What is Over specified? Definition
In medical research and development, the term “over specified” is used to describe a product that has too many features or requirements that are not essential to its function. This can lead to problems during clinical trials and commercialization, as the product may not meet the needs of patients or customers. In this blog post, we will explore the definition of over specified and how it can impact medical research and development. We will also provide some tips on how to avoid over specifying your products.
What is Over specified?
When a product is over specified, it means that it has been designed to meet a set of requirements that are more stringent than what is necessary. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as the customer requesting a higher quality product than what is actually needed, or the designer using too much conservatism in their design.
Over specified products can lead to increased costs and schedule delays, as well as problems with assembly and testing. In some cases, over specification can even make a product less effective than one that is designed to meet only the minimum requirements.
It is important to avoid over specifying products whenever possible. This can be done by clearly communicating the desired level of quality to the designers, and by performing trade-off studies to determine the optimal balance between cost, performance, and risk.
The Different Types of Over specified
There are three different types of over specified:
1. Excessive constraints: These are unnecessary constraints that limit the design space and prevent the optimum solution from being found.
2. Inconsistent Constraints: These are conflicting constraints that cannot be satisfied simultaneously.
3. Redundant Constraints: These are duplicate constraints that provide no additional information or value.
Pros and Cons of Over specified
When a product is over specified, it means that it has been designed to meet criteria that are beyond the minimum requirements. This can be advantageous in some situations, but it can also lead to problems.
Some of the pros of over specifying a product include:
1. It can make the product more durable and longer lasting.
2. It can improve the performance of the product.
3. It can make the product safer to use.
Some of the cons of over specifying a product include:
1. It can make the product more expensive.
2. It can make the product more difficult to use.
3. It can make the product less flexible and adaptable to change.
What are the implications of Over specified?
There are a few implications of over specified which include:
1. It can lead to project delays as all the details need to be ironed out before work can begin.
2. There is less room for creativity and innovation as everything needs to be carefully planned out.
3. It can increase costs as more time and resources are required to develop everything in detail.
4. There is a greater risk of failure as there is less flexibility to adapt if something goes wrong.
Overall, over specifying can have negative consequences for a project in terms of time, cost and risk. It is therefore important to strike a balance between being too specific and not specific enough when planning a project.
How to avoid being Over specified
In order to avoid being Over specified, it is important to remember that the goal is to produce a quality product that meets the needs of the customer and not to produce a product that is perfect. It is also important to keep in mind that the cost of Over specifying can be high, so it is important to consider whether the benefits of doing so outweigh the costs. Finally, it is also important to keep in mind that Over specifying can lead to problems with communication and coordination among team members, so it is important to be clear about what is truly necessary and what can be left out.
Alternatives to Over specified
There are many alternatives to over specified, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some common alternatives:
1. Under specified: This is the opposite of over specified, and means that there is less information or detail than is necessary. This can be a good thing if it allows for more flexibility, but can also lead to problems if not enough information is provided.
2. Moderately specified: This provides just enough information to get the job done without being too specific. It can strike a good balance between flexibility and precision.
3. Design patterns: These are tried-and-true solutions to common design problems that can be applied to many different situations. They can provide a good starting point for solving a problem without getting too specific.
4. Component libraries: These collections of reusable components can be used to build up solutions quickly without having to start from scratch each time. They can save time and effort, but can also lead to inflexible solutions if not used carefully.
5. Frameworks: These provide a structure for building applications or systems, and can be very helpful in keeping things organized and manageable. However, they can also be constraining if not used correctly, and may result in an over-specified solution if not careful
Conclusion
In conclusion, oversimplification is the result of either ignorance or design. It’s a lazy way to communicate, and it usually backfires because it creates more problems than it solves. The next time you’re tempted to oversimplify something, take a step back and consider whether there might be a better way to explain it. Your audience will thank you for your effort.