group project guide

SID 2105 Computer Applications

Group Projects GuideHow to develop and research your projects


General Guidelines

• The objective of the group project is to apply the material covered in the lectures and videos to a real world scenario.

• If you don’t have one, pick a specific company, product or service to narrow down your research focus.

• Divide the tasks amongst the group, for instance you can assign one framework to each team member and work together to develop a cohesive presentation

• Together you’ll need to analyze the data collected using the frameworks from class (more on that to follow).

• Marks will be allocated by group and individual effort, in case you feel someone in your team is not contributing their share.

• Consider the audience (me) is already familiar with the topic, so don’t spend too much time or energy on explaining how the products of services work, instead focus on the analysis and conclusions.


Procedure Steps

1) Develop a Hypothesis

2) Pick Three Factors

3) Collect Data

4) Apply Frameworks

5) Revise Original Hypothesis

6) State a Conclusion

SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications

1) Develop a Hypothesis

• Start by looking at all six factors and try to map where they fit in the grand picture.

• At this stage you can make some assumptions, your data will confirm or disprove them later on.

• After you complete the analysis, you will revise your hypothesis and develop some new conclusions.

• You can use a graphic similar to the one in the right to summarize your findings and maps


2) Pick Four Factors

• Evaluate all six factors, it does not have to be in depth, discuss amongst your group and agree on basic ideas.

• Out of the six Factors pick one or two that you think are the most successful (positive)

• Out of the six Factors pick one or two that you think are the least effective (negative)

• Your research should ONLY focus and the THREE factors you have chosen.

• Make sure to show how all six factors relate to the analysis, but only go into detail for the three you picked

Negative Factor “Company X has a serious problem in terms of user interface”

Positive Factor “Company X has a successful tech strategy that enables it to surpass its competitors”

Neutral Factor “Company X has good automation or AI, but it could be improved a lot more ”


3) Collect Data


Collect Data: Qualitative Questions

What is a good guitar? Who are the main users?


Collect Data: Qualitative Research

Who are Martin’s key customers?

Why do musician like martin guitars over others?

What Are Martin’s customers looking for in a good guitar?

ResearchQuestions

• What is their age?• What is their gender?• Social or economic profile?

• Who is the competition?• Other chord instruments?• Guitar styles

• User preferences?• Good Interface?• What is good sound?

ResearchSources

Consumer WebsitesCorporate Sites

Social Media DataDemographic Data

InterviewsDocumentaryTestimonials

Expert Anecdotes

Social Media GroupsConsumer Reports Trade MagazinesExpert Reviews


Collect Data: Quantitative Questions

Materials Sound Waves Process


Collect Data: Quantitative Research

How clear or loud are our guitars?

What is their profit Margin?

What is the quality of ourproducts?

Research Questions

• What is the best material?• Is there acoustics testing data?• How is sound perceived by

humans?

• Is the strategy profitable?• What are the market trends?• How many people bought new

guitars?

• Is there an industry standard?• How is quality being measured?• Is martin achieving quality

targets?

Research Sources

Statistical ReportsAcademic JournalsLibrary DatabasesScientific Papers

Economic & Sales ReportsManufacturing Journals

Music Industry Magazines

ISO standards searchLibrary DatabasesStatistical Reports


4) Pick Four Frameworks

• You can apply any of the frameworks discussed on the lectures or videos.

• You need a minimum of three but can use more if you think they are relevant.

• Frameworks are not theories, they are more like a lens or maps to help you organize ideas.

• Without facts and data, frameworks won’t be of much use, they are analysis tools.

• It`s probably easier to use frameworks to compare something to something else, like a set of competitors, an industry or a family of products.

FrameworkQuestions for

DesignersQuestions for Managers

Knowledge Funnel Creativity vs RationalityInvest in creativity or

standardization

Product Curve Heuristics vs Algorithms Focus on R&D or operations

Disruptive

innovationSustaining or Disrupting Should we innovate or optimize

Drama of

LeadershipLevel of Collaboration Foster conflict or conformity

Strategy Safari Deliberate or Emerging Develop or improvise a plan

Uncanny Valley IntuitionCreate something new or copy

from the past

Diffusion Social ReferencingFollow the trends or create new

ones

Machine Learning Human or Machine Control Trust the machine or the human

Intentionality Training or A.I.Improve your A.I or Human

Capital


4) Applying the Frameworks



Production Decline

AlgorithmHeuristics MysteryMystery

DesignResearch

Martin Guitars

Competition



Algorithm

Heuristic

Mystery

Martin Guitars Competition


5) Revisions & Conclusion

• Your original Hypothesis can stay the same or change depending on your research and analysis findings.

• The conclusion you reach at this stage will be the starting point of your presentation

• Your conclusion can state existing issues or a set of successful outcomes

• Be clear and concise, write a paragraph clearly stating your overall conclusion

• You should also state any assumptions or gaps that are not covered or you did not consider in your analysis.


Research vs Presentation

Show Data (Evidence)

Explain Analysis(Frameworks)

ShowHypothesis

Conclusion

Collect Data (Evidence)

Analysis(Frameworks)

Re- Evaluate(Hypothesis)

conclusion

Initial Assumption (Hypothesis)

start

end

start

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group project guide

Education