MSE Master of Science in Engineering

The Swiss engineering master's degree

Each module contains 3 ECTS. You choose a total of 10 modules/30 ECTS in the following module categories: 

  • 12-15 ECTS in technical scientific modules (TSM)
    TSM modules teach profile-specific specialist skills and supplement the decentralised specialisation modules.
  • 9-12 ECTS in fundamental theoretical principles modules (FTP)
    FTP modules deal with theoretical fundamentals such as higher mathematics, physics, information theory, chemistry, etc. They will teach more detailed, abstract scientific knowledge and help you to bridge the gap between abstraction and application that is so important for innovation.
  • 6-9 ECTS in context modules (CM)
    CM modules will impart additional skills in areas such as technology management, business administration, communication, project management, patent law, contract law, etc.

In the module description (download pdf) you find the entire language information per module divided into the following categories:

  • instruction
  • documentation
  • examination 
Novel Innovation and Design Principles (TSM_InnoDes)

NOVEL INNOVATION & DESIGN PRINCIPLES. In order to keep generating competitive advantage through innovation, both manufacturing and service industries are in need to apply novel innovation and design principles. This module will focus on reuniting the study and practice of entrepreneurship and innovation. It takes a process-oriented view of agile Innovation.
First it starts with recognizing the opportunity and understanding the problem space using design thinking and selecting appropriate tools and methods. After achieving the Problem/Solution-Fit with the Lean Start-up approach an MVP is further developed and the using agile product and customer development, business design the venture can be scaled.
Alongside this journey, different tools are selected, e.g 5Wh, customer journey, big data Analytics, business ecosystem design canvas, Lean Canvas are applied.
Approaches such as Design Thinking, user-driven innovation, lean startup and lean entrepreneurship, corporate venturing, jugaad innovation will be used to work on one real-life business cases. Different excursions complete the module to see how novel design and innovation principles are applied in practice.

Prerequisites

BSc Business Engineering.
Other with basic knowledge of business principles such as marketing, accounting and controlling

Learning Objectives

  • What is agile innovation?
  • what are the differences to traditional innovation processes?
  • How to apply Design Thinking, Lean Start-up and other user centered approaches
  • Select the right tools to achieve the targets for a given Innovation challenge
  • The nature of creativity and the creative process
  • Moderation of a creatity workshop
  • Where innovations come from – the wide range of different source which offer opportunities
  • Combine intuitive and analytical problem solving techniques
  • Apply key tools like customer journey, Lean Canvas and Business Ecosystem Design Canvas
  • The need for a strategy to guide search for opportunities
  • Developing and using a business plan to attract resources

Contents of Module

WK1 WK2 WK3 WK4 WK5 WK6 WK7
 Introduction  System
Thinking		 Design 
Thinking		 Project Work Experiments and Prototypes  Creativity Techniques Project Work 
 Case presentation Types of Innovation  Customer Journey  Project Work  First presentation  Workshop Facilitation  Project Work 
 Teamforming  Teamwork   Teamwork   Teamwork   Teamwork   Teamwork   Teamwork 

 

WK8 WK9 WK10 WK11 WK12 WK13 WK14
Creativity
Workshop		 Innovation Culture Lean Canvas Backlog and User Stories

 Business Ecosystem Design Project Work Final Presentation
Creativity Workshop  Project Work Project Work Second presentation

 Concept Map Project Work  Concept Maps
Teamwork Teamwork Teamwork Problem Solution Fit Teamwork Teamwork
 Final Q&A

Teaching and Learning Methods

Flipped Classroom didactic approach complemented by case studies, workshops and guest lectures. Units of 2x45min and 1x45 min case study. Cases are briefed and presented biweekly.

Literature

Lewrick, Link and Leifer (2018): The Design Thinking Playbook, Wiley.
Lewrick, Link and Leifer (2020): The Design Thinking Toolbox, Wiley.

Also available in German

Lewrick, Link und Leifer (2018): Das Design Thinking Playbook, 2. Aufl., Vahlen Verlag.
Lewrick, Link und Leifer (2029): Das Design Thinking Toolbook, Vahlen Verlag.

Download full module description

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