Handbook home
Design Thinking (MGMT90223)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject offers a foundational overview of the Design Thinking framework including techniques and methods associated with problem solving and innovation. This course takes a ‘learn by doing’ approach to put the methodology into practice and requires significant group work and practice outside of lecture hours.
What is a wicked problem? How do you know when you have identified a problem worth solving for? More importantly, how do you then solve that problem? What does good design look like? How do you know that your solution is worth pursuing? In this subject we address these questions by adopting a Design Thinking approach and tapping in to the inner creativity and designer that resides in all of us.
Design Thinking is a creative approach to problem solving that puts the end user at the heart of everything we do. It aids us in the innovation process by continually exploring and challenging status quo while focussing on underlying human needs. The subject begins by exploring the foundational framework of design thinking and the mindset required to step outside of your comfort zone and into ambiguity. We highlight the significance of human-centred design principles to understand ‘wicked problems’ including deep empathy through ethnographic research techniques. We examine various forms of prototyping and their capacity to be generative of innovative solutions. We will also interrogate assumptions, generate insights, and transform these into opportunities for innovation. A significant proportion of the subject will be devoted to practicing design-thinking techniques outside of lecture. Students will undertake a critical analysis of a ‘wicked problem’ and use design-thinking principles to create, iterate and test an innovative solution.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- understand and explain the foundational principles of Design Thinking;
- undertake a critical and empathetic analysis of a problem setting;
- demonstrate skills in ideation;
- discuss the relationship between human desires, organizational needs and design characteristics;
- defend and justify design decisions;
- develop comprehensive skills is customer-centric evaluation.
Generic skills
High level of development:
- Develop problem-solving skills through tutorial exercises
- Develop creative ways of solving unfamiliar problems, through the tutorial exercise series
- Learn to adopt new ideas, from participation in the lecture program
Moderate level of development:
- Think critically, and organise knowledge, from consideration of the lecture material
- Plan effective work schedules, to meet the regular deadlines for submission of assessable work
- Present an argument, by reflecting on those presented in the lecture series
Last updated: 9 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Entry to the Master of Entrepreneurship
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Seminar preparation and participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Group presentation (usually in groups of 3-4)
| Week 7 | 10% |
Final group presentation including 2000 word report, 5-10 minute video and 10 minute oral presentation (usually in groups of 3-4) | Week 12 | 40% |
Individual design journal | During the examination period | 40% |
Last updated: 9 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinators Paige Talbot and Mond Qu Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours (one 3 hour seminar per week) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours per semester
Last updated: 9 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
You will be advised of the prescribed texts by your lecturer
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Entrepreneurship
Last updated: 9 April 2024