The document provides a decision matrix to evaluate 4 rocking chair design ideas based on criteria including complexity, development time, materials used, longevity, sturdiness, and rockability. Idea 3 scored the highest with a total of 23 points, as it was rated 5 for rockability and longevity and 3 for complexity, development time, and materials. Idea 1 scored the lowest with a total of 17 points.

1. Decision Matrix – Rocking Chair
Criteria
Complexity Development Materials Longevity Sturdiness rockability
Time
Ideas Totals
3 5 4 1 2 2 20
1
4 4 4 2 2 2 18
2
2 3 3 5 5 5 23
3
1 1 2 4 4 5 17
4

2. Scale: The greater, the better
Complexity: 1 most complex, 5 least complex
A more complex design will be inefficient to build, whereas a less complicated design is
able to be build in must less time.
Development Time: 1 most amount of time, 5 least time
The less time a product spends on the assembly line, the better. Time is money
Materials: 1 most amount of materials, 5 least amount of materials
Using less materials would be more environmentally friendly. At the same time, it’s
being cost effective.
Longevity: 1 lasts for a short period of time, 5 lasts for a long period of time
Having a long-lasting rocking chair means we have a quality product. Cheap construction
would result in a product that does not last long driving customers away.
Sturdiness: 1 not sturdy, 5 very sturdy
Sturdiness will ultimately result in how safe the chair is. Safety is key when you want a
customer to come back.
Rockability: 1 not a good rocker, 5 very good rocker
A rocking chair with the wrong leg length to rocker diameter ratio would result in a joke
of a rocking chair. By finding the right middle man, that will weed out the dangerous chair with
too much of a rocker curve as well as the not so rockable chair with a very large rocker diameter
1 2 3 4
Complexity Complex Not complex More Most complex
complex
Development Least time Some time More time Most time
time
Materials Least Some More Most
materials materials materials materials
Longevity Least Short Most Some
longevity longevity longevity longevity
Sturdiness Dangerous Not very Sturdy Very Sturdy
sturdy
Rockability Does not rock rocks Rocks well Rocks very
well
Eric Thompson, Brian Jestice, Sai Bhalerao, Jarrod Juskiewicz, Lauren Logan