Characteristic-driven

Characteristic-driven describes a process, system, design, or approach that is primarily shaped and determined by specific qualities, attributes, or traits (the "characteristics") rather than by other factors like external pressures, popularity, or arbitrary preferences. It emphasizes a fundamental reliance on defining features to guide development, decision-making, or evaluation. This approach prioritizes understanding and leveraging inherent qualities to achieve specific outcomes. It aims to optimize for performance, functionality, and relevance, with characteristic being the pivotal element in determining strategy and implementation.

Characteristic-driven meaning with examples

• The company adopted a characteristic-driven product development strategy. The team first identified the core characteristics of an ideal user experience and then designed features around these fundamental needs and preferences. This contrast was to product development with market trends, the product's functionality being rooted in specific user qualities and expected experiences.
• Their marketing campaign was characteristically-driven. The team built personas and based their marketing messages around the key characteristics, values, and behaviors of their target audience. The messages they crafted were built directly from the client's known and projected information, with an intent to produce a deep understanding of the audience.
• The software development process was inherently characteristic-driven. Every step, from initial design to testing, was dictated by the performance characteristics of the application, leading to features that directly address desired functionality and efficiency. Characteristics were the main influence on how the software would actually be built.
• The selection of materials in the architectural design was characteristically-driven. The architects chose each element based on its specific properties, such as durability, thermal performance, and aesthetic characteristics. This contrasts the process that would otherwise be followed in a design that is led by trends or price.
• The performance evaluation system was designed to be characteristic-driven. It focused on assessing each employee based on key characteristics, like their problem-solving skills, communication ability, and leadership qualities. The main measure of success was whether the employee's characteristics were appropriate.