CIS-21306 Innovation Management and Cross-Disciplinary Design

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

One of the introductory courses offered by Communication Science

Continuation courses:

Facilitating Interactive Processes / Management of Change

Contents:

Degradation of natural resources, vulnerability of agricultural systems, fragile institutions and rural poverty are but some of the global challenges for which new answers must be found. Innovations to meet these challenges are likely to be successful only when designers manage to forge a coherent balance between novel social, technical and organisational components that anticipated user requirements and contextual conditions. Creating such a balance requires a creative learning and negotiation process amongst stakeholders, (technical and social) scientists and prospective users. The challenge of effective beta-gamma integration is the key focus in this course, which is split into three parts. The first part deals at an advanced level with issues of knowledge, systems innovation and design, as related to the domain of the agro-ecological and life-sciences. The second part is reserved for bringing about a productive confrontation between technical design approaches and social science modes of thinking. During the final part of the course students set out in groups to make a social-technical problem analysis as part of a design trajectory.

Aims:

- develop an understanding of innovation processes and the role of design and communication therein;
- gain insight in the significance of various types of knowledge in innovation processes;
- link these insights to prominent bèta design approaches;
- gain appropriate understanding of the role of gamma and bèta scientists as well as
communication managers in design processes;
- gain some practical skills relevant to socio-technical design

Activities:

- working lectures on relevant theory and approaches;
- discussion lectures with bèta and gamma researchers and students;
- group work on socio-technical problem analysis.

Examination:

- written examination;
- group assignment.

Literature:

A course outline can be obtained from the secretary of Communication Science. Course literature will be handed out during the first lecture.