ANBUMATHI.

Masters of Business Administration - Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Development

1st Year

School Of Management, VelTech University, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

PROTOTYPE
MANAGEMENT

Email Id: Vtp3224@veltech.edu.in

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. 3

Literature Review ……………………………………………………………………… 4

Problem statement ……………………………………………………………………... 4

Objectives ……………………………………………………………………………… 5

Research Method Overview …………………………………………………………… 5

 Sample Size  Proposed Chapter Outline

 Method of Data Collection  Research Project Timeframe
 Data Analysis Strategy

Prototype Management ………………………………………………………………… 6

 Common Prototyping Tools  Prototyping Phases: Seven Stages

 Types of Prototypes  Prototyping Processes

Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………11

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INTRODUCTION:
Before creating a new product, any individual or business begin by empathizing with the
problem, defining the problem, and ideation to generate multiple ideas. Conversion of an idea
into a working and market potential product, individual/ business creates a prototype and
minimum viable product to examine its value and whether it addresses the customer needs.
This paper is about understanding the various phases and types of prototypes which helps you
decide which one to choose for presenting your idea for testing the features or components of
the design.
Prototyping is an important process for developing a new product through a visual and
physical representation of an idea. The prototype also offers a way to solve problems and try
out new designs to solve the problems and iterate the process before moving to the stage of
the finished final product.

Prototype management is a concept of getting early feedback for the abstract idea extracted
from empathize stage and define stage. It is done by proving the high-resolution working
model of the abstract idea before developing a minimum viable product. The developed proof
of concept and prototypes to identify the technology required for the product and iterates the
attributes of design with user feedback before developing the minimum viable product.
Prototype management is important to complete the design phase of the product development
from an abstract idea. Prototype compasses seven stages in diverging and converging phases
to ensure the structured innovation process.

Prototype makes the current abstract idea visible and tangible. In certain product
development cases, it’s not necessary for a prototype to be close to the final product,
Prototype can be a quick and inexpensive simple model for visualizing the idea, which is
called low-fidelity prototyping, which is a low-resolution model, which doesn’t have a lot of
details of the project. The prototype which is developed with the functions closer to the final
finished product is a high-fidelity prototype, developed with high-resolution components with
which users can interact.

The value proposition canvas is evaluated at the prototype stage to validate the customer
desirability, technology feasibility, and market viability. The prototype used to perform the
value proposition canvas is tangible and concrete to ensure the value. Prototype defines the
value proposition canvas to understand the customer requirement and come up with a perfect
result.

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LITERATURE REVIEW:

10-Mar- Study on Parametric Influence on Integrity of Rapid Researcher-

2016 Prototypes by fused deposition Modelling. Arumaikkannu.
http://hdl.handle.net/10603/74994 G

13-Nov- A Fuzzy Prototype Model Evaluate Maintenance Researcher–

2017 Features of Aspects Oriented System. Roby Jose
https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/handle/10603/180600

4-Aug- Some Studies on Mechanical Behavior for product Researcher–

2021 Developed by Rapid Prototyping. Tanveer,
http://hdl.handle.net/10603/334745 Mohamed Qumar

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Often, due to a sense of urgency to disrupt the market, Start-up skips building a
prototype of the new solution. Such start-us fall into the trap, as they missed to take
feedback from their customer about the new solution, they have developed. So they have a
lack of knowledge of the customer’s pain point, needs, and aspirations and unknowing
barriers in their innovation. Which can lead to start-ups falling down in the market. 

I propose it’s essential for any start-up to go through the empathizing stage, defining stage,
ideation stage, prototype stage, and testing stage before developing the minimum viable
product in the conversion of an abstract idea into a tangible idea.

OBJECTIVE:
Prototyping Management is essential, it lowers the cost of product development by finding
the perfect technology, methodology, process, components, and final design to develop the
end product.
The goal is to 

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  Provide a proof of concept that demonstrates functionality to address customers or
clients.
 Represent the physical and visual form of the design
 Test the function of features in the product
 Testing out different materials and choosing the perfect material to ensure the stability
of the product. Material science is important, a product’s success mainly depends on
the materials with which the product is made of.
 Determine how the product will be manufactured which involves fabrication,
assembly, testing, packaging, etc.

RESEARCH METHOD OVERVIEW:

 Sample Size - 10 Start-ups

 Sample Frame – Starts up incubated VelTech Technology Business Incubator
 Method of Data Collection - Quantitative Analysis - In-depth Interview
 Data Analysis Strategy - Analysing the in-depth interviews with the start-ups of
VelTech TBI involves reviewing the data collected during the interview and the data
are organized to track the findings. I have a written record, and notes taken during the
interview.
 Research Project Timeframe: 10 days
An in-depth interview was conducted in person asking questions to the start-ups of
VelTech TBI. Interviews last from 30 to 60 minutes each.
 Proposed Chapter Outline: I propose, that it’s essential for any start-up to go
through the empathizing stage, defining stage, ideation stage, prototype stage, and
testing stage before developing the minimum viable product in the conversion of an
abstract idea into a tangible idea.

PROTOTYPING MANAGEMENT:
Prototype management is the implementation of a structured innovation process to do the
feasibility study of the idea, design, and product suit to market trends and business model of
the customers.
Common ways to develop prototypes,

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 Sketched and Diagram: Sketching a picture of an initial idea on the paper is the
initial process to give an infographic of the design developed. It’s the basic form of
prototyping, but using a paper, pen, or pencil to draw the idea and give a visual look
to the abstract idea extracted for several ideas in the ideation stage.
 3D Printing: Three-dimensional printing is developing a 3-dimensional model of the
design developed. Design is created on the computer with all the components and
printed in the 3-D printer. This 3-D printing helps in identifying the positions of the
components and evaluating the mistake disposition of the component. 3-D printing
one step ahead of sketch prototype. Though it’s a 3-D model, customers will not be
able to interact and understand the exact functioning of the design model.
 Physical Model: Physical model is the same as 3-D printing, in some cases, 3-D
printing design is complicated to create the component in software, and materials like
rubber, wood and are used to develop the 3-D model. Also, to develop a larger size
model with several components, a physical prototype is used. This is a traditional
way of developing quick prototypes in manufacturing industries. Same as the 3-D
prototype, physical prototypes will not have working features to interact with the
customer.
 Wireframe: Wireframe is mainly used in the software and Information Technology
industry. Before developing a website or mobile application, a wireframe is drawn
roughly using software tools to ensure the look and feel of colors, positioning of
components, font size, and color. As soon as receive feedback from the customer, a
high-resolution design of the website or mobile application is developed.
 VR/ AR (Virtual or Augmented Reality): To realize a large landscape idea, a
project with many components, VR/ AR technology is used to value the idea. For
example, imagine presenting the initial design for a new theme park to the client, it
can be tested by developing an AR/ VR design output using the software, using VR
goggles or a smartphone, the client will be able to walk through the park as if the
construction has already completed.
 Working Model: Working prototype is a physical tangible model developed with
working features, where the client can interact with the model and check whether the
features developed to address the client’s pain points and needs. To develop a
working prototype, it’s very essential to have the appropriate technology. So before
developing a working prototype the project runs through an important phase of

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 innovation management that’s technical feasibility to identify and adopt the
technology.
 Video Prototype: Certain design ideas are presented to the client with graphical
representation, animated video, or real-time video recordings of the prototype to
understand the working of the design.
 Horizontal Prototype: Horizontal prototype is designed for the client to interact
with the project.
 Vertical Prototype: Vertical is used to test important functions in software before it
moves on to another design phase. They are developer-centric.

Types of Prototypes:

PROTOTYPE

HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE LOW-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

 Low-Fidelity Prototyping: Low-fidelity prototypes don’t have a lot of details about the
design. It can be a sketch, 3-D printing, a physical model, or a wireframe which gives the
look and feel the impression of the design developed. It gives a simple visualization of the
abstract idea extracted from the ideation level. It’s an inexpensive and simple way to
create a prototype.

 High-Fidelity Prototyping: High-Fidelity prototype is about developing a physical

model with working features where the client can interact and understand the working of
the design. It’s not necessary to develop the whole project for the client to interact and
check the value of the design, certain critical components a developed for user
experience.

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 Technology Feasibility is one very important thing to consider before developing high – a
resolution working model. Designers explore different technologies and adopt the feasible
technology to develop the working model. The high-fidelity prototype is essential to
develop in both software and hardware projects.

Prototyping Phases: Seven Stages

Stage 1 - Design Space Exploration: Exploring & Evaluating the technologies to develop the
working model prototype. The important stage for technology adoption and absorption.
Stage 2 - Critical Function Prototype: Design, build, test, and share a critical component,
features of the design that makes the design viable in the current trending market and helps
the clients to interact and ensure whether the design addresses the customer’s pain points and
needs.

Stage 3 - Darkhorse Prototype: Extracting ideas from exploring the rejected ideas that seem to
be unacceptable, too risky, and impossible in the conversion of ideas to the final product.

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Stage 4 - Funky Prototype: Ensures the needs, values, requirements, and pain points of the
clients are addressed with the critical functions of the design developed.

Value Proposition canvas: Prototyping is used to make value propositions tangible and
concrete. The below parameters are evaluated.

 Customer’s job-to-be-done: Understanding the client’s need, pain points, and

requirements and problem statement is developed.
 Customer Benefits: Determining and listing the benefits customers get from the
output of the solution developed.
 Customer Commitment: Understand the value of commitment made with the client
to develop a solution idea to address the customer’s needs.
 Key Features: Identifying and understanding the critical components and functions
of the design developed to ensure the client’s needs.
 Steps: Determining the processes, methods, and procedures for the design concept to
develop the final product.

Stage 5 - Functional Prototype: Elaborates on two or three Significant Components of Funky

Prototype that gives the physical working model of Final Prototype, with which the client can
interact and understand the features of the design developed to address the client’s needs.

Stage 6 - X- is finished Prototype: The X-is-Finished prototype has the goal of developing

one key critical component, feature, or functionality, which user can experience the working
critical feature of the final prototype.

Stage 7 -Final Prototype: Process, method, and technologies adopted for developing the
prototype are documented in detail, and started to work on the final and actual conversion of the
abstract idea to the final product.

Prototyping Processes:
 Iterative Prototype cycle: Iterative design and prototyping is a repeating cycle of
empathizing, defining, ideation, designing, prototyping, testing, and refining multiple
versions of a product. 

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  Rapid Prototyping: Developing a quick, inexpensive model to give a visual form for
the abstract idea.
 Agile Prototype: The prototype is developed with enough functionality to compare
design alternatives, and to test the unknowns and the riskier elements of the design.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Prototype in Project Management -
https://project-management-knowledge.com/definitions/p/8-prototypes/
#:~:text=Prototypes%20are%20project%20management%20tools,product%20even
%20before%20building%20it.&text=It%20is%20used%20to%20sufficiently,build
%20phases%20of%20the%20product.

2. Prototype Management –
https://proventuresindia.com/2018/06/27/prototypes/

3. Prototype Model –
https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/Prototyping-Model

Contact Details of the Author:

Name Mrs. Anbumathi. M

Degree MBA Innovation Entrepreneurship & Venture Development – 1st
University year

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Contact Number VelTech University, Avadi, Chennai, TN
E-Mail id +91 9994830803
Postal Address Vtp3224@veltech.edu.in
72A, Ram Nagar 2nd Main Road, Peravallur, Chennai, TN 600082

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