“Developing Innovations Based on Analogies: Experience from Design and Engineering Consultants”
The use of analogies in the product design process
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[Analogous information transfer can be classified along two axes (1) Conceptual distance between source and target domains (2) Content of communication
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The use of analogies is a common phenomenon in design and engineering consulting firms
- Twelve of the 16 interviewees “frequently use analogies.”
- 3 out of 16 did not use analogy and 1 is rare
- 18 analogies
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Similarity distance is positively associated with solution novelty and negatively associated with project duration
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Distant rather than close analogies facilitate communication within the project team and between the project team and the client company
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With regard to the content of the transfer, a beneficial effect on the project duration occurs especially when the problem solver transfers existing technical solutions or specific functional principles, rather than general knowledge of geometry or design mechanics
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Kalogerakis, Katharina, Christian Lüthje, and Cornelius Herstatt. “Developing innovations based on analogies: experience from design and engineering consultants.” Journal of Product Innovation Management 27.3 (2010): 418-436.
Paper case 1
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