Three Steps in Front-End Assessment: Definition, Development and Appraisal of Concept

Abstract

Decisions may be made on very simple bases. One might toss heads or tails, or, if reliable information is available, undertake a simple assessment of foreseen reward relative to costs.1 But the decision bases also may be comprehensive. Projects of some extent usually have a thorough, detailed pre-project study. In some cases, a pre-project study may take years and include complex analyses, simulations, pilot studies, etc.

The focus in this book is exclusively on the concept phase. This chapter comprises an overview of the simple methods used in appraising concepts. They are associated with each other and represent a uniform, systematic set of analytical steps, in which the choices of parameters and processing of information form a whole. Concept appraisal is divided here into three separate sub-phases to illustrate uses of the methods. Further descriptions of the methods and examples of their uses are given in Part II.

No one listens to what you say, until it resembles something they have thought themselves.

–Nils Fredrik Nilsen