Graduates of a technical postgraduate programme will be expected to be problem solvers who use their knowledge and intellectual skills to help the organisations in which they work to convert ideas into products, services or processes or add to deeper knowledge and information of benefit to the
organisation. They need to be able to work collaboratively and in some situations develop and execute innovative strategies to help their organisations succeed.
Problem solving is about analyzing a problem, breaking it down into its constituent parts, looking at it from a number of angles, and characterizing each piece of a problem in such a way that the solution is clearly apprehended by anyone who would care to listen. The Problem Solving element of this module will expose the Students to a range of ad hoc and structured approaches to knowledge-based problem solving. The student will be expected to be able to explain, criticise and apply a range of complementary techniques. The Communication and Innovation elements will expose students to key “soft skills” and innovative approaches to help create a competitive edge. The students will be expected to undertake a series of exercises that demonstrate their mastery of communication and innovation. The student will also be exposed to the ethical and philosophical issues relevant to the development of innovative solutions to problems faced by organisations. The student will be expected to reflect on problem solving as an intellectual activity gaining some insight into how problems can be solved and how they in particular solve them. The student will alsobe expected to relate the material covered in this module to other areas of their programme of study by suggesting programme-relevant problems for consideration in class.
• Problem Solving:
- Brainstorming
- Force Field Analysis
- SWOT Analysis
- Contingency Diagramming
- Leapfrogging
• Advanced Approaches to Problems:
- Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
- Reflective Practice
- Systems Thinking (Senge)
• Lateral Thinking Approaches:
- Six Hats (de Bono)
- CoRT Techniques (de Bono)
- MindMapping (Buzan)
- Polya’s Heuristics
• Communication:
- Interpersonal dynamics.
- Leadership.
- Team working.
- Human diversity.
- Planning, preparation and delivery of presentations.
- Professional ethics and conduct
• Innovation:
- Understand the concept of innovation.
- Demonstrate how innovation creates competitive advantage.
- Discuss the future of innovation.
This module employs innovative, student-based learning methods to allow the student to learn by practice as much as possible.
New material may be presented in the form of lectures and seminars however all contact periods will be
opportunities to discuss and clarify the material and to put it into a more cogent and coherent
framework.
Students will be able to explore the characteristics, advantages and limitations of approaches learnt
through the use of case studies, the use of simulation and role-play exercises and through working in
groups. In some cases students will be expected to use computer-based learning material to
supplement studies students will be able to explore the characteristics, advantages and limitations of
approaches learnt through their application to suitable case studies.
Students will be encouraged to be pro-active in their approach to learning. All students will be
required to present problems to, discuss solutions with, and work in groups at solving problems with
other students.
During the module students will be required to keep a problem solving diary. This will be devoted to
personal and scholarly exploration of problem solving and ethical issues and conduct. All problems a
student solves should be included in this diary. Students will be expected to record observations about
problem solving techniques as applied, reflecting on the student’s performance and progress, issues
relating to ethics, as well as the applicability of approaches learnt. This will contribute towards the
stated learning outcome of: monitor and evaluate personal performance.
As befits a postgraduate programme there will be considerable emphasis placed on independent
research and study. Students will be expected to develop independence in, and responsibility for their
own learning. Students will also be expected to integrate the techniques learnt in this course into their
broader programme of study by suggesting appropriate problems for discussion in class.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |