Value function

Activities

• Activity 4: Assessing and selecting the solution concept

Description

A value function makes different manifestations of a feature comparable and thus helps to quantify statements about object properties.

Procedure

1. Select the course for the function that best meets the evaluation criterion under consideration, i.e. linear, progressive or degressive, rising or falling
2. An integer, dimensionless point scale can be used as a value system, the width of which depends on the degree of abstraction or concreteness of the solutions at hand (for example 1 to 3 or 1 to 10). Low scores usually express bad values, while high scores indicate good values
3. The value functions can be displayed graphically for a better overview. Alternatively, the value assignments can be done in a table
4. The solution alternatives are then classified into the value function created according to their characteristics of the product feature under consideration (degree of fulfillment of the required product feature)
5. The associated point value can be read as a result

Sources

• Lindemann 2009, p. 326