THE DATABASE “METHODOS” ASSISTS AN EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF DESIGN METHODS

The success of a company will be more and more influenced by product innovations. It is a big problem for many enterprises to realise innovations because of complex problem definitions and the multiplicity of new and often badly structured problems. Therefore the use of design methods and tools to support these formal processes within product development is very important. Systematic operation, selection, coordination, networking and evaluation of the appropriate design methods have to be considered project-specifically. Studies have shown that general reasons for an insufficient application of methods are for example time pressure and lack of method competence. Furthermore support is missing for the practical transfer of the abstractly described methods, suitable introduction strategies, methodical flexibility to support the non-standard work style and sufficient linkage of subsidiary methods to overall methods. The assisting system of methods Methodos enables the search for useroriented methods, procedures and instruments. It already contains descriptions and illustrative information about easily understandable design methods that can be applied during an innovation process. Therefore selected innovation methods will be transferred to user-friendly software tools that are applicable as stand-alone solutions as well.