Final answer:
Adaptation of an existing capability to a particular requirement or customer's need would not be considered an R & D activity since R & D typically involves the creation of new knowledge or technology rather than the use of existing solutions in new ways.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following would not be considered an R & D activity? Among the provided options, the one that would not be typically categorized as Research and Development (R & D) activity is adapting an existing capability to a particular requirement or customer's need. This is because R & D activities typically involve creating new knowledge or technological innovation, rather than adaptation of existing solutions. Adaptation might involve utilizing existing knowledge or technology in a new way, which does not constitute the creation or discovery of new principles or technologies. R & D is instead more closely related to activities such as searching for new applications of research findings, conducting laboratory research for new discoveries, and conceptualizing new product or process designs.
For instance, the process of searching internally for ideas to improve technology is an R & D activity, as is using existing records to try to answer a research question. Likewise, during the Explore Possibilities step in the design process, when the aim is to understand, improve, or test a design, R & D is at play.
Therefore, option 'a. Adaptation of an existing capability to a particular requirement or customer's need' is the answer.