Title: From descriptive customer data to need definition: a formalised approach

Authors: Vincent Boly; Laure Morel; Helmi Ben Rejeb; Mauricio Camargo

Addresses: Nancy University/ERPI (Equipe de Recherche des processus Innovatifs, Innovative Process Research Team), 8, Rue Bastien Lepage, 54010 Nancy Cedex, France ' Nancy University/ERPI (Equipe de Recherche des processus Innovatifs, Innovative Process Research Team), 8, Rue Bastien Lepage, 54010 Nancy Cedex, France ' Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tunis, Campus Universitaire, BP 37, Le Bélvédère, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia ' Nancy University/ERPI (Equipe de Recherche des processus Innovatifs, Innovative Process Research Team), 8, Rue Bastien Lepage, 54010 Nancy Cedex, France

Abstract: Need is a major concern when designing a new product and, consequently, need analysis is a key task during the front end of innovative projects. However, need remains a paradoxical concept, something that everyone feels, accepts and understands, but is difficult to model. This research contributes to the theoretical and methodological aspect of need. To elaborate a need analysis methodology adapted to the first steps of innovative projects, a literature review highlights the main characteristics of this concept and collects definitions within a large scope of disciplines. Based on these theoretical elements and on a systemic approach, a model is suggested to describe the needs of targeted stakeholders. This model aims at the treatment of descriptive data concerning the functioning modes of customers and other involved stakeholders in order to define individual needs. An example of application of the method is detailed among a large panel of experimental innovative projects.

Keywords: need analysis; resources; dependency; innovation; model; requirement; new product design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2016.083621

International Journal of Product Development, 2016 Vol.21 No.5/6, pp.369 - 393

Accepted: 22 Dec 2016
Published online: 12 Apr 2017 *

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