Concept Development Based On Social Networks
Anette Vigen · 2011
This report consists of an introduction to social networks, what they can offer and how they can be used. Methods used in early phase product development as crowd sourcing, De Bono- Six Thinking Hats and brainstorming are introduced. These are all different methods that can be used in combination with social networks. The report goes deeper into selected businesses that use social networks in their product development, and at the same time it shows how recently started firms can benefit from social networks when developing their products. Recently started firms might have pore economy, and do not have the possibilities to make prototypes and tests in early phase. Social media can then be used for documenting advantages and marked potential for the product for potential investors. For testing social networks, three cases have been performed: A child cradle has been tested out with a survey and through a discussion in a forum on Mammanett.no. The survey was made with questions based on the VAPAV (Virtual Adjustable Pivot Axis Vogge) cradle that have been made at the Department of Engineering Design and Materials at NTNU, with the different properties and extra functions it offers. The thread in the forum specifies what the cradle contains and how it can be used. Results show that people say one thing and mean something else. People are generally more positive in the survey where all the extra functions are divided in different questions than they are in the forum where all functions are described as part of the cradle. A case named Snow Push, where Facebook was used to develop snowboard bindings that could be moved in a matter of seconds. This is a solution that can be used by those who need to change position when switching from snowboarding in park to snowboarding in loose snow (powder).