7.2.1 Study design and development

Both to handle such a substantial project and to distribute tasks to appropriate people, the study was divided into ten activities. Each activity was allocated to a group of researchers, though some members were common to several groups. They worked in appropriate localities, laboratories and departments, and under the overall guidance of the Mango Project Leader. The activities are listed in Table 7.4.


Table 7.4 Mango product development study workgroups

1. Mango variety and industry survey 2. Physical properties - size/shape/colour 3. Chemical analysis - constituents/ripening 4. Chemical properties - analysis and flavour 5. Quantitative descriptive analysis - relationships of sensory attributes 6. Consumer preferences - shape/colour/texture/flavour 7. Consumer preferences - correlation with sensory/analytical 8. Consumer preferences - national likes/dislikes 9. Commercial - target markets/channels/distribution 10. Marketing descriptions - brand names/slogans/labelling

Five varieties of Thai mangoes, major ones being commercially grown, were studied, along with two introduced varieties. Using the same batches of mangoes, tests were carried out on the chemical properties, physical properties, aroma volatiles and consumer preferences, correlating these with the measured properties. These in effect combined into one aspect of the case study. Another separate aspect looked at the best brand name and attribute descriptions, for commercial and marketing purposes. Consumers studied were from Thailand, Japan, China, Hong Kong and the Middle East.

For various practical reasons, principally availability of suitable subjects and materials, the numbers of consumers testing varied in different parts of the tests. There was always account taken of the statistical basis and needs of the study, and the results were statistically assessed to justify the conclusions.