EENG 1920 Chapter 4 Concept Generation and Evaluation 1

Barriers to Creativity Perceptual block – Prevents you from seeing the problem – Put constraints on the problem that is not there – See a solution to a problem that one is biased to see Emotional block – Fear of failure – Fear of chaos and disorganization – Tendency to critically judge ideas 2

Barriers to Creativity Cultural and Environmental Block – Things in our environment that limit creative ability – Team members distrust each other – Autocratic management resists new ideas Intellectual and Expressive Block – Need an understanding of engineering tools – Engineering tools are need that you do not have MATLAB LABVIEW VHDL SPICE 3

Vertical and Lateral Think Vertical thinking – Focuses on sequential steps toward a solution – Tries to determine correctness of the solution – Tries to narrow to a single solution Lateral thinking – Jumping around between steps – No attempt to determine right or wrong solutions – No attempt to narrow to a single solution narrow to a single solution 4

Strategies for Creativity Have a questioning attitude Practice being creative Suspend judgment All incubation time Think like a beginner 5

SCAMPER (Guide to Generate Creative Concepts) Substitute Combine Adapt Modify Put to other use Eliminate Rearrange or Reverse 6

Concept Generation Search Externally – Literature review – Search and review existing products – Benchmark similar products – Interview experts Search Internally – Brainstorming/brainwriting – Nominal Group Technique – Concept Table/Fans 7

Brainstorming Rules for group brainstorming No evaluation or judgment of ideas permitted. Encourage wild ideas. Focus on quantity, not quality (can always toss later!) Build upon, combine, or modify the ideas of others (SCAMPER). Record all ideas. 8

Concept Table (Computer Design) 9 User InterfaceDisplayConnectivity & Expansion PowerSize KeyboardCRTSerial & parallel BatteryHand-held, Fits in pocket TouchpadFlat PanelUSBAC PowerNotebook size Handwriting Recognition PlasmaWireless Ethernet Solar PowerWearable VideoHeads-up display Wired Ethernet Fuel CellCredit card size VoiceLCDPCMCIAThermal transfer Flexible in shape Modem / Telephone

Concept Fan 10

Concept Evaluation Decision Methods (some of them) Strength & Weakness Analysis Analytical Hierarchy Process (Decision Matrix) Pugh Concept Selection 11

Strength & Weakness Analysis Identify and list strengths and weaknesses of each concept. To make more analytical, assign subjective weights to strengths and weaknesses (plus and minus factors) and sum them. 12

Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) (Decision Matrix) 13 Design Option 1 Design Option 2 Design Option n Criteria 1  11  12  1n Criteria 2  21  22  2n Criteria m  m1  m2  mn Score

Decision Matrix: Steps Step 1: Determine the selection criteria Step 2: Select the criteria weightings Step 3: Identify and rate alternatives relative to the criteria Step 4: Compute the scores Step 5: Review the decision 14

Example: Quantitative Decision 15 Select a current source circuit for current measurement RTD = Resistance Temperature Device

Step 1: Select the Criteria In this case they are given as Accuracy Cost Size Availability 16

Step 2: Select the Weighting Factor These are computed based upon the results of the pairwise comparison – given in the problem. Be sure to normalize the final values. 17

Step 3: Compute Design Ratings They need to be computed for the following Accuracy Cost Size Availability 18

Step 4: Compute the Scores 19 Single BJTOp AmpCurrent Mirror Accuracy0.42 Cost0.12 Size0.12 Availabilit y 0.34 Score

20 Pugh Concept Selection 1.Select the comparison criteria 2.Determine weights for the criteria 3.Determine the concepts 4.Select baseline concept, initially believed best 5.Compare other concepts to baseline: ◦ +1 better than, 0 equal to, -1 worse than. 6.Compute weighted score for concepts, not including the baseline. 7.Examine concepts: retain, update, or drop. Synthesize best elements of others where possible. 8.Update table & iterate until best concept emerges.

Pugh Concept Table 21 Option 1 (Reference ) Option 2Option 3Option 4 Criteria Criteria Criteria Criteria Score-4-45 Continue?CombineYesNoCombine

Project Application 22 Identify different design alternatives (see also Chapters 5 and 6). – Search externally – Brainstorming sessions. – Nominal Group Technique – Morphology (Concept Tables and Fans) – SCAMPER Identify leading concept and justify – Strength & Weaknesses Analysis – Decision Matrices – Pugh Concept Selection Identify different design alternatives (see also Chapters 5 and 6). – Search externally – Brainstorming sessions. – Nominal Group Technique – Morphology (Concept Tables and Fans) – SCAMPER Identify leading concept and justify – Strength & Weaknesses Analysis – Decision Matrices – Pugh Concept Selection

Chapter 4 Homework 1.Name four barriers to creativity. 2.What is vertical thinking? 3.What is lateral thinking? 4.What are the five steps of a decision matrix? 23