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Course & Unit Catalogues


ME50372: Strategic and innovative thinking

[Page last updated: 23 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Case study (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this unit the student will be able to:
* summarise systems thinking in an automotive propulsion context
* apply strategic thinking
* apply effective critical thinking techniques
* conduct road-mapping exercises over short, medium and long term horizons.


Aims: The aim of this course is to provide students with strategic and innovative thinking methods to challenge the status quo of conventional systems thinking, and to provide a framework for managing the rapidly changing technological world. ,br />This course will explore strategic thinking processes, road-mapping techniques, contextualization of technology drivers, and alternative thinking approaches for systems design and analysis. The course will critically review current processes, and how these impose limitations in today's changing world.

Skills:
* Independent study
* Oral communication
* Written communication
* Critical thinking
* Prioritization and scoring matrix techniques
* Data and information analysis of complex systems
* SWOT analysis
* Dealing with incomplete data
* Strategic development techniques.

Content: This unit will be built around a variety of techniques to develop a vision strategy and roadmap for long term change in the mobility sector. The course is set around a wicked problem that students must work to solve as a transdiciplinary team
Specifically the course will include
  • System Thinking
  • System Change Canvas
  • PESTLES Analysis
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Two-loop model


Course availability:

ME50372 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • REME-AFM29 : Integrated PhD Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses 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.