Title: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PROCESS (DEVELOPING PRODUCT PROTOTYPES)
Course: INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP > Section: LESSON 6 TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PROCESS (DEVELOPING PRODUCT PROTOTYPES)

Congratulations! You have already developed a business canvas model that outlines the key components of what will constitute your great business idea. In this lesson, we will learn about the technical aspects of now developing the actual product that you will sell to your customers to relieve their pains and give them the gains that will result to them wanting to come over and over again for your product. In this lesson, we learn about developing the product prototypes.

6.1 Introduction

Congratulations! You have already developed a business canvas model that outlines the key components of what will constitute your great business idea. In this lesson, we will learn about the technical aspects of now developing the actual product that you will sell to your customers to relieve their pains and give them the gains that will result to them wanting to come over and over again for your product. In this lesson, we learn about developing the product prototypes.

6.2 Learning outcomes

By the end of the lesson, you will be able to;

1.2.1        Define the concepts of technology and innovation process

1.2.2        Discuss the concept of product prototype

1.2.3        Develop a product prototype for a product that you are interested in launching

6.2.1 Technology and innovation process

Technologies are rules and ideas that direct the way goods and services are produced. Technological inventions are new rules and ideas about what to produce and how to do it. Technological innovation results when new rules and ideas find practical use through being applied and or commercialized by entrepreneurs (Naude, W. & Szirmai, A. 2013, European Business Review )

 E-tivity 6.2.1 Technology and innovation process

Numbering, pacing and sequencing | 6.2.1
Title | Technology and innovation process
Purpose | The purpose of this e-tivity is to enable you to understand the concept of technology and innovation
Brief summary of overall task
Listen to the following video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVgXFgnzNOk on innovation management by Audiopedia to understand how businesses manage their innovations

Read the following book from the link provided

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/6418

part I and II by Alfred Watkins and Michael Efst on Science, Technology and innovation ( capacity building  for sustainable growth and poverty reduction)

a)      Define what you understand by technology and innovation process

b)      What are some of the business opportunities can African countries exploit through the use of technology and innovation

c)      What benefits do businesses accrue from innovation management

d)     How can innovation process be pushed or pulled in a market as a way of solving customers’ problems

e)      Provide a summary of the video clip by Audiopedia
Spark |
Individual task
a)        Click on the link provided

b)        Download the book

c)        Listen to the video

d)       Read the book sections

e)        Provide a summary of the video clip in a paragraph of not more than 150 words.

f)         Give your answers in discussion forum 6.2.1
Interaction begins
1. Post your answer in the discussion forum 6.2.1
2. Read posted work from 2 colleagues
3. Post at least one comment on their work and give constructive criticism
E-moderator interventions
1. Summarize the threads
2. Give feedback
3. Provide teaching points
4. Close the E-tivity
Schedule and time | This task will take two hours
Next | Product Prototype

6.2.1 Concept of Product prototype

Now that we have understood why it is important for businesses to adopt innovative practices and use technology to develop products that solve customers’ needs, in this lesson, we learn about the concept of prototypes and how they are used to get feedback from the customers about the functionality and usability of the product before the final product is developed. A prototype is used to help get a product from an idea to the final stages, it is the draft version of the product that is used to get feedback from the customers on the functionality and usability of the final product once it is launched in the market.   Hence in this lesson, we will understand the concept of a product prototype and the different examples of prototypes that are used in the market.

E-tivity 6.2.2 Concept of Product prototypes

Numbering, pacing and sequencing | 6.2.2
Title | Concept of Product prototypes
Purpose | The purpose of this e-tivity is to enable you to understand the concept of product prototypes
Brief summary of overall task
Listen to the following video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r7yP3BgHt0

on product prototypes by Wisc-Online to understand the concept of a product prototype

1. Define what you understand by a product prototype
2. What are the benefits of developing a product prototypes
3. Provide examples of product prototypes that entrepreneurial designers can develop
4. Provide a summary/ short notes from the video clip
Spark |
Individual task
1. Click on the link provided
2. Listen to the video
3. Provide a summary of the video clip
4. Give your answers and summarized notes in discussion forum 6.2.2
Interaction begins
1. Post your answer in the discussion forum 6.2.2
2. Read posted work from 2 colleagues
3. Post at least one comment on their work and give constructive criticism
E-moderator interventions
1. Summarize the threads
2. Give feedback
3. Provide teaching points
4. Close the E-tivity
Schedule and time | This task will take two hours
Next | Developing a Product Prototype

6.2.3 Developing a product prototype

A prototype as we discussed in the previous lessons is a physical representation of the idea, invention, or product.  The challenging and rewarding stage for an entrepreneur is developing the once imagined product into a three dimension sketched item that finally is translated into an actual product that can be patented and is profitable. There are usually four steps into getting your first prototype so that you can turn your idea into a patented, profitable product. The first step towards turning your idea into reality is to provide a sketch the product on paper, once you have developed one on paper, develop a virtual prototype using the various applications that are available on the web, then build a physical wireframe of the actual prototype and then locate a manufacturer who can develop the actual product for you.

E-tivity 6.2.3 Developing a product prototype

Numbering, pacing and sequencing | 6.2.3
Title | Creating an actual Product prototypes
Purpose | The purpose of this e-tivity is to enable you to develop their first product prototype
Brief summary of overall task
Listen to the following video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwpqOx2q5Ko

on how you can develop your first prototype by Invention therapy

Listen to the following video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox_hLQ2_5DA

by Sofeast on how to have a manufacturing partner to develop your first prototype into a profitable patented product.

1. In bullet points, outline the stages that will be involved when manufacturing your first prototype.
2. What factors must you keep into consideration when choosing your manufacturing partner?
3. What considerations must be kept in mind in the entire manufacturing process?
4. Draw a sketch of the first product prototype to use in translating your idea into a profitable product
5. Using the 3D modelling software shown in the video clip build an actual working prototype of a product of your choice.
Spark |
Individual task
1. Click on the link provided
2. Listen to the video
3. Provide a drawn sketch of your first draft of product prototype
4. Provide a virtual 3D model of your product prototype
5. Scan the sketch and share in the discussion forum 6.2.3
Interaction begins
1. Post your drawn and virtual sketch of your first prototype in the discussion forum 6.2.3
2. Review your colleagues sketch and provide feedback
3. Post at least one comment on their work and give constructive criticism
E-moderator interventions
1. Summarize the threads and review the sketches
2. Give feedback
3. Provide teaching points
4. Close the E-tivity
Schedule and time | This task will take a minimum of 2 hours
Next | Lesson 7: Intellectual Property Rights ( protecting your business idea and prototype)

Cluster

Cluster

Question 1

Innovation is defined as

- The commercialization of a new product/service
- Invention of a new product or process
- A new product or process idea
- Implementation of a new production method

Question 2

Innovation can help to provide a temporary competitive advantage when

- Barriers to entry are high
- Barriers to imitation are low and intellectual property rights difficult to enforce
- There are few competitors
- Barriers to entry are low

Question 3

What is the importance of developing a product prototype

- To sell the product to the end user
- To get feedback on what needs to be improved in the product
- To show the design of the final product
- To know how much it cost to develop the actual product

Question 4

The first step for developing a prototypes is creating a sketch of the prototype:

- True
Feedback: You are Correct
- False
Feedback: You are wrong

End of cluster

End of Quiz

References

1            Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Development. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/technological-innovation-entrepreneurship-and-development/

2            Audiopedia, T. (2017, January 24). What is INNOVATION MANAGEMENT? What does INNOVATION MANAGEMENT mean? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVgXFgnzNOk

3            W., A., & M. (1970, January 01). Science, Technology, and Innovation: Capacity Building for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/6418

4            W. (2016, February 29). User Experience Design: Prototypes. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r7yP3BgHt0

5            Therapy, I. (2017, January 31). How to Design and Build a Prototype Of Your Invention Product Idea In Your Workshop - Part 1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwpqOx2q5Ko

6            S. (2016, August 06). 5 Steps for Producing a Customized Product in China. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox_hLQ2_5DA