"Q" Flashcards
Q-Sorts
A process for sorting and ranking complex issues
Qualitative Cluster Analysis
An individual- or group-based process using Informed Intuition for clustering and connecting data points.
Qualitative Marketing Research
Research conducted with a very small number of respondents, either in groups or individually, to gain an impression of their beliefs, motivations, perceptions and opinions. Frequently used to gather initial consumer needs and obtain initial reactions to ideas and concepts. Results are not representative of the market in general or projectable. Qualitative marketing research is used to show why people buy a particular product, whereas quantitative marketing research reveals how many people buy it. (See Chapters 14-16 of The PDMA HandBook 2nd Edition.)
Quality
The collection of attributes, which when present in a product, means a product has conformed to or exceeded customer expectations.
Quality Assurance/Compliance
Function responsible for monitoring and evaluating development policies and practices, to ensure they meet company and applicable regulatory standards.
Quality-by-Design
The process used to design quality into the product, service, or process from the inception of product development.
Quality Control Specification and Procedure
Documents that describe the specifications and the procedures by which they will be measured which a finished subassembly or system must meet before judged ready for shipment.
Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
A structured method employing matrix analysis for linking what the market requires to how it will be accomplished in the development effort. This method is most frequently used during the stage of development when a multifunctional team agrees on how customer needs relate to product specifications and the features that deliver those needs. By explicitly linking these aspects of product design, QFD minimizes the possibility of omitting important design characteristics or interactions across design characteristics. QFD is also an important mechanism in promoting multifunctional teamwork. Developed and introduced by Japanese auto manufacturers, QFD is widely used in the automotive industry.
Quantitative Market Research
Consumer research, often surveys, conducted with a large enough sample of consumers to produce statistically reliable results that can be used to project outcomes to the general consumer population. Used to determine importance levels of different customer needs, performance ratings of and satisfaction with current products, probability of trial, repurchase rate, and product preferences. These techniques are used to reduce the uncertainty associated with many other aspects of product development. (See Chapter 18 of The PDMA HandBook 2nd Edition.)
