What are the challenges of prototyping in complex systems?

The challenges 1- Limited of experience. 2- Lack of time. 3- Limited of material and tools 4- Lack of quality. 5- understands Scope of work or System. 6- Not prepare a good feasibility study. 7- Not allocate enough fund. 8- Stakeholders. 9- Governments rule and regulation. 10- Environments. 11- Location or Space. 12 - Not enough manpower. 13- Not have clear result or objective. 14- Not use software for simulation. To avoid these challenge you should consider prototype as project and understand project management to fulfillment the following steps 1- Plan 2-Design and Engineering with simulation 3- Procurement 4- Construction or Manufacturing 5- Test and Commissioning 6- Quality 7- Safety 8- Finance 9- Manpower 10- Stakeholder

At the beginning this step can seem very overwhelming and without end, be sure to start small and grow over time, Creating a complex system in no time, is even more complex than the system itself, the key insight here is to do it iterative. One thing that I like to do at very start of any project is to draw an ER Diagram, it help me to understand the whole picture of the system. Also in the same diagram if I identify a different service or system that will need to be built, can be a good idea to draw it also.

A prototype should be established using a test tool that's easy to mimic in a production environment. I have found Excel to be useful for prototyping because most advanced tools can mimic Excel functionality.

Prototype is not only about prototyping screen but also data and user flow of your product or system, start by data first, as in a lot of current system it's the goal to have good data structure to apply some AI or data intelligence in the future, then move to user flow, so you can delineate the value for your user, last focus on visual, how the product will look.

The function of prototyping is to learn, not to launch yet. When we build prototypes, our mindset premise to is to gather more implicit datapoints about our stakeholders/users/customers. Why prototypes? Why don’t just use survey form? We’ve bought data from our marketing/research partners, isn’t that enough? Because prototypes are 3D, learnable, focus, testable, interactive and humanizing. That makes our stakeholders/users/customers engaging and feel free to experience it. It feels more realistic with prototypes. That’s what we want. So be prepared to change, adapt and pivot folks! ??

Don't forget to communicate with these stakeholders the purpose of each prototype they evaluate - are you checking feasibility of the design, developing the UI, validating requirements? State this upfront so users don't mistake the prototype for the complete product ("but this doesn't meet all our requirements!") or have unrealistic expectations on delivery ("but the prototype worked fine, why do you need more time?"). Tell them what has been prioritised in this prototype and what has been left out so they have the complete picture and context. Simplify the feedback process with easy-to-use questionnaires and feedback forms.

The first thing to do is to make the complex simple. Make the prototype relatable to as many of the people in the company as possible. Teach your people to use a simple 3D printer. The workshop should also be accessible to people who have been trained to use the tools. Exhibit the prototypes with explanation charts and encourage tinkering. Most breakthroughs are made by the non-experts as they are open to new ideas unlike experts who are frequently restricted by their prevailing knowledge.

Not many stakeholders will put $$$ on prototypes because in reality it is the integration and ecosystem that make any products/services successful. Therefore, you need to prototype that too. Demonstrate the prototype interaction & the ecosystem. If you are in a corporation, you have to find a champion/mentor alongside you and your idea. Don’t work alone although it feels good. Find a co-founder of your idea that compelement your strengths - say you are good in technical, find another that’s good in presentation. Don’t become too disruptive too soon, people get scared and run away. Be patience & enjoy the process ???

"The Art of Innovation" by Tom Kelley posits that prototyping in complex systems is a high-wire act. Each iteration must balance creative exploration with practical functionality, all while navigating the intricate interplay of the system's components.

The key is to embrace iterative learning, where each prototype isn't just a solution, but a question/ hypothesis posed to the system. This approach demands flexibility, patience, and a willingness to pivot based on feedback and emergent patterns. The goal isn't just to create a working prototype, but to deepen understanding of the intricacies of a complex system bit by bit.