MT2502 Creativity for Product- and Service Development

The purpose of the course is for the students to gain a deeper understanding and practical experience of creative concept development methods at the early phases of the product development process. It is an introduction to methods that can help the student to consider and predict how we currently fulfill human needs through methods that help identify user needs and generate and test concept ideas. Apart from learning about and practicing these methods, the students will acquire some foundational knowledge about how to manage creativity in organizations and how to plan creativity sessions.

Prerequisites

This course is open to all students having at least 180 ECTS credit points of University study (or the equivalent), or any Bachelor’s Degree equivalent to the Swedish Bachelor’s. English language requirements are English A (minimum score of IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 500)

Content

• The role of creativity in the product development process
• Creativity techniques
• Creativity related group dynamics and basics for managing creativity in organizations
• The business case for creativity

The course is divided into three learning tracks that run throughout the course:
• Track 1: Creativity and the development process
• Track 2: Managing creativity
• Track 3: Creativity methods & tools

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student will:

• independently plan and implement creativity sessions using creativity techniques to contribute to sustainable product-service system development.
• be able to know the importance of creativity and the significance of identifying user needs in the early stages of the product development process.
• have the ability to select and utilize advanced methods for need identification, problem exploration and the discovery of innovation opportunities.
• independently identify and develop appropriate guidelines to prioritize, evaluate and select conceptual ideas.
• show understanding of how organizational management can promote and control creativity.

Generic Skills

The following generic skills are trained in the course:
• Ability to analyze and synthesize
• Creativity and problem solving
• Ability to work alone and in teams
• Ability to verbal communication

Course literature and other teaching material

Course literature and other teaching material

Learning methods

The learning objectives will be achieved through a combination of lectures and workshops, readings, group work, and reflection. The course has a focus on student-led projects which will be supported by participation lectures, work-shops and presentations throughout the course.
All students will write an individual reflection journal and participate in two group assignments in the course.

Work placement

Lectures, project and visits.

Teachers

Examiner
Sophie Hallstedt

Course Manager
Cesar Levy Franca

Planned learning activities

Lectures, laboratory sessions, exercises and project.

Time allocation

On average, a student should study 200 hours to reach the learning outcomes. This time includes all the various available learning activities (lectures, self studies, examinations, etc.). This estimation is based on the fact that one academic year counts as 60 ECTS credits, corresponding to an average student workload of 1 600 hours. This may vary individually.

Assessments

Code	Title	ECTS credits	Grade
	Project 1	3	F/P/3/4/5
	Project 2	3	F/P/3/4/5
	Reflection	1.5	F/P/3/4/5

Grading

The course will be graded Fail, Pass, 3, 4 or 5 .

On request grades according to ECTS will be given.

Future exams

No upcoming, centrally coordinated, examinations for this course were found.

To participate in a centrally coordinated examination, you must enroll in Student's Portal, no later than fifteen days before the examination.

Time and location for the examination will be published about 5 days in advance.

There might be other scheduled examinations. Information concerning these examinations are available in It's Learning or at other places that the person who is responsible of the course will refer to.

Course Evaluation

The course manager is responsible for the views of students on the course being systematically and regularly gathered and that the results of the evaluations in various forms affect the form and development of the course.