The quantification of workarounds and ways to utilize these ramifications

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Author(s)
Hollman, Wayne Jacob Mario
Advisor(s)
Maria C. Yang.
Date Issued
2011
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
User innovation is steadily becoming an irreplaceable factor in product development. Thus it is necessary to find ways to measure these workarounds and ways to utilize these figures. I selected three (3) particular styles of workarounds to quantify and discuss. With makeshift window workarounds, I found that user workarounds in automobiles cost 84.9 times and households cost 67.9 less in magnitude compared to full repairs. Table adjustments workarounds were found to be many times greater than then replacing the table and the gap became greater with the increase in table price. Lastly examining medical instrument workarounds, I discovered that many these innovations can create profitable, niche markets. By using workarounds in general, producers can manufacture consumer desired products that generate revenue. In the future, I hypothesize that companies will lower their research and development funding in place of observing potentially, profitable workarounds.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-40).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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