Defining the ProblemBefore engineers begin design work, they have to specify what problem they are solving, who they are solving it for, and how they will know that their solution is successful.
Part I: Determining the Problem Based on your current understanding of the problem and its causes/effects, your team must narrow down WHAT part of the problem they will be working on solving. Your problem may: 1)Prevent a cause of the problem before it occurs 2)Remediate an effect of a problem after it occurs Part II: Systems and Needs After selecting a more focused problem, you will analyze the system(s) that your problem exists within. This analysis should include all of the different components that impact this problem. They could include scientific principles, environmental factors, technological needs, economic factors, etc. You will then move on to determining who the target audience for your solution, and what their needs are in a working solution. Part III: Criteria and Constraints Now that you understand the system, your audience and needs, you must establish what criteria must be meet in order for the solution to be successful. Then, you must list constraints that you must work within to make the solution fit the system. Part IV: Researching the Problem What information do you need to know about current technologies or the problem in order to solve your defined problem? You will write and answer research questions to help you develop the needed background to solve the problem. |
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