This module introduces the student to the use of management and planning tools and methods to ensure the design process is completed in an effective and efficient manner. Various models used to describe the new product development (NPD) process are also described. The second part of the module is focused upon researching a small number of specific areas with the aim of identifying areas which have potential for innovative and marketable products. This will be a pre-requisite for the final year project module, forming the basis for the design process undertaken in that module. The aim of this module is to give the student an appreciation of creativity, understanding, decision making and project planning tools, and the application of these tools to design projects with deliverables of various types.
Project Planning: Execute the project planning process, taking account of required outcomes and resource availability
Research Analysis Tools: Use typical business and psychological tools in order to extract and collate pertinent information from data sets
Decision Making tools: Apply decision making techniques as part of the research process
Creativity Tools: Utilize standard creativity tools in order to generate ideas
Intellectual Property: Apply principles of intellectual property law pertinent to product development to the analysis of case studies.
Manufacturing Techniques: Apply rational tools to the selection of potential vendors and sourcing routes for the manufacture of novel products
New Product Development Models: Apply industry standard frameworks for the New Product Development process to both the student's own work and given case studies.
Research Project: Apply the tools and techniques from this module to the investigation of product sectors with a view to forming a position for a Major Project in the next stage of the student's learning.
