4(a) Consider the following FIVE consumer products: (1) Swiss army knife, (2) Rollerblade in-line skates, (3) Automobile car seat with back rest, head support, and built-in audio speakers, (4) Automobiles, and (5) Smart phone. Identify the FIVE products' architecture based on primarily modular, integral, or mixed product architecture. State the advantages and disadvantages of your recommended architecture. (5 marks) (b) You are the owner of an electronic company that is deciding to invest in the development and launch of new washing machines for various markets. (i) Define current markets based on the product user groups using market segmentation grid and identify THREE possible market opportunities. Assume that you know the competing products in the market. (5 marks) (ii) Based on the identified new markets, suggest a product development strategy for the new washing machines. State the reasons why you would recommend this strategy (5 marks) (iii) Describe the limitations of your product development strategy in terms of commonality and performance issues. (5 marks) (c) The service and software industries seem to have a very flexible new product development process, enabling changes to be made to the product at any time. Discuss whether this approach could be applicable for a car production line or mobile phone handset products. State clearly the reasons for your answers. (5 marks) 4(a) Consider the following FIVE consumer products: (1) Swiss army knife, (2) Rollerblade in-line skates, (3) Automobile car seat with back rest, head support, and built-in audio speakers, (4) Automobiles, and (5) Smart phone. Identify the FIVE products' architecture based on primarily modular, integral, or mixed product architecture. State the advantages and disadvantages of your recommended architecture. (5 marks) (b) You are the owner of an electronic company that is deciding to invest in the development and launch of new washing machines for various markets. (i) Define current markets based on the product user groups using market segmentation grid and identify THREE possible market opportunities. Assume that you know the competing products in the market. (5 marks) (ii) Based on the identified new markets, suggest a product development strategy for the new washing machines. State the reasons why you would recommend this strategy (5 marks) (iii) Describe the limitations of your product development strategy in terms of commonality and performance issues. (5 marks) (c) The service and software industries seem to have a very flexible new product development process, enabling changes to be made to the product at any time. Discuss whether this approach could be applicable for a car production line or mobile phone handset products. State clearly the reasons for your answers
