- Academic Registry
Programme & Unit Catalogues


ME50360: Creativity and innovation

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Group Work Presentation (CW 30%)
  • Individual Assignment (CW 70%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Description: Aims:

* To familiarise the student with the role of creativity in innovation.
* To introduce students to a range of creativity tools which take different perspectives on innovation.
* To enable students to evaluate and select a tool appropriate for the problem context
* To give students experiential learning through the application of creativity tools for innovation.
* To challenge the students to conduct an in depth study on an aspect of creativity, looking at both theory and practice.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the unit the student will be able to:
* Describe the relationship between creativity and innovation.
* Describe some of the underlying principles of creativity
* Discuss, analyse and critique some of the creativity methods and approaches that are used in industry to deliver innovation.
* Select and apply appropriate creative methods for innovation challenges.
* Demonstrate the correct use of creativity tools for innovation: reasons for their use; relative strengths and weaknesses; and appropriate context of application;

Skills:

* engage critically with scientific principles of creativity (T, A)
* applying self-direction and originality in application of theory to engineering management problems (F and A)
* an ability to manage and work in teams , developing leadership skills and practicing conflict resolution. (F and A)
* An ability to handle complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity in engineering problems (F,A)
* the facility to communicate including presenting and marketing themselves and their ideas (F and A)

Content:
Underlying principles of creativity
Theories and current research on creativity and innovation;
Creative tools for both convergent and divergent thinking.
Techniques for product innovation; for example user centred design and product styling.
The TRIZ approach to Systematic Innovation including the approach to non technical problems (business and market innovation)
A hands-on creativity and innovation activity is run to learn how to select and apply appropriate creative methods to solve technical and business problems.
A number of idea-to-innovation case studies are presented from sectors such as: the automotive sector; entrepreneurial start-ups; consulting.

Programme availability:

ME50360 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.