| Week 1 |
Introduction to creative engineering and entrepreneurship |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Overview of the course, Paradigm shift, Examples of students' inventions.
Inventor's resource in Columbia University and in New York City.
Lecture and student survey
My favorite invention or inventor, how it
was done, why it is important, and the reasons of success.
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| Week 2 |
Invention and human civilization |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Inspiring stories of great inventions, history of civilization and technology
and engineering.
Lecture and students' show & tell on their favorite invention, inventor,
and reason for success.
Forbes, R.J., "Man the Maker, A History of Technology and Engineering,"
Aberlard-Schuman Limited, New York.Dauman, M., "A History of Technology
and Engineering"
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| Week 3 |
Utilization of motivation and imagination |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Motivation-the important factor in successful invention, use various
reasons for invention: sympathy, laziness, madness, fame, survival, pressure,
wealth, and etc. nature of imagination and human creativity, role models
of successful inventors.
Lecture, in-class practice
Osborn, A.F.,"Applied Imagination, Principles and Procedures of
Creative Problem Solving", Third Revised Edition, Scribner's Sons.
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| Week 4 |
Sensitivity enhancement in finding areas for
improvement |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Reduction of satisfaction, critical attitude, finding invention subjects
Situation setting, group discussion, in-class practice
Hong, S., "You can be an Edison", NTU press, handout
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| Week 5 |
Techniques to enhance creation productivity |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Japanese methodology to increase invention productivity (methods of combination,
technology transfer, substitution consideration, opposition thinking,
simplification process, and miniaturization of products); Gallery method
by Hellfritz, Method 635 by Rohrbach; Delphi method, Synectics-the development
of creative capacity by Gordon.
Lecture, followed by in-class practice.
Worksheet/questionnaires
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| Week 6 |
Brainstorming in creative collaboration |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Principle of brain storming technique and its application in group collaboration
Lecture followed by in-class practice and group idea generation competition
Brightman, H.J. "Group Problem Solving, An Improved Managerial Approach"
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| Week 7 |
Value analysis, idea evaluation and market assessment |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Idea evaluation criteria, meeting industrial and consumer needs, market
assessment, competitor analysis, product life cycle, pricing and quantity,
gross profit over life cycle
Lecture
Eveans, J.R. and Berman, "Marketing" Mac Millan publishing,
NY 1985.
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| Week 8 |
A day of 100 ideas |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Generate ideas during field trip to companies, department stores, or
product fair .
Field trip and facilitated discussion at various sites
A list of 100 ideas for invention.
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| Week 9 |
Idea realization process |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Product life cycle, idea embodiment, engineering design and manufacturing,
resource for implementation of idea, prototyping and testing, implementation
strategy, Choice of by hardware or software, pure mechanical, or electrical
or chemical approaches, manual or automatic.
Lecture, followed by example how an idea turns into the reality, group
discussion on how to implement some student�s ideas.
Pahl, G and Beitz., "Engineering Design, A Systematic Approach",
Second Edition, Springer
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| Week 10 |
Intellectual property and patent law |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Intellectual property and essentials of patent law, US and international
patent system, effective patent search, US patent classification system,
patent document preparation, patent claims, patent licensing.
Lecture and with patent attorney as guest speaker������
Amerinick, Burton,"Patent Law for Non-Lawyer, A guide for the Engineer,
Technologist, and Manager," Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York.
Homework assignment: (1) Patent search assignment; (2) Write invention
description for patent application.
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| Week 11 |
Entrepreneurship |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Venture capital, partnership, forming a company, team building, aspects
of entrepreneur, government programs to assist small business enterprise,
marketing strategy and niche finding.
Lecture, Entrepreneurs' forum, guest speaker from state SBIR office
Merrill, R.E., and Sedgwick, H.D., "The New Venture Handbook, Everything
You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Own Business," AMACOM, a division
of American management Association
Business plan writing, proposal writing
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| Week 12 |
Case study and forum on successful engineering product
business |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Inventor and entrepreneur's forum
Guest speakers of successful engineer/entrepreneur followed by group
discussion.
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| Week 13 |
Promoting ideas within corporate environment |
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Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Relationship among idea, innovator, organization and stakeholders, guidelines
For promoting idea, innovation process, competencies for promoting idea,
felt need and compatibility, stakeholders and facilitators, influence
strategies (persuasion, prescription, exchange, participation, attraction,
coalitions), action planning and implementation guide.
Workshop, situation discussion, group brainstorming, in-class practice,
and company manager as guest speaker (optional).
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| Week 14 |
Case Studies (I): From ideas to business plans |
| Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Subject: Salesmanship, checklist for idea evaluation, patent applicability,
and business plan.
Individual student or team presentation followed by group discussion
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| Week 15 |
Case Studies (II): From ideas to business plans |
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Content
Content
Format
Reference
Homework
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Individual student or team presentation followed by group discussion.
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