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Quality during Design Newsletter

Beyond Features: The Power of Benefits and Structured Innovation in Product Design


This Quality during Design Newsletter has been brought to you since 2021 from Deeney Enterprises and Dianna Deeney. Now a monthly digest sent on the first Friday of the month, gain insights, podcast highlights, and resources for engineering design professionals.

Hello reader,

This past month, we've delved into foundational concepts crucial for transforming abstract ideas into products customers truly love.

If you've ever felt the frustration of concept development lacking concrete discussion points or the struggle of aligning diverse team perspectives, this month's content is especially for you.

We've also celebrated the launch of the new Deeney Enterprises website, designed to provide you with clearer, more organized resources to tackle these very challenges.

Dianna

Blank Flipcharts Don’t Make Magic, But Templates Do

Blank flipcharts don't spark creativity. Research shows teams produce fewer and lower quality ideas with unstructured brainstorming. The solution? Visual models that focus and align your team.

Learn more so you can start applying it!

Blank Flipcharts Don’t Make Magic, But Templates Do

Uncovering Customer Desires: Understanding Benefits in Concept Development

"Benefits describe the user's experience. Features are just facts." Explore how shifting your focus from what your product does to how it impacts users can revolutionize your design approach. What benefit does YOUR product deliver?

Uncovering Customer Desires: Understanding Benefits in Concept Development

From the Archives: Use Force Field Analysis to Understand Nuances

We manage projects and expectations. A force field analysis is a visual tool in the quality toolbox. Its typical use case is to help a team analyze a change by understanding the forces involved. We can also use it to help us solve a problem.

We can use a force field analysis to understand nuances or to get a handle on a change that involves many different people or departments.

We envision a force field analysis as a football field during a game. Listen-in and then gather your team and try it out for your next change!

Visit the blog for an example: https://deeneyenterprises.com/qdd/use-force-field-analysis-to-understand-nuances/

Did you see it, yet?

We are so excited over here about the new website design, with loads of benefits (not just features!) for you. Check it out at DeeneyEnterprises.com and bookmark it to revisit it frequently.

Your Monthly Insights:

From this month's discussions, here are two key insights to refine your approach to product development and team collaboration.

  1. Shift Your Focus from Features to Benefits: It's easy to get caught up in the technical specifications and tangible aspects of a product (features), but customers ultimately buy products for the positive outcomes and impact they experience (benefits). Rather than solely engineering specific features or just filling a need, target specific customer benefits to create value that resonates emotionally and practically. When you test your product, measure not just if features work, but if they successfully deliver the intended benefits.
  2. Embrace Structured Approaches with Visual Models and Templates for Concept Development: Traditional open brainstorming sessions often result in fewer and lower-quality ideas, particularly when teams lack concrete discussion points or are working from different perspectives. The solution lies in using visual models and templates. These structured frameworks guide the creative process, facilitate meaningful team collaboration, and provide prompts that direct thinking along productive pathways.

Take a quick quiz to cut through the 'design fog'

In the complex world of product development, understanding your unique role and challenges is the first step to greater impact. This quick, insightful quiz is designed to cut through the 'design fog' and pinpoint your primary focus area.

Discover where your greatest potential lies – whether it's driving innovation, fostering seamless collaboration, or leading strategic initiatives. Select the option that best reflects your experience or perspective for each question to unlock your personalized insights.Take the quiz now!

More Resources

In this episode of Speaking of Reliability, Dianna and Fred discuss long-form reading. Is it in decline? Gain valuable insights into improving reading habits and the benefits of broad reading for problem-solving. SOR 1055 Long-form Reading - Accendo Reliability

How to engage with me

These episodes are just the beginning of a deeper conversation about smarter product development. If you're ready to explore how these mindset shifts can translate into tangible improvements for your projects and teams, let's connect.

SELF-PACED COURSE FMEA in Practice: from Plan to Risk-Based Decision Making is enrolling students now. Join over 300 students: Click Here.

CONSULTING We'll schedule a complimentary call, and you'll gain clarity on your situation.

COACHING Let's talk about your goals and to see if we're a good fit.

CONFERENCES I'll be at the ASQ RMMR conference, July 17-18 in Charlotte, NC.

2102 Kimberton Road #89, Kimberton, PA 19442-9912
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Quality during Design Newsletter

Ready to excel in the world of engineering design? The Quality during Design Newsletter delivers insights, career advice, and resources to help you thrive. Get highlights from the Quality During design Podcast, summaries of our latest blog posts, curated articles, and exclusive content. Plus, get sneak peeks and excerpts from my upcoming book on cross-functional collaboration. All through the lens of design with data and collaboration. Subscribe below!

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