Accelerating Innovation and Problem Solving in Engineering By Design Thinking

Abstract

The most demanded skills by various studies and bodies including World Economic Forum calls upon compound problem-solving, critical thinking, creative mind set, emotional intelligence, and decision-making in employable graduates [1]. The importance of higher order thinking and innovative solution skills are required in entrepreneurship as well as in intrapreneurship. More and more employers want employees that can innovate and create products which are more cost-effective, user-friendly and financially viable. The onus to deliver such skills is now on education bodies. The need for the course which judiciously balances and supplies the demand of the industry from the campus spurred the designing of the course Design Thinking. This paper will be exploratory in nature and will also present a case study of one of the premier institute of western region which is teaching Design Thinking course to its B.Tech students. The author has devised such a course and has used a scaffolding approach to include cognitive skills in the future innovators and creators. Understanding that product, idea or process will be developed by these engineers which will impact the society in problem-solving. The paper will showcase the pragmatic approaches taken and transferring experience into design thinking - an empathy-based, human-centered, and solution-driven methodology for innovation. Design thinking also helps to tackle challenges such as the creation of new products, technological innovation, processes and/or systems. This paper will expound upon the content, pedagogy and assessment. Since this is one of the types, of course, running in an engineering college, it becomes urgent to validate the curse and its intended outcome.