Course syllabus

Innovation Engineering
Innovationsteknik

INTN01, 7.5 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2025/26
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering LTH
Decided by: PLED I
Date of Decision: 2025-03-28
Effective: 2025-05-05

General Information

Depth of study relative to the degree requirements: Second cycle, in-depth level of the course cannot be classified
Mandatory for: MFIPDES2
Elective for: D4, E4, F4, I4-ai, M4, MMSR2, N4
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English

Aim

The purpose of the course is to give participants a deepened understanding of how innovations of both technical and social character are created. The course deals with design and development of both new products (goods and services) and new processes (technological and organizational), with a particular focus on methods, tools and strategies for the early phases of the innovation process. The course is based on a generic design thinking process, and includes lectures and exercises related to theories on design processes and methods within the topic of design and innovation. Through needs-motivated projects guided by coaches, course participants will spend the major part of the course creating conceptual solution proposals and evaluating these with respect to three overlapping criteria; desirability, feasibility and viability. The aim of the course is to get a broader perspective on the challenges related to UN sustainable development goals.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Describe and discuss key dimensions and characteristics of a generic design thinking process.
Identify and discuss appropriate methods and approaches in each dimension of the process.
Report and discuss how the chosen methods and approaches relate to the industrial state-of-practice and the academic state-of-the-art.

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

Plan and perform a team-based project.
Explore and analyze needs, trends and technologies.
Create and evaluate ideas for how to address the identified needs.
Demonstrate and evaluate conceptual solution proposals.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

Evaluate and assess the project outcomes, with respect to the success criteria (desirability, feasibility, viability).
Evaluate and assess the project outcomes, with respect to sustainable development (ecological, social and economic factors).
Discuss and critically assess his/her own – and the other participants’ – approaches, insights and conclusions.
Appraise and discuss aspects related to team dynamics.

The major part of the course is devoted to project work, which allows participants to work in teams to experience a systematic design and innovation process. Class sessions will include a mix of lectures and practical exercises related to methods, tools and strategies for design and innovation. Guest lecturers will provide insight into real industry cases, and teams are provided with coaches that are active researchers within the field of design and innovation. Peer review and feedforward techniques are used throughout the course to ensure critical reflection on both processes and outcomes. The course is a project course based on the challenges related to UN sustainable development goals.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: The examination consists of two parts: 1) Project that will be performed in teams of 3-4 students, and reported in a written report and a verbal team presentation. 2) Individual written report that discusses insights and conclusions from the project and lectures, based on the course literature. Please note that the first and second lecture, coaching sessions and final presentations are mandatory.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Modules
Code: 0125. Name: Project.
Credits: 4.0. Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5). Assessment: Project that will be performed in teams of 3-4 students, and reported in a written report and a verbal team presentation.
Code: 0225. Name: Individual Reflection.
Credits: 3.5. Grading scale: UG - (U, G). Assessment: Individual written report that discusses insights and conclusions from the project and lectures, based on the course literature.

Admission

Admission requirements:

MIO012 Managerial Economics, Basic Course or MIO022 Management Organization or MIOA01 Managerial Economics, Basic Course or MIOA12 Managerial Economics, Basic Course or MIOA15 Managerial Economics, Basic Course or MIOF20 Management Organization

The number of participants is limited to: 60
Selection: Priority is given to students whose program lists the course as a compulsory or specialization course in their curriculum. If students with priority fill up all seats in the course, students who have the course as a specialization course will be ranked according to the number of credits to be distinguished when seats are allocated. After that, students with the course listed as an elective will have a chance to get one of the remaining seats. When seats are allocated, students will be ranked according to the number of credits to be distinguished. IMPORTANT: Students who wish to enter a potential second admission are encouraged to participate in the mandatory course introduction.

Reading list

Brown, T., Katz, B: Change by Design - How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. Harper Collins, 2009, ISBN: 0061766089. Purchasing the above book is recommended, but not mandatory. Complementary material will be handed out in class.

Contact

Director of studies: Elin Olander, Elin.Olander@design.lth.se
Course administrator: Lena Leveen, lena.leveen@design.lth.se
Examinator: Anders Warell, anders.warell@design.lth.se
Course coordinator: Anders Warell, anders.warell@design.lth.se
Course coordinator: Jessica Wadin, jessica.wadin@design.lth.se
Course homepage: https://www.innovation.lth.se/education/

Further information

NOTE: Very IMPORTANT, attendance on the first and second day in study week 1, all coaching sessions and the final presentation are mandatory.

If you miss the first week, it will be challenging to participate in the course since students will be divided into groups and start working on their project work on the first day of the course. We don not enroll students through late applications after the course has started.

Innovation Engineering Innovationsteknik