Drill Down Technique - Problem Solving Skills from MindTools.com Breaking Problems Down Into Manageable Parts © iStockphoto/lurii Drill Down is a simple technique for breaking complex problems down into progressively smaller parts. To use the technique, start by writing the problem down on the left-hand side of a large sheet of paper. Next, write down the points that make up the next level of detail on the problem a little to the right of this. These may be factors contributing to the problem, information relating to it, or questions raised by it. For each of these points, repeat the process. Drilling into a question helps you... ... for the complete article: Mind Tools Club members, click here. Join the Mind Tools Club to finish this article AND get 1,000 more resources Join now for just $1, first month "When I started using Mind Tools, I was not in a supervisory position. Join the Mind Tools Club Now and Get Our People Skills Workbook FREE Access training, help and ideas to boost your career. Find out more
Technology News Tools, Benefits of Financial Benchmarking Edward PollLaw Technology NewsApril 15, 2009 The concept of benchmarking -- setting up statistical guidelines to identify best management practices -- can be a tremendous benefit to law firms. Appropriate statistical benchmarks can help you explore operating strengths and deficiencies, and help you understand where you are currently, relative to your goals. There are two parts to the process: understanding what to measure and using the right tools to measure. Profitability: In simple terms, profit can be determined by taking the total annual gross revenue by client and subtracting the costs associated with serving that client, including how long the firm has to wait for the payments. The key to any firm's profitability is integrating how many hours you bill with how much money you collect. The turnover ratio tells a lawyer to expect payment for billings X number of days after a client receives a statement.
Design and Research January 2003 (This article is derived from a keynote talk at the fall 2002 meeting of NEPLS.) Visitors to this country are often surprised to find that Americans like to begin a conversation by asking "what do you do?" I've never liked this question. I don't consider myself to be doing research on programming languages. The difference between design and research seems to be a question of new versus good. What I'm going to talk about today is what your target looks like from the back. The biggest difference is that you focus more on the user. Notice I said "what they need," not "what they want." The customer is always right in the sense that the measure of good design is how well it works for the user. And yet, making what works for the user doesn't mean simply making what the user tells you to. The answer to the paradox, I think, is that you have to design for the user, but you have to design what the user needs, not simply what he says he wants. You can do this in software too. Related:
Digital Mailing System - Postage Meters - DM100 | Pitney Bowes Professional, automated mail handling with the keeps your small business running smoothly and efficiently. Save time with the OfficeRight™ DF100 letter folder from Pitney Bowes. No more manual folding - just guide your letters and documents into the feeder and they come out folded perfectly and crisply every time! How does the DM100® Digital Mailing System save me money? How do I pay for postage? You can pay for your initial postage deposit by credit card. How do I add postage to the DM100® Digital Mailing System? Connect to the Pitney Bowes Data Center 24/7 either through an analog phone line or through a pc’s internet connection to download postage directly to your meter. What is the charge for adding postage to the DM100® Digital Mailing System? Your offer includes 2 free Reset Fees. Does postage cost the same as at the Post Office? Postage costs the same or less than at the Post Office. Can I buy the DM100® Digital Mailing System instead of renting? No. Yes.
What is Problem Solving? - Problem Solving Skills from MindTools.com © iStockphoto/PerlAlexander Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. – Henry Kaiser (American industrialist) Having good strong problem solving skills can make a huge difference to your career. Problems are at the center of what many people do at work every day. A fundamental part of every manager's role is finding ways to solve them. There are four basic steps in solving a problem: Defining the problem. Steps 2 to 4 of this process are covered in depth in other areas of Mind Tools. The articles in this section of Mind Tools therefore focus on helping you make a success of the first of these steps – defining the problem. Defining the Problem The key to a good problem definition is ensuring that you deal with the real problem – not its symptoms. Tools like 5 Whys , Appreciation and Root Cause Analysis help you ask the right questions, and work through the layers of a problem to uncover what's really going on. Understanding Complexity Problem-Solving Processes Key Points
Engineers Text Book - Market Push, Tech Pull Market pull Market pull refers to the development of new designs based on a need for either a completely new product to meet some demand or an improved product to address customer dissatisfaction with existing products. In the automotive market. for example. customers are always looking for better fuel economy. greater comfort and improved safety; as a result. manufacturers tend to focus on these areas. The identification of these needs may be through informal customer feedback. such as sales agents chatting with customers, or more formal market research. Customer feedback and market research can be used to identify areas of the market where a new product with the correct characteristics could make an impact. Market pull does, however, have its limitations.
Engineers Text Book - Engineering and Design Briefs The designer's first task is to explore the design brief provided by the client. In some cases it may give a very clear picture of the requirements, but in others it will be necessary to help clients develop a full understanding of their needs. Briefs should not be regarded as tablets of stone; they may alter as designers begin their research and communicate their findings. A concept which many designers find helpful in analysing a design brief is that of primary and secondary functions. It is sometimes possible to draw up a list of functions that the product must fulfil, and others that would enhance its value but are not essential and could be sacrificed. When the PDS is written this analysis would be reflected in the weighting or priority given to a particular aspect throughout the design process. Information is the life blood of the design process and never more so than at the beginning. Bottle disposal and recycling Portable drawing equipment. Primary functions: Secondary functions:
Design Methods Step 1: Discover This four-part guide is for anyone who wants to understand the methods designers use and try them out for themselves. We’ve grouped 25 design methods into four steps – Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver – based on the stages of the Double Diamond, the Design Council’s simple way of mapping the design process. From rapid prototyping to personas and surveys, methods like these are used all the time in our work with partners. Use the methods below to keep your perspectives wide, allowing for a broad range of ideas and influences. Creating a project space What is it? Creating a dedicated area to organise project materials, work and meet. What is it useful for? Creating a project space can help you make sense of large amounts of information, keep it organised, give your project visibility and communicate the story of your project to others. How can I do it? Find – or make – a dedicated project zone. Hold all your meetings and creative sessions in this space so you are surrounded by stimuli.
Design Process Index Page If you are to get a high grade you must put effort into this section. Remember, all research must be relevant to your project and constantly refer to the problem you are trying to solve. Produce at least one sheet on each of the following: Suitable materials for your project. Investigate the ways in which materials can be joined together - joints and fixings. The ergonomic factors that apply to your project. Safety factors related to your design problem. Write letters to manufacturers / shops. Research using the library. Research using the Internet / CD-ROMs/DVDs. Interview people with the aim of helping you to solve the design problem (record the interview). Carry out a survey / questionnaire and present the results as a pictogram/table of results Product Review - select an existing product and determine how it could be improved. Collect pictures of existing products - photographs/catalogue pictures. How are existing products manufactured?