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Year 11

Modifications and improvements

I can explain how and why industries modify products for improvement.

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New
New
Year 11

Modifications and improvements

I can explain how and why industries modify products for improvement.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Businesses use several processes to improve and update products, such as implementing new technologies.
  2. Businesses have several reasons to modify their products, such as customer needs and competition.

Keywords

  • Modify - to change a product to improve its function or design

  • Continuous improvement - the ongoing process of making small changes to enhance a product

  • Market pull - designers develop products in response to user’s needs and wants

  • Technology push - innovations are developed and then sold to the user

Common misconception

Industries only modify products to make them cheaper.

Industries also improve products for better performance, sustainability, customer satisfaction, safety and compliance with regulations.


To help you plan your year 11 design and technology lesson on: Modifications and improvements, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use real-world product comparisons (e.g. old vs. new phones) to spark discussion on what changed, why and whether the modifications truly improved the product.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the main purpose of market research?
To guess what customers want
Correct answer: To gather information about customer needs and preferences
To create advertising campaigns
To reduce production costs
Q2.
Why do companies analyse their products?
To make them more expensive
Correct answer: To improve quality and meet customer needs
To reduce competition
To create completely new products every time
Q3.
Which of the following is an example of using product analysis to improve a design?
a phone company reduces costs by removing key features
Correct answer: a shoe brand tests different materials to make trainers more comfortable
a company ignores customer feedback and continues with the same design
a brand copies a competitor’s product exactly without any changes
Q4.
Which of the following is NOT an example of a design constraint?
Budget
Materials
Correct answer: Creativity
Time
Q5.
Which of the following is NOT a cost businesses need to consider?
Raw materials
Wages for workers
Correct answer: The customer’s personal budget
Rent for the factory
Q6.
Match each method of product analysis to its correct description.
Correct Answer:User feedback,Gathering customer opinions and experiences

Gathering customer opinions and experiences

Correct Answer:Testing,Examining durability, safety and function

Examining durability, safety and function

Correct Answer:Competitor analysis,Comparing products from other businesses

Comparing products from other businesses

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is NOT a common reason for product modification?
To comply with regulations
To improve customer satisfaction
Correct answer: To make a product less competitive
To reduce manufacturing costs
Q2.
Put the steps of continuous improvement in the correct order:
1 - Identify areas for improvement
2 - Evaluate feedback and performance
3 - Modify the product
4 - Test and refine changes
Q3.
Match each product example to whether it was influenced by 'Technology push' or 'Market pull'.
Correct Answer:Self-driving car systems,Technology push

Technology push

Correct Answer:Biodegradable packaging,Market pull

Market pull

Correct Answer:Touchscreen smartphones,Technology push

Technology push

Correct Answer:Bagless vacuum cleaner,Market pull

Market pull

Q4.
Companies modify products to comply with , ensuring safety and environmental standards.
Correct Answer: regulations, laws, legislation
Q5.
Which statement best describes the difference between 'Technology push' and 'Market pull'?
Market pull is when companies create new tech, and tech push is from consumers.
Correct answer: Tech push creates innovations first, while market pull reacts to demand.
Both happen only when industries want to reduce production costs.
Market pull and tech push mean the same thing.
Q6.
Which of the following is an example of a modification made for sustainability?
Adding a high-resolution camera to a smartphone
Correct answer: Using biodegradable materials in packaging
Reducing the price of a product
Releasing a new colour option for a product