Handcrafting Attachment: A User-Centered Approach

Management, above all, is the controlling element responsible for coordinating the three basic business functions; production, marketing, and finance. Mechanisms exist to facilitate the finance function with influence coming from outside regulatory bodies such as the AICPA, IIA, SEC, and other regulators. Integrating the finance function into organizations, then, becomes somewhat generic (although some would argue this point). Coordinating the functions of marketing and production is a much more difficult endeavor because it lacks the standardization seen in finance. This paper suggests employing a more user-focused approach as a means to improving the overall quality of products, and eventually, the success of the organization. Specifically, this paper explores the role of the human brain in the calculus of choice, discusses the role of consumer involvement as it leads to product attachment, and offers suggestions for employing contextual research to improve product design and quality.