Short answer

Always involve the end-users in defining the core requirements and objectives of a design project, especially in contexts where local knowledge and specific needs are paramount.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (2010)
Method: Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Choice Experiments
Sample: 1364 (Afar) + 1074 (Bonga) + 2248 (Horro) + 2411 (Menz) sheep
Evidence: Strong effect

Incorporating farmer preferences through participatory methods leads to more effective and adopted breeding objectives in livestock programs. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2010 study published in CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research). Using Participatory rural appraisal (pra) and choice experiments with 1364 (Afar) + 1074 (Bonga) + 2248 (Horro) + 2411 (Menz) sheep, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Always involve the end-users in defining the core requirements and objectives of a design project, especially in contexts where local knowledge and specific needs are paramount.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Community-Driven Trait Selection Enhances Sheep Breeding Program Success

Incorporating farmer preferences through participatory methods leads to more effective and adopted breeding objectives in livestock programs.

CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) · 2010

Key Findings

01Participatory methods effectively valued both tangible and intangible sheep traits, which conventional methods might miss.
02Trait preferences were largely heterogeneous across communities, except for ram body size and ewe mothering ability.
03Community involvement in defining objectives and selecting breeding schemes led to informed decisions and program adoption.

Application

Design takeaway

Always involve the end-users in defining the core requirements and objectives of a design project, especially in contexts where local knowledge and specific needs are paramount.

How to apply

When designing any system or product that relies on user adoption, conduct in-depth user research using methods that allow for the expression of diverse and potentially intangible preferences. Use these insights to define project goals and success metrics.

Project actions

01When defining the scope of your design project, use user research to establish clear, user-aligned objectives.
02Consider using choice experiments or similar methods to understand trade-offs users are willing to make.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can participatory methods be used to define breeding objectives that align with the diverse preferences of smallholder farmers and pastoralists for sheep breeding programs?

MethodParticipatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Choice Experiments

ProcedureResearchers engaged with farming communities in different production systems to understand their preferences for sheep traits using choice experiments. These preferences were then used to define measurable breeding objectives. Alternative breeding schemes were co-developed and discussed with the communities, who then made decisions on implementation. Baseline data was collected, animals were tagged, and recording systems were established with community involvement in selection processes.

Sample1364 (Afar) + 1074 (Bonga) + 2248 (Horro) + 2411 (Menz) sheep

ContextAgricultural development, livestock breeding programs, smallholder farming systems

Variables

IVParticipatory methods (vs. conventional methods), types of production systems

DVDefined breeding objectives, community adoption of breeding programs, value placed on tangible and intangible traits

CVSpecific sheep breeds, geographical locations within Ethiopia, socio-economic status of farmers (potentially)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Employs participatory methods to capture user preferences.
+Addresses both tangible and intangible user values.
+Involves community decision-making in program implementation.

Limitations

The specific choice experiment design and the number of traits considered might influence the results. The study's focus on sheep breeding in Ethiopia limits direct application to other agricultural contexts.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of trait preference data depends on the consistency of responses within and across individuals. Validity is enhanced by using choice experiments to reflect real-world trade-offs and by community consensus on selected objectives.

Think critically

To what extent can the heterogeneity of preferences observed in this study be generalized to other cultural contexts or product design domains, and what are the implications for designing for diverse user groups?

Design Principles

"User-centric objective setting drives adoption and impact."

Traditional breeding programs often overlook the nuanced needs and values of end-users. By engaging communities directly in defining breeding objectives, designers and researchers can ensure that developed solutions are relevant, practical, and more likely to be adopted, leading to greater impact.

What This Means for Your Design

When designing something for farmers, ask them what they want and what traits are important to them. This makes sure the design will actually be useful and used.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when justifying the importance of user research in defining project objectives and ensuring the relevance of design solutions.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical role of participatory methods in defining design objectives. By engaging end-users, such as smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, in defining breeding objectives for sheep, researchers found that user preferences, including intangible ones, were better captured, leading to more relevant and adoptable programs. This underscores the importance of user-centric objective setting in any design project to ensure the developed solution meets genuine needs and achieves desired outcomes.

Source

CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research)

Participatory definition of breeding objectives and implementation of community based sheep breeding programs in Ethiopia

journal · 2010

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about community-driven trait selection enhances sheep breeding program success?: Always involve the end-users in defining the core requirements and objectives of a design project, especially in contexts where local knowledge and specific needs are paramount. Evidence: CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (2010).
Why does "Community-Driven Trait Selection Enhances Sheep Breeding Program Success" matter for design?: Traditional breeding programs often overlook the nuanced needs and values of end-users. By engaging communities directly in defining breeding objectives, designers and researchers can ensure that developed solutions are relevant, practical, and more likely to be adopted, leading to greater impact.
How can designers apply this research?: Always involve the end-users in defining the core requirements and objectives of a design project, especially in contexts where local knowledge and specific needs are paramount.
What were the main findings?: Participatory methods effectively valued both tangible and intangible sheep traits, which conventional methods might miss.. Trait preferences were largely heterogeneous across communities, except for ram body size and ewe mothering ability.. Community involvement in defining objectives and selecting breeding schemes led to informed decisions and program adoption.
What research method was used?: Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Choice Experiments with 1364 (Afar) + 1074 (Bonga) + 2248 (Horro) + 2411 (Menz) sheep.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2010 journal from CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research).
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any system or product that relies on user adoption, conduct in-depth user research using methods that allow for the expression of diverse and potentially intangible preferences. Use these insights to define project goals and success metrics.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on specific regions in Ethiopia; findings may not be directly generalizable to all livestock breeding contexts or other geographical areas. The long-term success and economic impact of the implemented schemes were not fully assessed within the study period.