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Year 11

Product analysis

I can explain how and why product analysis is used in industry

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New
New
Year 11

Product analysis

I can explain how and why product analysis is used in industry

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Product analysis is used to improve designs, ensure quality and stay competitive.
  2. Product analysis methods include testing, user feedback and analysing companies.
  3. Product analysis can benefit companies to stay innovative and meet customer needs.

Keywords

  • Product analysis - examining a product’s design, function, and performance

  • User needs - the requirements and expectations of who you are designing for

  • Innovative - introducing new or improved ideas

Common misconception

Product analysis is only about identifying flaws or problems in a product.

In reality, product analysis is used to improve design, meet user needs, and stay competitive.


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

It is useful to have examples of the product you wish to analyse in the lesson for students to handle and explore first-hand.
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.
Which of these is an example of qualitative data?
"80% of people prefer lightweight materials."
Correct answer: "This chair feels uncomfortable after long use."
"The product is 15 cm wide."
"50 customers bought this item last week."
Q2.
Which of the following is an example of primary research?
Reading a market report
Correct answer: Conducting a survey
Looking at a competitor’s website
Watching a product review video
Q3.
Which of these is an example of quantitative data?
"The fabric feels soft and comfortable."
"Most customers think the design looks modern."
Correct answer: "This product weighs 500 grams."
"Users say the chair is easy to assemble."
Q4.
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
Q5.
Why are product reviews useful for companies?
Correct answer: They help companies understand what customers like and dislike
They allow companies to copy competitors' designs
They make products more expensive
They only focus on positive feedback
Q6.
Match each research method to its correct example:
Correct Answer:Survey,Asking people about their product preferences

Asking people about their product preferences

Correct Answer:Observation,Watching how users interact with a design

Watching how users interact with a design

Correct Answer:Experiment,Measuring the weight of a product

Measuring the weight of a product

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Product analysis helps companies stay by creating new or improved products.
Correct Answer: innovative, current, on trend
Q2.
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

Q3.
Put these steps of product analysis in the correct order:
1 - Analyse existing product performance
2 - Gather feedback from customers
3 - Identify areas for improvement
4 - Make design changes
Q4.
Companies analyse to ensure products meet customer expectations and market demands.
Correct Answer: user needs, users, needs, consumers, customers
Q5.
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
Q6.
Which of the following is NOT a method used in product analysis?
User feedback
Correct answer: Ignoring customer complaints
Testing product durability