ENGG2062 Advanced Engineering

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ENGG2062Advanced Engineering Business
PlanningTurning a good engineering idea into a
commercial reality

• Generating ideas and recognising opportunities

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From idea to opportunity

• An idea is a thought, impression or notion
  ...which may or may not meet the criteria of an
  opportunity
• An opportunity is a favorable set of
  circumstances that create a need for a new
  product, service or business

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Three ways to identify an opportunity

• Observing trends social changes such as
  demographics (eg ageing) or fashions (eg SMS),
  economic forces (eg time poverty), new
  technologies (eg Internet), political changes (eg
  OHS)
• Solving a problem often from personal
  experience (childcare, fitness, package delivery)
• Finding Gaps in the Marketplace (Curves,
  BoostJuice, specialty interests)

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Creativity ..the process of generating a novel or
useful idea

• Preparation background, experience and
  knowledge
• Incubation thinking about the idea consciously
  and unconsciously
• Insight Idea conceived
• Evaluation idea subjected to analysed
• Elaboration the devil is in the detail

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Tools to Assist Creativity

• Brainstorming SCAMPER technique
• One-minute idea generator
• Mind mapping
• Focus groups

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SCAMPER Brainstorming

• S - Substitute - components, materials, people
• C - Combine - mix, combine, integrate
• A - Adapt - alter, change function, use part of
  another element
• M - Modify - change scale or shape, modify
  attributes
• P - Put to another use
• E - Eliminate - remove elements, simplify
• R - Reverse - turn inside out or upside down

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Blocks to Creativity

• Negative Attitudes
• Following rules
• Assumptions
• Excessive stress
• Fear of failure
• Believing you are not creative

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Creative Groups Avoid

• We tried that before
• Thats a stupid idea
• You cant do that
• We dont have time
• Its impossible
• The last thing we need is more ideas
• They will think that we are crazy

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Systematic Analysis of the Future

• Forecasting technologies and markets
• Trend analysis
• Delphi surveys
• Horizon scanning
• Scenario planning
• Technology roadmapping
• Cross-impact analysis
• Simulation/modelling

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Technology foresight/forecast sites

• http//www.gwforecast.gwu.edu
• http//www.acunu.org/index.html
• http//www.jrc.es/home/pages/actions.htm
• http//www.efmn.info/
• http//www.nistep.go.jp/index-e.html
• http//www.chforum.org/
• Trend-spotting
• Faith Popcorn's http//biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061226
  /nytu023.html?.v75
• http//www.trendwatching.com/trendreport/toc/

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ENGG2062 Projects 2008

• Bionix MD Supermarket pathogen sensor
• BioSeal Bioplastic packaging
• Facebook Carbon nanotubes
• Knads Motorcycle helmet communicn
• Kegonomicals Eco-kegs
• Perpetual Realisation Instant reheat lunchbox
• Chargell Self-charging battery
• Sky Blue Rainwater guttering
• Team Blank Double barrel automated shot
  dispenser

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Some Places to Start

• ENGG1001 projects
• Sydnovate technology database -
  http//www.usyd.edu.au/sydnovate/
• ABC New Inventors
• Your own ideas