Final answer:
The term refers to the 'design process,' a systematic methodology for ensuring that each design stage meets specified goals and objectives. This incorporates setting criteria and constraints, generating concepts, selecting and testing a design concept, and applying a spiral design process to refine the design until it meets all requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process which involves checking at each stage to ensure that the generated alternatives, the evaluation criteria, and the chosen solution align with the originally specified goals and objectives refers to a meticulous and systematic approach known as the design process. This begins with the step of identifying criteria and constraints, which are essential in guiding the design towards viability and effectiveness. Constraints often represent the non-negotiable elements that must be met, whereas criteria provide measurable standards to gauge the quality and performance of the designs.
Once criteria and constraints are established, the generate concepts phase is initiated, where creativity is unleashed to propose various innovative solutions. This is followed by the select a design concept step, which involves evaluating the proposed designs against the criteria and constraints to choose the most suitable one for detailed development and prototyping.
The chosen concept then undergoes testing and evaluation to identify any potential weaknesses that could be improved upon. This is where the design could either be refined to meet the set criteria more effectively or, in some cases, lead to a realization that a new design concept must be selected if the current one fails to meet the necessary requirements. This cyclical refinement continues as part of a spiral design process, iteratively moving closer to a solution that satisfies all conditions.
Through the evaluation of solutions and refining the design, the structure mirrors that of the formal process through which scientific research is vetted, known as peer review. The peer review process ensures originality, significance, and quality before research findings are published in scientific literature, akin to how design solutions are rigorously tested against benchmarks before final acceptance.