Final answer:
Features is the dimension of quality that includes additional characteristics of the product or service, which enhance its value beyond the core functionality.
These features can be tangible or intangible and play a key role in product differentiation and consumer perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Features is the dimension of quality that addresses the additional characteristics of the product or service beyond the base operating features.
When engineers focus on the attributes of the product and strive to enhance its quality, they often look at these additional features to create differentiation in the competitive market.
While prototypes not tested adequately might lead to a lack of understanding regarding the product's features and its performance, it is through features that quality is evaluated in the design process.
Features provide added value and can include both tangible and intangible aspects. For instance, a guarantee of satisfaction, free delivery, or a loan offering adds a layer of service quality beyond the base functionality of the product.
Moreover, product differentiation may also manifest in the perceptions of consumers.
Advertising often influences these perceptions and creates a sense of brand loyalty, even if the consumers cannot discern significant differences in the core product, such as in the case of common varieties of beer or cigarettes when they are blindfolded.
In essence, these intangible aspects shape consumer preferences and improve the product's perceived value.