These definitions outline a series of steps and interactions that occur within the context of problem-solving or opportunity identification, particularly in the development of a concept or solution. Here is a breakdown of each step:
1) Stakeholders identify problem/opportunity: The individuals or groups involved in a project or initiative recognize a problem that needs to be solved or an opportunity that can be pursued.
Example#1: An aviation company identifies the opportunity for an advanced aircraft communication system that can improve real-time data transmission between the aircraft and ground control, enhancing situational awareness and reducing response time in emergencies.
Example#2: Stakeholders in the aviation industry identify the problem of increased fuel consumption and emissions in commercial aircraft, leading to environmental concerns and rising operational costs.
2) Stakeholders express expectations: Stakeholders communicate their desired outcomes, objectives, or results related to the identified problem or opportunity.
Example#1: The aviation company expresses its expectation that the new communication system should have high reliability, and low latency, and support various data formats for seamless integration with existing avionic systems.
Example#2: Stakeholders express their expectations for the development of an avionic system that can significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining or improving aircraft performance and operational efficiency.
3) Expectations iterate expectations: Stakeholders may revise or update their expectations based on evolving understanding or changing circumstances.
Example#1: As the stakeholders evaluate the progress of the concept maturation, they provide feedback and refine their expectations to ensure that the system meets their evolving requirements and performance criteria.
Example#2: As the concept maturation progresses, stakeholders become aware of new technological advancements and industry best practices. They revise their expectations, now aiming for a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and a 20% reduction in emissions, driven by the realization of the potential for further optimization.
4) Problem/opportunity addressed by needs, goals, and objectives: The defined needs, goals, and objectives serve as a framework or guide to tackle the identified problem or opportunity.
Example#1: (TBD)
Example#2: The problem of increased fuel consumption and emissions in commercial aircraft is addressed by developing an avionic system that aligns with the defined needs, goals, and objectives. The system aims to optimize aircraft operations, leading to reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
5) Stakeholders define needs, goals, and objectives: Stakeholders articulate specific requirements, targets, or objectives that need to be met to address the problem or seize the opportunity effectively.
Example#1: The stakeholders define their needs, goals, and objectives, which include enhancing flight safety, optimizing aircraft operations, and complying with regulatory requirements for data communication.
Example#2: Stakeholders define the need for an avionic system that integrates advanced data analytics, optimization algorithms, and engine control features to reduce fuel consumption by at least 20%, lower emissions by 15%, and enhance overall flight efficiency.
Concept Maturation
6) Expectations drive concept maturation: Stakeholders' expectations continue to guide and influence the refinement and development of the concept.
Example#1: Stakeholders' expectations for a reliable and high-performance communication system drive the design and development decisions during the concept maturation process.
Example#2: Stakeholders' expectations for significant fuel savings and emissions reduction drive the iterative development and maturation of the avionic system concept. The concept evolves to meet and exceed these expectations, continuously striving for higher efficiency and environmental sustainability.
7) Needs, goals, objectives iterate needs, goals, objectives: Similar to the refinement of expectations, as the concept matures, there may be a need for stakeholders to revisit and refine the initial needs, goals, and objectives based on new insights or information gained during the concept development phase.
Example#1: As the stakeholders review the prototype, they identify additional needs, refine their goals, and set new objectives based on their evolving understanding of the system's capabilities and potential.
Example#2: During the concept maturation process, stakeholders realize that achieving a 20% reduction in fuel consumption is ambitious but technically feasible with emerging technologies. They iterate the needs, goals, and objectives, revising the target fuel consumption reduction to 15% to ensure a more realistic and achievable goal.
8) Needs, goals, and objectives realized by concept maturation: Through a process of concept development and refinement, the needs, goals, and objectives are translated into tangible ideas, designs, or concepts that can potentially address the problem or opportunity.
Example#1: Through the concept maturation process, the stakeholders develop a prototype of the advanced aircraft communication system that addresses the identified needs, achieves the defined goals, and fulfills the established objectives.
Example#2: Through the process of concept maturation, the avionic system undergoes iterative refinement and development, incorporating advanced fuel management algorithms, real-time performance monitoring, and enhanced flight planning capabilities to realize the defined needs, goals, and objectives.
9) Higher-level requirements constrain concept maturation: The development of the concept must adhere to broader requirements or constraints that are imposed by higher-level policies, regulations, or guidelines.
Example#1: Regulatory requirements, such as those set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), impose constraints on the concept maturation process, necessitating compliance with safety standards and communication protocols.
Example#2: Higher-level requirements, such as aviation safety regulations and industry standards, act as constraints during the concept maturation. The avionic system concept must comply with these requirements to ensure safe and reliable aircraft operations.
10) Regulations constrain concept maturation: Specific regulations or legal requirements must be taken into account during the concept development process to ensure compliance.
Example#1: The concept maturation process must adhere to avionic industry regulations, such as DO-178C for software development and DO-254 for hardware development, ensuring compliance with safety-critical standards.
Example#2: Regulatory frameworks governing aircraft emissions and environmental impact impose constraints on the development and certification of the avionic system. The concept must align with these regulations to meet the environmental and regulatory compliance standards.
11) Standards constrain concept maturation: Relevant industry standards or established best practices impose limitations or criteria that must be met during the concept development phase.
Example#1: The avionic system project must adhere to industry standards, such as ARINC 429 for data communication and ARINC 653 for partitioned operating systems, to ensure compatibility and interoperability with other aircraft systems.
Example#2: Industry standards for Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) developed by ICAO / CORSIA, impose constraints on the design and development of the avionic system. Compliance with these standards ensures interoperability and compatibility with other aircraft systems.
12) Existing systems constrain concept maturation: The concept's feasibility and integration may be influenced by the limitations or compatibility requirements of existing systems or infrastructure.
Example#1: The new communication system needs to integrate with existing avionic systems, such as flight management systems and navigation systems, which imposes constraints on the concept maturation process to ensure seamless interaction and data exchange.
Example#2: The avionic system concept must consider the integration and compatibility requirements with existing aircraft systems, such as the engine control unit, flight management system, and avionics suite. The concept should seamlessly interface with these systems to achieve optimal efficiency.
13) Cost constraints concept maturation: The development and realization of the concept must consider financial constraints, ensuring that the resulting solution remains within the available budget.
Example#1: The project's budget sets a constraint on the concept maturation process, requiring the stakeholders to find cost-effective solutions and make trade-offs to develop the communication system within the allocated financial resources.
Example#2: The concept maturation process considers cost constraints, including the procurement, installation, and maintenance costs of the avionic system. The development aims to strike a balance between the cost-effectiveness of the system and its fuel-saving and emissions-reduction capabilities.
14) Schedule constraints concept maturation: Time constraints and deadlines affect the concept development process, requiring efficient planning and execution to meet the desired timeframe.
Example#1: The avionic system project has a strict timeline, driven by aircraft production and delivery schedules. The concept maturation process must align with milestones to ensure timely integration and installation on the aircraft.
Example#2: The avionic system's concept maturation aligns with the overall project schedule, considering the time required for development, integration, testing, and certification. The concept evolves within the project schedule, ensuring timely implementation and integration of the avionic system into commercial aircraft.
15) Technology constraints concept maturation: The available technology or technical capabilities can both enable and limit the options and possibilities for concept development.
Example#1: The available technology and avionic infrastructure impact the concept maturation process, requiring the stakeholders to consider the capabilities and limitations of the aircraft's hardware and software architecture when developing the communication system.
Example#2: The avionic system concept takes into account the available technologies and their compatibility with the aircraft platform. The concept leverages advanced data analytics, optimization algorithms, and engine control technologies to achieve the desired fuel savings and emissions reduction goals.
16) Staff competency constrains concept maturation: The skills, expertise, and knowledge of the personnel involved in the concept development phase may influence the approach, complexity, or feasibility of the solution.
Example#1: The expertise and skills of the avionic engineering team play a crucial role in determining the scope and complexity of the communication system during the concept maturation process. Staff competency in avionics, software development, and system integration influences design decisions.
Example#2: The expertise and competency of the development team influence the concept maturation process. Skilled personnel with knowledge of avionics, data analytics, and optimization algorithms are crucial for the successful development and implementation of the avionic system.
17) Risks defined by concept maturation: The evolving concept provides valuable insights and information about potential risks, enabling stakeholders to refine risk mitigation strategies.
Example#1: Through the concept maturation process, the stakeholders gain a better understanding of the risks associated with the communication system. They conduct risk assessments, analyze failure modes, and update their risk management strategies based on the information and insights gained during concept maturation.
Example#2: As the avionic system concept matures, a deeper understanding of potential risks emerges. This knowledge informs the identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks throughout the development process, ensuring that risks are proactively addressed to minimize their impact.
18) Risks mitigated by concept maturation: The concept development process aims to identify and address potential risks or uncertainties associated with the proposed solution, reducing their potential impact.
Example#1: The stakeholders identify potential risks, such as data loss or system failure, during the concept maturation process. They implement redundancy measures, data integrity checks, and fault-tolerant mechanisms in the communication system to mitigate these risks and ensure safe and reliable operations.
Example#2:The concept maturation process identifies and mitigates potential risks associated with the development and integration of the avionic system. Risks such as technical feasibility, performance limitations, or regulatory compliance issues are addressed through iterative refinements and risk mitigation strategies.
19) Concept maturation iterates concept maturation: The concept development process itself may involve iterations, refinements, or revisions as new information or feedback becomes available, leading to an improved concept.
Example#1: The concept maturation process is iterative, with multiple design iterations and prototypes. Each iteration incorporates feedback, lessons learned, and performance evaluations to refine the communication system's architecture, functionality, and performance.
Example#2: The concept maturation process itself undergoes iterations and refinements. Each iteration builds upon the previous one, incorporating new insights, feedback, and improvements to further enhance the avionic system concept's fuel-saving and emissions-reduction capabilities.
20) Concept maturation transformed into stakeholder needs: The matured concept serves as a basis for defining and refining the stakeholders' needs, which can inform subsequent stages of the project or initiative.
Example#1: The results of the concept maturation process, including the refined communication system design, performance evaluations, and risk analysis, are transformed into stakeholder needs. These needs capture the system's capabilities, safety requirements, performance criteria, and compliance obligations.
Example#2: The outcomes of concept maturation, including the refined avionic system concept, inform and shape stakeholder needs. The maturation process helps align the concept with stakeholder expectations, resulting in a more precise definition of the requirements and needs of the avionic system.
21) Stakeholder needs to be transformed into requirement statements: The refined stakeholder needs are translated into clear and specific requirement statements, forming a foundation for the subsequent design, development, or implementation of the solution.
Example#1:The stakeholder needs, such as real-time data transmission, fault detection and recovery, and compliance with avionic standards, are translated into detailed requirement statements. These statements define the specific functionalities, performance metrics, and technical specifications that guide the development team in implementing the communication system's requirements.
Example#2: The stakeholder needs to be identified through concept maturation are translated into requirement statements that provide detailed specifications for the avionic system. These requirement statements guide the subsequent development, design, and implementation phases, ensuring that the avionic system meets the desired stakeholder expectations for fuel savings and emissions reduction.
These definitions depict a continuous and iterative process in which stakeholders identify a problem or opportunity, express their expectations, define needs, goals, and objectives, and then work through a series of steps to address and refine the concept that will ultimately meet those needs. Throughout this process, various factors and constraints, such as regulations, standards, cost, technology, and risks, influence and shape the maturation of the concept. It's important to note that these definitions provide a high-level overview of the relationships and interactions involved in the concept development process. The specific details and sequence of these steps may vary depending on the context, industry, or project at hand. However, they serve as a general framework for understanding how stakeholders' inputs, expectations, and constraints guide the development and refinement of a concept or solution.