Customer Oriented Product Development (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

During the course, the students study the basic skills of product development. The students work in groups and produce a new innovative solution to problems of everyday life. The student groups make a project plan, and a marketing plan and also test the solution with potential customers during the course. The groups present the new, innovative solution for peer and teacher evaluation.

After completing the course the student can:
- plan, design and document a new service according to a product development method
- create a project plan, marketing plan and testing plan for the service
- design promotional materials
-test the service with potentional customers
- present the outcomes
- act as a member of a project group.

Content:
- the role of product development in business operations
- product development methods
- implementation and management of a product development project
- the customer´s role in product development

Program in Optima.

Objective

Having completed the course, the student is able to
- develop profitable, customer oriented and innovative solutions
- apply product and service differentiation as a competitive edge
- apply product development process models in practice.

Content

- Product and product development as competitive edge
- Customer needs and competitive situation as a basis for product development
- Using product development process models

Materials

Reading material on product development (Service Design, The Waterfall method, The Lean Method, The Agile Approach), lectures

Teaching methods

Book circle, group work, presentations, peer evaluation

Exam schedules

No exam

Student workload

133 h consisting of lectures, reading literature, book circle, group work, presentations

Evaluation methods and criteria

Objects for assessment:
-2 individual reading reflections, pass/fail 25%
Group work:
-project plan 25%, 1-5
-marketing plan (including promotional material) 25% , 1-5
- pitch of new service 25%, 1-5

Failed (0)

The student has not completed all the outcomes of the course with approved grade.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student:
- recognizes the role of product development in business operations
- indentifies product development processes (project plan)
- shows basic understanding of planning marketing (marketing plan)
-can make un understandable presentation of the new service
-shows activity in the group work

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student is able to implement the previous points as well as the following:
- apply the product development process methods in practice
- can develop profitable and innovative solutions according to the markets
-interacts actively with the customer in developing the new solution
-plans targeted marketing for the new service
-presents the outcomes and make impact on the listener
-shows great teamwork skills and activity in the team

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student is able to implement the previous points as well as the following:
-plays a crucial role in the product development team acting for example project manager