a guide to help you prepare your group project

1. SID 2105 Computer Applications
Group Projects Guide
How to develop and research your projects
Revised March 2019

2. SID 2105 Computer Applications
General Guidelines
• The objective of the group project is to apply the material covered in the
lectures and videos to a real world scenario.
• If you don’t have one, pick a specific company, product or service to narrow
down your focus.
• Divide the tasks amongst the group, for instance some of you can work on
the analysis, others on the presentation.
• Together you’ll need to apply the frameworks from class (more on that to
follow).
• Marks will be allocated by group and individual effort, in case you feel
someone in your team is not contributing their share.
• Consider the audience (me) is already familiar with the topic, so don’t spend
too much time or energy on explaining how the products of services work,
instead focus on the analysis and conclusions.

3. SID 2105 Computer Applications
Procedure Steps
1) Develop a Hypothesis
2) Pick ONE Factor
3) Collect Data (THREE Sources)
4) Analyze using TWO Frameworks
5) Revise Original Hypothesis
6) State a Conclusion

4. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
1) Develop a Hypothesis
• A hypothesis is an educated guess
of results you expect to see in your
analysis
• Hypothesis are neither right nor
wrong, they are merely proven or
disproven.
• Start by evaluating all six factors, it
does not have to be in depth,
discuss amongst your group and
apply a scale from 1 to 5 (1 =
worst, 5 = best)
• You can use a graphic similar to the
one in the right to summarize your
initial guess.

5. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
1) Pick ONE Factor
• Out of the six Factors pick one that you
would like to analyze, it can be either a
positive or negative one
• At this stage you can make some
assumptions, your data will confirm or
disprove your original hypothesis
• In the next sections you will collect data
and apply the frameworks to complete
the analysis. You will then re-visit your
original hypothesis and revise it if
needed.
Negative Factor = 1
“Company X has a serious
problem in terms of user
interface”
Positive Factor = 5
“Company X has a successful
tech strategy that enables it to
surpass its competitors”
Neutral Factor = 3
“Company X has good
automation or AI, but it could
be improved a lot more ”

6. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
3) Collect Data (three sources)

7. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
Collect Data: Qualitative
Research
Questions
• What is a good guitar?
• Who are the users?
• What is their gender?
• Social or economic profile?
• Who is the competition?
• What is a chord instrument?
Research
Sources
Consumer Websites
Company Marketing
Social Media Data
Demographic Data
Interviews
Documentaries
Testimonials
Expert Anecdotes

8. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
Collect Data: Quantitative
Research
Questions
• What is the best material?
• Is there acoustics test data?
• How is sound perceived by humans?
• What are the market trends?
• How many people bought new guitars?
• Is there an industry standard?
• How is quality being measured?
Research
Sources
Academic Journals
Statistical Data
Graphs & Charts
Economic & Sales Reports
Manufacturing Journals
Music Industry Magazines

9. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
4) Apply TWO Frameworks
• You can apply any of the frameworks
discussed on the lectures or videos.
• You need a minimum of TWO but can
use more if you think they are relevant.
• Frameworks are not theories, they are
a lens or maps to help you organize
ideas.
• Without facts and data, frameworks
won’t be of much use, are analysis
tools.
• It`s probably easier to use frameworks
to compare something to something
else, so pick a second company to
compare your pick.
Framework Questions for Designers Questions for Managers
Knowledge Funnel Creativity vs Rationality
Invest in creativity or
standardization
Product Curve Heuristics vs Algorithms Focus on R&D or operations
Innovator’s Dilemma Sustaining or Disrupting Should we innovate or optimize
Drama of Leadership Level of Collaboration Foster conflict or conformity
Strategy Mix Deliberate or Emerging Develop or improvise a plan
Uncanny Valley Intuition
Create something new or copy
from the past
Diffusion Social Referencing
Follow the trends or create new
ones
Machine Learning Human or Machine Control Trust the machine or the human
Intentionality Training or A.I.
Invest automation or increase
employee training

10. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
4) Applying the Frameworks
Diffusion of
Innovation
Uncanny Valley
Innovator
Dilemma

11. SID 2105 Computer Applications
4) Applying the Frameworks
Production Decline
AlgorithmHeuristics MysteryMystery
DesignResearch
Competition
• Deliberate Strategy
• Sustaining Innovation
Martin Guitars
• Emergent Strategy
• Disruptive Innovation

12. SID 2105 Computer Applications
4) Applying the Frameworks
Algorithm
Heuristic
Mystery
Competition
Knowledge
Funnel
Martin Guitars

13. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
5) Revisions & Conclusion
• Your original Hypothesis can stay the
same or change depending on your
research and analysis findings.
• The conclusion you reach at this stage will
be the starting point of your presentation
• Your conclusion can state existing issues
or a set of successful outcomes
• Be clear and concise, write a paragraph
clearly stating your overall conclusion
• You should also state any assumptions or
gaps that are not covered or you did not
consider in your analysis.

14. SID 2105 Computer ApplicationsSID 2105 Computer Applications
Research vs Presentation
Show Data (Evidence)
Explain Analysis
(Frameworks)
Hypothesis
Results
Conclusion
Collect Data (Evidence)
Analysis
(Frameworks)
Re- Evaluate
(Hypothesis)
conclusion
Initial Assumption (Hypothesis)
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