IRI31015 Applied product development (Autumn 2015)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Mandatory course in the bachelor's programme in Innovation and Project Management. Elective course in all bachelor's programmes in engineering.

Lecture Semester

Fifth semester (autumn)

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge:

The student is capable of viewing product development and project management as a systematic and integrated overall process.

Skills:

The student

-          is capable of participating in a market-oriented product development process that concludes in finished concepts and prototypes

-          is capable of, taking an already developed product idea as his/her starting point, taking the necessary steps to bring the idea to market.

General competence:

The student

-          has an understanding of product development as a practical activity with a clear academic foundation

-          is capable of cooperating with his/her academic supervisor and clients to carry out a task.

Content

The project is carried out as a practical and real case-based task defined and approved by the university college or by an external organisation/enterprise.

The project's research question and pre-project report are prepared by the student in cooperation with the university college's subject teacher and academic supervisor.

 The project work is to be carried out by means of good dialogue and cooperation with the clients, and may be carried out at the clients' premises in its entirety by agreement.

 The project will normally comprise the following phases:

•  Identifying customer needs and preparing product specifications
•  Generating, selecting and testing the concept
•  Preparing a business development plan to continue the process.

Forms of teaching and learning

A project is assigned to the student by the university college based on an overall academic assessment and in accordance with an agreement with the client. Supervision and other communication can take place in English if necessary.

The project can be carried out individually or in a group, and interdisciplinary cooperation is an advantage.

The student is expected to work in an independent, active, project-based and solution-oriented manner. The student is expected to comply with the work-related rules and relevant procedures and standards of the practical training institution/enterprise, and is responsible for seeking academic or practical guidance as required.

The course is intended to provide experience and knowledge of processes related to product development, and students with different specialisations are combined in project groups to contribute to the interdisciplinary aspect of the project.

The teaching is very much based on student involvement, and will range from lectures, academic supervision and seminars to visits to businesses and enterprises. The course will be taught in English if students from cooperating institutions abroad are taking part.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

• A pre-project report, maximum five pages
• Completion of practical project work and a written report of no more than ten pages
• Preparation of a reading list appropriate to the academic content of the project, to be agreed with the subject teacher

 It may be a requirement that the required coursework be submitted in English. Required coursework must be approved no later than three weeks before the student can sit the exam.

Examination

• Submission of an adapted project report from the practical project work. An interim grade is awarded for the project report.
  
  
• An individual oral exam with a presentation of the project report (approx. ten minutes)

The content of the report is emphasised in accordance with the student's academic background and demonstration of analytical ability. The presentation is followed by questions from the examiner (approx. ten minutes).

 Letter grades ranging from A to F are used, with A being the highest grade and F meaning that the exam has been failed. The grade E or better must be awarded for the written part of the exam in order for the student to be allowed to take the oral exam. Students who are awarded an F for their project report are given the opportunity to rework it.

 The oral exam serves to adjust the grade awarded on the basis of the project report. The grade may be adjusted up or down by one grade.

Course evaluation

Continuous evaluation throughout the semester, with the evaluation method being agreed between the subject teacher(s) and the students. Written final evaluation of the course.

Literature

Core material:

Technology Entrepreneurship, 2nd Edition

Taking Innovation to the Marketplace

Thomas N. Duening, Robert A. Hisrich, Michael A. Lechter. 2014. 'Technology Entrepreneurship, 2nd Edition - Taking Innovation to the Marketplace' ISBN9780124202344. Release Date: 17 Nov. 2014. eBook ISBN: 9780124202344

Print Book ISBN : 9780124201750

Supplementary reading:

 Ulrich, Karl. 2004 Product design and development. Third edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Levin, Morten and Rolfsen, Monica. 2008. Arbeid i team: Læring og utvikling i team. Bergen, Fagbokforlag