Login to Capstone.xls and click the Decisions menu. Select Research & Development. To change a product’s performance, enter a number in the New Pfmn cell; to change its size, enter a number in the New Size cell. To change the reliability rating, enter a number in the MTBF cell. The example above illustrates an increase in performance from 5.5 to 5.9, a decrease in size from 14.5 to 14.1 and a decrease in MTBF from 17,500 to 15,000. The project will complete on May 28, 2007, the product’s age on that date will become 1.8 years (see “A Product’s Age” above) and the project will cost $410,000.

After the changes are entered, the sensor displays twice on the perceptual map. The name in black indicates the original location (5.5 and 14.5). The name in magenta, indicates the position it will have after May 28, (5.9 and 14.1). The sensor will sell at the original position prior to the revision date and at the new position after the revision date.

Round 1 of the Rehearsal Simulation covers R&D decisions. See the website’s Downloads section for complete information about Capstone.xls and the Rehearsal Simulation.