Emotional ‘design for X’ : a human and life phase systems meetings consequence knowledge approach

Abstract

Throughout the various phases of its life, an evolving product meets with life phase system elements that include technical systems (e.g. fabrication machines) and human individuals (e.g. customers and factory operators). The design commitments made in relation to both the product and life phase system elements are associated with consequences that emerge from life phase system meetings. Knowledge of these consequences is of relevance to decision makers because of their impact on business metrics such as cost and time. An empirical study was carried out to address the lack of evidence on the relation between design commitments, human factory operators’ emotions and business metrics. Throughout the study, each subject was required to perform two manual assembly tasks. The emotions experienced by each subject were captured via of a questionnaire that was administered by the author. A statistical analysis established that the emotions experienced by human subjects during manual assembly, mediate the impact of design commitments on metrics such as cost and time. Furthermore the literature review established that product development decision makers lack adequate means to foresee emotional consequences and to handle the impact on business metrics. This is because design support means, such as design for manufacturing (DfM), have been intended to help designers foresee direct (D) physical consequences that emerge from life phase system meetings. Whereas design for emotion (DfE) support means focus exclusively on the emotions that customers experience when meeting with a developed product. By focusing on a single life phase, this dissertation implements and evaluates the ‘Human and Life Phase Systems Meetings’ (HLSM) consequence knowledge approach framework to emotional Design for X (eDfX). At the core of the HLSM approach framework is the knowledge model which draws inferences about direct (D) and emotional (E) consequences associated with design commitments. This knowledge guides decision makers in exploring alternative design commitments to mitigate direct (D) and emotional (E) consequences having undesirable effects on metrics such as cost and time. The HLSM approach framework has been implemented into a prototype computer-based tool named ‘Foresight of Emotional and Direct Effects’ (FEDE). The HLSM was evaluated by product development stakeholders from both industry and academia. The main contribution of this research is the HLSM approach which supports decision makers by providing knowledge of emotional consequences and their effects on business metrics. The evaluation results show that knowledge of emotional consequences and the effect on business metrics is novel and provides new decision-making opportunities.