| 1. |
- Berglund, Anders, 1974-
(författare)
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Two facets of Innovation in Engineering Education : The interplay of Student Learning and Curricula Design
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis covers two main perspectives ofinnovation; first, innovation is regarded as an outcome-related mechanism wherelearning is expressed through artefact presentations at the end of adevelopment process; second, innovation comprises a change mechanism in theprocess of student learning, influencing educators to reconsider new methods andpractices. Building on qualitative data from engineering design courses, theaim has been to explore how learning elements in engineering educationinfluence students during early-phase innovation. By implementing andpracticing learning elements, early-phase innovation could strengthen both currentand future engineering curricula, courses, and programmes.This thesis put attention to authentic experiences in which learning elementsis acted upon by students and targeted, defined, and refined by educators.Introducing learning elements need educators to manifest learning efforts moreexplicitly to match students’ capability to interpret new knowledge. Adoptinglearning elements that challenge existing paths of action are characterized by diversity, proactivity, opennessand motivation. For students to excel in the exploration of early-phaseinnovation, it is important to identify when, how and to what extent leaningelements can be reinforced. Thestrengthened understanding by students is mirrored in improved ability to takeaction and apply relevant knowledge in distinct learning situations. Theopportunity to influence student learning provides the design and redesign of curricula,courses and programmes as a prime feature to leaning elements relevant to early-phaseinnovation. To successfully pursue innovation in engineering education abalance is necessary between responsible actors integrating learning elementsand by those determined to learn.
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| 2. |
- Kihlander, Ingrid, 1976-
(författare)
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Concept decisions in product development process
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Successful concept decisions are crucial for product development organisations. Failure in theconcept decision-making process means costly rework, requiring resources that could havebeen spent on innovative work with new products instead. This licentiate thesis tackles theconcept decision-making process and how to improve it. The research presented here is thefirst part of a research project, with an action research approach, that will develop newsupporting working procedures for concept decision making and thereby contribute to moresuccessful products.Empirical studies were conducted in Swedish industrial practice, particularly focusing oneorganisation, and it was found that concept decisions are not made at a certain point in time.Instead, many decisions and activities, on several organisational levels, were adding up to theconcept decisions in the investigated organisations. The concept decision-making process wasfound to be a web of interconnected activities, with many decisions integrated and embedded in the process. Itwas also found that both formal and informal factors influence the concept decision-makingprocess and main factors were identified as: Project and product request, Supporting structures androutines, Individual competence and driving forces, Teamwork and company culture and Contextualcircumstances. These factors represent different perspectives, meaning on what level theyinfluence concept decision making: individual, team, project, organisation, and context, and in orderto create improvements in the concept decision-making process all levels have to beconsidered. The knowledge of the different perspectives has implications for howimprovements should be designed.Larger product developing companies do often have internally defined formal workingprocedures that prescribe how to develop products within the company. The thesis discusseshow the internal working procedures relate to academic theory and to practice. It wasconcluded that internal formal working procedures has not been discussed in a sufficient wayin earlier engineering design research. Furthermore, means for improving the concept decisionmakingprocess are discussed, and it was concluded, based on interviews with practitioners,that the strongest pragmatic means for improvement were developing mindset and applyingmethods. Mindset addresses the awareness, attitude and approach needed for management (andco-workers) working in early product development phases. Methods mainly addresses the needfor having relevant supporting working procedures in general and templates for evaluationalternative solutions in particular. Finally, recommendations for future design of a template forevaluation alternative solutions are presented.
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| 3. |
- Kihlander, Ingrid, 1976-
(författare)
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Managing concept decision making in product development practice
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Making concept decisions is a crucial activity for product-developing companies since these decisions have high impact on the subsequent development and launch of the product. Consequences of unsuccessful concept decisions can be severe, e.g. missing out on business opportunities or spending money on rework. This thesis investigates concept decision making in product development practice and contributes by enhancing the understanding of what is actually happening, the difficulties experienced in the process, and how to manage and improve concept decision making. Such enhanced understanding should serve as a basis when support methods for concept decision making are developed. In-depth studies have been conducted in a Swedish automotive company, focusing on the technical system level of the product. The concept decision process was found to be a web of interconnected activities, embedded in the concept development process, and with several actors on different hierarchical levels. An overarching challenge identified in concept decision making was to achieve compatibility before completeness, meaning that compatibility between product systems must be met before the system solutions are completely developed. In addition, a number of conflicts intrinsic in the process were revealed, pointing to underlying causes of the difficulties in managing concept decision making. These conflicts are omnipresent due to the product and organizational complexity and have to be handled by the product developers in their daily work. The thesis identifies key elements for improving an organization’s concept decision making: Create meta-knowledge and awareness regarding what influences the process and the actors in the process since there is a general lack of knowledge regarding one’s own and the organization’s decision-making processes; Ask questions to ensure that aspects, previously neglected, are considered; Provide visualizations to enhance understanding of both process and solutions; Provide vision as guidance in everyday decision making and trade-offs; and Ensure reflections since there is a need for actors in the process to reflect on the own decision-making process. In conclusion, a model to improve the concept decision making in practice is proposed. The model includes a set of proposed activities that are designed to address the previously identified challenges, and was developed in collaboration between researchers and practitioners.
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| 4. |
- Malvius, Diana, 1974-
(författare)
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Information Management for Complex Product Development
- 2007
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Due to different engineering background and limited technical prerequisites, trade-offs are needed when managing information in complex product development. The challenges faced with information management for complex product development are as much of organizational as technical character.Information management has in this thesis been analyzed from both a technical and organizational dimension in order to obtain an integrated view and holistic understanding. The technical dimension focuses on information management systems, such as product lifecycle management systems. An information management system in itself does not solve problems in an organization; it manages at its best all types of business data while storing and retrieving information. In order to succeed, information management needs to be aligned with different needs and with a variety of domain-specific work procedures. The organizational dimension includes organizational structures, work procedures, and the designer and management perspectives on needs and benefits with information management.Perceived benefits with integrated information management are identified as support for SE, work procedure mapping, use of disciplinary support tools, and data integrity and availability. Five technical and organizational key success factors for efficient information management are presented; usability, integration of information, motivation, information structure and organizational support. It is concluded that structured information, management support and motivation among designers are more important than customization of information management systems in order to achieve integrated information management.
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