1. CS 410 Professional Workforce Development I Spring 2019
Module 3: Project Selection and Presentation Skills 02/09/ /01/2019
Week 6 –19 February 2019
Instructor: Jim Brunelle
Office: E&CS 3111 ( )
Office Hours: Tuesday or by Appt

2. Lecture Agenda 1030-1040: Welcome/Announcements 1035-1115: Discussion:
“Ugly Website” Problem Statement/Characteristics
Feasibility Presentation Progress “Check”
: Process Flow & Solution Characteristics
: Competition Matrix
: Upcoming Assignments (expectations/approach)
: Team Collaboration
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

3. Understanding the “Problem”
It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem.
G. K. Chesterton, English author
“... Before computers can solve a problem, the problem and the ways in which it can be resolved must be understood. ”
So do we “Understand” our “Problems”/can we define their “Characteristics”?
CS410 – Gold - TutorU
CS410 - Silver - Detecting and Tracking Seizures
CS 410 Spring Week 6: 19 February

4. Where are We (2/19)? Homepage Team Biography Page Reference Page
Team color identified
No team should have a project name yet, that is to be determined.
Links to other pages.
Team Biography Page
Picture of each team member and mentor
Bio for each team member and mentor
Reference Page
Link to all reference information for research performed
Problem Description
Identification of the generic societal problem (problem statement)
Characteristics of the problem listed
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

5. Where are We Headed (2/26)? Current Process Flow Diagrams Solution
What is the current process used by the intended customer to deal with the problem today? (current process flow – should be a diagram)
Identify where in the current process the problem occurs and where intervention is required.
Solution
Solution Statement
Solution Characteristics
Competition Matrix
Similar/Alternative solutions, products, etc
Vs. comparative assessment against your proposed solution
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

6. Taking Problem/Characteristics to Solution/Characteristics
Method:
Build a Current State Flow Diagram - Based on problem characteristics, research conducted to date, understanding of the Problem Domain
Event-oriented
May include timelines, external influences, patterns, feedback loops, gaps, etc.
Analyze Current State - identify where computer/software-based intervention can/could/should be applied to address the problem
Prepare a Solution Statement - clear, concise (same concept/objective/approach as the Problem Statement)
Identify the Problem Characteristics
Aligned to address Problem Characteristics
Based on your latest Solution Concept
Some Examples:
Voluntunities Spring 2017
RepairLink Spring 2017
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

7. Addressing the Problem Problem Characteristics -> Solution Characteristics Cryptolio - CS410 Spring 2018
Problem Characteristics
Problem Characteristics
There are over 100 cryptocurrency exchanges
Exchanges can be region- locked
Exchanges can stop accepting new accounts
For every coin, there are multiple storage options (wallets) with varying security levels
Users’ coins are distributed amongst several exchanges and wallets
Show users exchanges that are available in their region
List the coins that are traded on each exchange
Compare and suggest different wallets
Display user wallet information such as address, coin balance, and USD value
Allow users to view their transaction history
Display recent news about coins
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

8. The Competition Who, Why, What is the “Threat”
Competition = Threat
Threat = Risk
Risk => Go/NoGO
Competitive Advantage - anything (important) that you do better than your competition.
know-how (technical, professional, domain, marketing, financial management…)
operational excellence (faster, cheaper, higher quality operations)
talent
products (bigger, smaller, better, cheaper, variety…)
customer experience/customer understanding
intellectual property (do I “own” something that nobody else has)
market position (reputation, “brand” recognition)
customer relationships (
location (geographic, www, “political”)
capital (financial strength)
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

9. The Competition Competitor Types
DIRECT – similar products and services
Automotive (Chevy vs. Ford vs…)
Appliance Industry (Maytag vs. Samsung vs. …)
Transportation Providers (Uber vs. Lyft)
Cable Providers (Verizon vs. Cox)
McDonalds vs. Burger King
INDIRECT – solving same problem for same target market with a different product or service
Home Entertainment (Direct TV vs. Cable)
Transportation Provider (Uber/Lyft vs. Taxis)
Paperback vs. Electronic Books
McDonalds vs. Pizza Hut
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

10. Competitive Intelligence Information Gathering
News & Events
Team & Personnel
Product, Pricing & Packaging
Support Threads & Reviews
Positioning & Presence
Customers & Partners
Content & Social Media
Conversion Tests & Promotions
Cost Drivers (Labor, Infrastructure, Tax Basis, etc)
Light Reading:
Competitive Intelligence Data Sources-Best Practices
Research Your Competitors’ Social Media Strategy
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

11. The Competition Matrix
Identifies Competing Entities:
Products, Solutions, Companies, Agencies, Groups, Markets
Is a Visual Means of Presenting a Completive Assessment
Typically Feature-Based (such as):
• Price • Benefits • Quality • Durability • Image/style • Service
• Warranties • Convenience • Ease of Use • # of features
• Type of features • Wow factor • Location(s) • Distribution/Sales
• Certifications • Endorsements
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

12. The Competition Matrix Some Examples
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

13. The Competition Matrix Some Examples
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

14. The Competition Matrix Some Examples
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

15. The Competition Matrix Some Examples
CS 410 Projects:
ODUSafe
Conversation Partner Platform
The Competition Matrix Some Examples
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February

16. Down The Road… Formal Feasibility Presentation
Solution Plan
Build the Solution Flow Diagram
modify the Current Process Flow Diagram to reflect your solution
Incorporate the software/hardware that you need to implement the solution The illustration should include:
Solution elements (ie. What is “new/modified must be easily identified)
Elimination of current mechanisms (to be replaced by the solution)
User roles (who will interact with the system?)
Define what the Solution will NOT do…
Major Functional Component Diagram.
Build a Figure to include:
Hardware needed
Software needed
Legacy systems with which it must interface
User roles and where they interact with the solution
Must “Flow” to a logical resolution of problem characteristics
Formal Feasibility Presentation - 19 March
Feasibility Presentation Grading Rubric)
CS 410 Spring Week 5: 12 February