Product development

4. Push and pull

Required Resources

• Slides 27-30
• Student Worksheet 3

Delivery

• Use Slides 27-28 to introduce the concept of Technology Push and Market Pull. Then present Slide 29 which shows some modern items. Ask students to suggest what push or pull factors may have influenced the change.
• Acknowledge that in the context of defence, it is essential that products are continually developed to meet soldiers' demanding needs and to exploit technological advancements.
• Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DC IPT) is the MOD department responsible for supplying the British Armed Forces with their clothing and textile items carried by military personnel. Project Slide 30 to introduce the departments. Highlight that it is their role to continually listen to the market pull from service personnel and to search for new technologies for product improvements.
• In the same groups, students should complete Student Worksheet 3a-3b. This includes British military examples of some new products and a short statement. Students should record any push or pull factors in the table.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Mixed ability groups.