7. Two major factors of quality
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Listening
Question:
Using points and examples from the talk, explain two major factors of quality presented by the professor.
Preparation time: 30 seconds
speaking time: 1 minute
Texts
If a consumer has to choose between two products, what determines the choice? Assume that someone, a purchaser, is choosing between two products that cost the same, ok? If people have a choice between two identically priced products, which one will they choose? They choose the one they think is of higher quality of course. But what does it mean for a product to be a high-quality product. Well, business analysts usually speak of two major factors of quality. One factor is reliability. And the other is what we call features.
So, reliability. What’s reliability? Well, a product is reliable if it works the way we expect it to work, if it can go a reasonable amount of time without needing repairs. If a product, a car, for example, doesn’t work the way it should and needs repairs too soon, we say it’s unreliable. So, product reliability means, basically, the absence of defects or problems that you aren’t expecting. It used to be when people thought about product quality, they thought mainly about reliability. Today, it’s different. People do still care about reliability, don’t get me wrong, It’s just that manufacturing standards are now so high that…Well, take cars for example, today, today’s cars are very reliable, so reliability is important but it’s not gonna be the deciding factor.
So if reliability isn’t the deciding factor anymore, what is? Features, all those extras, the things the product has that aren’t really necessary but that make it easier to use or that make it cool. For example, new cars today are loaded with features like electric windows, sunroofs, air-conditioning, stereos and so forth. When people are comparing products today, they look at features because reliability is pretty much equal across the board. And that’s why manufacturers include so many features in their products.
Explanation
The summary of the lecture
A professor explains two major factors of quality that consumers consider when choosing two identically priced products.
The first quality is reliability.
Product reliability means that a product works as we expect and a product does not need replacement for a long time.
Recently, most products, however, have proven to be pretty reliable, thus eliminating the need to consider reliability a deciding factor for purchase.
The second factor is features.
Features are not necessarily must-have parts of a product but they make a product easy to use and look cool.
For example, electric windows, sunroofs, and stereos of a car are features.
Today, when people compare products, they are more inclined to consider features over reliability because reliability is pretty much standard.
Sample answer
In the lecture, the professor discusses two primary factors of quality that consumers typically weigh when selecting between two identically priced products.
The first factor is reliability, which pertains to the consistency and durability of a product. A reliable product is one that performs as expected and maintains functionality over an extended period without the need for frequent replacements. However, in recent times, advancements in manufacturing processes have led to most products being inherently reliable, thereby diminishing the significance of reliability as a decisive factor in consumer purchasing decisions.
The second factor highlighted is features, which encompass additional functionalities or attributes that enhance the user experience or aesthetic appeal of a product. While not essential components, features contribute to the convenience, usability, and overall attractiveness of a product. Examples of features include electric windows, sunroofs, and stereo systems in automobiles. In contemporary consumer evaluations, there is a growing inclination towards prioritizing features over reliability, as reliability has become more standardized across products.
Question:
Using points and examples from the talk, explain two major factors of quality presented by the professor.
Preparation time: 30 seconds
speaking time: 1 minute
Texts
If a consumer has to choose between two products, what determines the choice? Assume that someone, a purchaser, is choosing between two products that cost the same, ok? If people have a choice between two identically priced products, which one will they choose? They choose the one they think is of higher quality of course. But what does it mean for a product to be a high-quality product. Well, business analysts usually speak of two major factors of quality. One factor is reliability. And the other is what we call features.
So, reliability. What’s reliability? Well, a product is reliable if it works the way we expect it to work, if it can go a reasonable amount of time without needing repairs. If a product, a car, for example, doesn’t work the way it should and needs repairs too soon, we say it’s unreliable. So, product reliability means, basically, the absence of defects or problems that you aren’t expecting. It used to be when people thought about product quality, they thought mainly about reliability. Today, it’s different. People do still care about reliability, don’t get me wrong, It’s just that manufacturing standards are now so high that…Well, take cars for example, today, today’s cars are very reliable, so reliability is important but it’s not gonna be the deciding factor.
So if reliability isn’t the deciding factor anymore, what is? Features, all those extras, the things the product has that aren’t really necessary but that make it easier to use or that make it cool. For example, new cars today are loaded with features like electric windows, sunroofs, air-conditioning, stereos and so forth. When people are comparing products today, they look at features because reliability is pretty much equal across the board. And that’s why manufacturers include so many features in their products.
Explanation
The summary of the lecture
A professor explains two major factors of quality that consumers consider when choosing two identically priced products.
The first quality is reliability.
Product reliability means that a product works as we expect and a product does not need replacement for a long time.
Recently, most products, however, have proven to be pretty reliable, thus eliminating the need to consider reliability a deciding factor for purchase.
The second factor is features.
Features are not necessarily must-have parts of a product but they make a product easy to use and look cool.
For example, electric windows, sunroofs, and stereos of a car are features.
Today, when people compare products, they are more inclined to consider features over reliability because reliability is pretty much standard.
Sample answer
In the lecture, the professor discusses two primary factors of quality that consumers typically weigh when selecting between two identically priced products.
The first factor is reliability, which pertains to the consistency and durability of a product. A reliable product is one that performs as expected and maintains functionality over an extended period without the need for frequent replacements. However, in recent times, advancements in manufacturing processes have led to most products being inherently reliable, thereby diminishing the significance of reliability as a decisive factor in consumer purchasing decisions.
The second factor highlighted is features, which encompass additional functionalities or attributes that enhance the user experience or aesthetic appeal of a product. While not essential components, features contribute to the convenience, usability, and overall attractiveness of a product. Examples of features include electric windows, sunroofs, and stereo systems in automobiles. In contemporary consumer evaluations, there is a growing inclination towards prioritizing features over reliability, as reliability has become more standardized across products.