As a way of out-performing existing competitors, a leading Australian garden maintenance equipment manufacturer is interested in having a deeper understanding of customer needs that will lead to multiple product concepts with greater potential for market success. The most effective way is to: a. study the past sales peoples' field records b. undertake a customer needs analysis in relation to the range of lawn mowers, blowers and whipper-snippers currently marketed by the firm c. conduct interviews with customers to determine what problems they are having in relation to garden maintenance d. testing several new-to-the-world type product concepts that have been developed by the company's R&D staff who have extensive knowledge about garden maintenance product development

The pre-concept testing filers that are undertaken prior to formal concept testing are: a. Sorting concepts in order of merit b. Screening of opportunities at the opportunity identification stage c. Initial reaction and product innovation charter d. Customer interviews and product innovation charter