
Purpose: Systematically generate creative solutions by combining options across categories.
Use: List functions of the product and brainstorm multiple solutions for each, then mix-and-match.
Application: Encourages innovation and diversity in design solutions.
TRIZ
Purpose: Solve problems by applying principles from a database of inventive solutions.
Use: Overcome contradictions without trade-offs, using established patterns of innovation.
Application: Focused problem-solving based on engineering heuristics.
Team charter
Purpose: Define roles, goals, and responsibilities for a design team.
Use: Establish clear expectations and a collaborative working environment.
Application: Helps align the team on objectives and working processes.
multi-voting
Purpose: Narrow down a list of solutions by consensus.
Use: Team members vote on preferences, and options with the most votes advance.
Application: Streamlines decision-making in group settings.
graphical decision chart
Purpose: Visualize trade-offs between multiple decision criteria (objectives and secondary functions)
Use: Plot options based on performance in the objectives and secondary functions, helping to identify the best choice.
Application: Useful in comparing complex alternatives at a glance.
weighted decision matrix
Purpose: Objectively compare options by assigning weights to criteria.
Use: Multiply the weight of each criterion by the performance score for each option, then sum.
Application: Ensures decisions are data-driven and criteria-weighted.
pugh method
Purpose: Compare alternatives against a baseline (can be an already existing solution or one of your own solutions) using a scoring system.
Use: Score each option (+1, 0, -1) against criteria and sum to evaluate.
Application: Quick, structured method to identify strengths and weaknesses.
scamper
A method of innovation by asking questions based on: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse
