Concept Validation Model
A Concept Validation Model is an early-stage development tool used to test, evaluate, and refine a proposed idea, product, or solution before significant resources are committed to full-scale development or implementation.
- Context:
- It can (typically) provide Concept Evidence to Stakeholders, informing Decision-Making about further Development, modification, or abandonment of the Idea.
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- It can range from being a Low-Fidelity Concept Validation Model to being a High-Fidelity Concept Validation Model.
- It can range from being a Simple Concept Validation Model to being a Complex Concept Validation Model.
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- It can involve Market Analysis and Competitive Analysis to identify target user needs, market gaps, and assess competitor product directions.
- It can incorporate User Feedback and Real-World Testing to improve the final Product or Solution.
- It can facilitate Resource Allocation by focusing on validated concepts.
- It can support Product Development, by bridging between initial ideation phase and full implementation phase.
- It can identify Potential Issues (early in the development process).
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- Example(s):
- Field-Specific Concept Validation Models, such as:
- Software Development Concept Validation Models, to support software development processes (tests the feasibility and usability of new application features before full-scale development).
- Engineering Concept Validation Models, to support engineering design processes (simulates structural designs for safety and performance evaluation before physical prototyping).
- Business Innovation Concept Validation Models, to support business strategy development (assesses the market potential and business viability of new product ideas).
- Scientific Research Concept Validation Models, to support research methodology (tests initial hypotheses through controlled experiments or simulations to validate research directions).
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- Proof of Concept (PoC)s, to support early-stage innovation (demonstrates the feasibility of core ideas or technologies with minimal investment).
- Prototypes, to support product development (represents key features and functionalities, allowing for early testing and refinement).
- Minimum Viable Product (MVP)s, to support lean startup methodology (provides just enough features to satisfy early users and gather feedback for future iterations).
- Feasibility Studys, to support project planning (assesses the practicality, constraints, and potential impact of a proposed project).
- Mockups, to support user interface design (provides a visual representation of the concept for early user feedback).
- Pilot Projects, to support scalability testing (evaluates a proposed solution's effectiveness in a real-world context with a controlled, small-scale implementation).
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- Field-Specific Concept Validation Models, such as:
- Counter-Example(s):
- Final Products: A fully developed and market-ready version that has already passed through the validation stages.
- Theoretical Models: A conceptual representation that hasn’t been tested or validated in practical scenarios.
- Market Research: While it gathers information on user needs, it doesn’t involve testing or refining a specific concept.
- See: Product Development Lifecycle, Design Thinking, Agile Methodology, Lean Startup, Innovation Management.