Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Chemical Engineering School
This course will introduce students to the frameworks and theory behind innovation and leadership in an engineering environment and will allow students to develop and demonstrate an understanding of innovation in the context of an engineering practice. The course will enable students to identify and apply the elements of the innovation lifecycle and develop a systematic approach to managing innovation. Ultimately students will develop the skills to engage and influence innovative practice in their own engineering contexts providing the foundation for future leadership roles.
This course is one of the core courses for the graduate-entry Master of Engineering program. Along with its companion course ENGG7901, this course is designed to prepare students for some of the 'non-engineering' factors that influence the delivery and translation of engineering technologies and projects. In ENGG7902 students will learn valuable 'lean startup and customer discovery techniques' encompassing the following three key facets: (1) Functional Teams and Leadership, (2) Human Centred Design and (3) Communication of a Project's Value. While it is unrealistic to expect students and teams to develop a thriving new startup by the completion of this course, we do expect that in the future when students are presented with opportunities to advance new ideas, technologies and concepts that they will have a toolbox of skills to perform agile development of a validated business model.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This is a core course for the graduate-entry Masters of Engineering and will consist of students from all disciplines. As such, it assumes undergraduate level competence in your engineering discipline. However the real focus is on the 'non-engineering' aspects of professional practise as an engineer.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ENGY7200, ENGG4900, ENGG4901, ENGG4902
Restrictions
Enrollment Restricted to students in the GCEngSc, MEngSc and MEngSc(Man) in the field of Mechanical, Mechatronic or Materials and Manufacturing, MBioeng(Prof), MChemEng(Prof), MCivilEng(Prof), MElecEng(Prof), MMatManEng(Prof), MMechEng(Prof), MSoftEng(Prof), MUrbWatEng(Prof) and the ME program.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Celine Chaleat
Dr Hima Haridevan
Tutor
Mr Akshay Krishna Ambika Harikumar
Mr Srinivasan Ramaraj
Dr Hale Oguzlu-Baldelli
Mr Cole Walchle
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to prepare students for some of the 'non-engineering' factors that influence the delivery and translation of engineering technologies and projects. We expect you will come away with a suite of valuable "tools" which will empower you with a better understanding of (1) how to build and lead Functional Teams, (2) how to undertake effective Human Centred Design, and (3) how to determine and then effectively Communicate a Project's Value through the agile development of a validated business model.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand key elements of Functional Teams and Effective Leaders
LO2.
Develop core values, purpose and structure for an engineering organisation, including development of a Team Charter
LO3.
Identify the environment (context, design drivers and constraints) in which businesses operate, and analyse trends (mega and macro-economic), market forces and competitors to formulate and communicate strategies to improve their competitive advantage and real value in a global context
LO4.
Develop a business model for an early-stage engineering organisation, or small project within a larger established organisation, with a focus on generating sustainable value propositions and customer profiles for a new engineering idea. This business model will be based on many interviews to determine "who in the end-user community really needs this?"
LO5.
Understand the innovation lifecycle and critically assess needs and opportunities in innovation in an engineering environment. This is done through the development of research skills in market and customer discovery
LO6.
Generate the sustainable value proposition for a new engineering idea
LO7.
Effectively communicate sustainable engineering solutions to multiple audiences and stakeholders through "storytelling"
LO8.
Prepare a concise and coherent oral presentations (Elevator Pitch and Pre-seed Pitch) for an innovative early stage company/ product/ service/ project
LO9.
Reflect upon the semester's learnings, with a particular emphasis on how this curriculum has influenced your perspectives and understanding of building real value in engineering projects, and how this might be deployed in future your engineering practice
LO10.
Improve teamwork skills through practice, reflection and feedback
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
3 Minute Elevator Pitch - Group
|
10% |
19/08/2024 2:00 pm
Group Pitch slides to be submitted via Blackboard on the due date, then presented during either the Lecture or Workshop slots in Week 5. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Mid-Semester Activity Document - Individual and Group
|
40% (comprising 15% Individual and 25% Team components) |
Individual component 18/09/2024 2:00 pm Group component 20/09/2024 2:00 pm
This assessment piece has both individual and group-based components that will need to be populated into the online document. Please see Blackboard for details. |
| Presentation |
Final (Pre-seed/Feasibility Project) Pitch - Group
|
30% Hurdle |
21/10/2024 2:00 pm
Final Pitch slides to be submitted via Blackboard on the due date, then presented during either the Lecture or Workshop slots in Week 13. |
| Reflection |
Project Reflection - Individual
|
20% Includes 5% participation in discussion boards/polls each week |
4/11/2024 2:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
3 Minute Elevator Pitch - Group
- Identity Verified
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
19/08/2024 2:00 pm
Group Pitch slides to be submitted via Blackboard on the due date, then presented during either the Lecture or Workshop slots in Week 5.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
Task description
3 Minute Elevator Pitch – Group
Brief Task Description: Storytelling, pitching, and communication is a major component of this course. It is also a critical part of your later assessments.
Groups will be required to pitch their concept or idea for a “sustainable engineering solution” during either the Week 5 Lecture or Workshop slots.
In this introductory pitch, you will have 3 minutes (STRICTLY enforced) to pitch your project to your peers and the ENGG7902 Teaching Team. This will serve as an opportunity for distilling preliminary ideas before moving through Weeks 6-13, as well as an opportunity to learn about the other projects in your cohort, and to obtain initial feedback from the Teaching Team and your peers.
Please refer to Blackboard for more details on this assessment, including a PowerPoint Pitch Template, which should assist your team organise their thoughts.
We recommend only one team member present (given the short time frame), but encourage all team members to answer questions. Feel free to adjust the template to suit your needs with respect to visual design, but please ensure you cover all content in the template.
Upload a copy of your presentation to this assignment. Each team will present their own slides during the pitching session(s). Only one submission is required per team. Please see Blackboard for details.
We understand that your idea is not yet fully formed. As such we are not expecting you to be able to provide an entirely polished or coherent concept. This will be taken into account during marking, but you should make the most of this opportunity to receive early and valuable feedback.
Use of AI and MT (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Translation)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Upload a copy of your presentation to this assignment. Each team will present their own slides during the pitching session. Only one submission is required per team. Please see Blackboard for details.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.
Penalties Apply for Late Submission
Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)
Mid-Semester Activity Document - Individual and Group
- Team or group-based
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40% (comprising 15% Individual and 25% Team components)
- Due date
Individual component 18/09/2024 2:00 pm
Group component 20/09/2024 2:00 pm
This assessment piece has both individual and group-based components that will need to be populated into the online document. Please see Blackboard for details.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
Task description
Brief Task Description: Mid-Semester Activity Document (to be compiled using Microsoft Teams)
This MS Teams “Living Document” will serve as a repository of both Individual and Group oriented deliverables leading up to the end of Week 9. Please refer to Blackboard for full details, and we will provide guidance each week as to which deliverables need to be populated into which parts of the shared document.
Use of AI and MT (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Translation)
Complex / authentic assessment using AI to support learning
Note: May include a revision of existing authentic assessment
May include a component of the assessment task which is completed in person – for example as a viva voce.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.
Penalties Apply for Late Submission
Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)
Final (Pre-seed/Feasibility Project) Pitch - Group
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30% Hurdle
- Due date
21/10/2024 2:00 pm
Final Pitch slides to be submitted via Blackboard on the due date, then presented during either the Lecture or Workshop slots in Week 13.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
Task description
So your start-up or corporate project team has a good idea? Your team is now ready to shift gears and progress this "desk-based" business concept in Sustainable Engineering towards the Proof-of-Concept and Demonstration stage. To do this you will be performing a "Pre-seed or Feasibility Project" Pitch, essentially asking for between $500k and $1M AUD and justifying exactly why you need this funding and how you intend to deploy it.
Based on your solid prior customer discovery research and business/value proposition modelling, you now need to invest in your idea over an 18-month timeframe to prove it up.
Packaged in a total of no more than 20 PowerPoint slides in total, this pitch will achieve the following things:
(1) In strictly 8 minutes and no more than the first 10 slides, your team will pitch its final, polished business model in its full glory (company or project name, brand, logo, tagline, sustainable value proposition, viable business model with huge energy and excitement). Every person on your team must present at least one of the slides.
(2) From the "healthy t-e-n-s-i-o-n" identified in your team's business model canvas, you will clearly pitch the roadmap forward (Why us? Why now? How Much, and on What, When and How this $$$ should best be deployed?).
(3) In the 5 minutes following, you will answer questions from the panel of high-net-worth investors.
(4) The final 10 slides should be used to populate with whatever supporting details and data your team deems important (e.g. deeper market analysis, competitors, in-depth summary of customer discovery process, SWOT or risk analysis, more details on key partnerships, full financials etc.)
Use of AI and MT (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Translation)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Teams must achieve a 50% pass in this assessment piece.Submission guidelines
Slide deck to be submitted via Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.
Penalties Apply for Late Submission
Refer PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part C (48)
Project Reflection - Individual
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 20% Includes 5% participation in discussion boards/polls each week
- Due date
4/11/2024 2:00 pm
Task description
You will be asked to reflect on your project, perspectives and associated learning with respect to the 3 key course components (Human-Centred Design, Functional Teams and Leadership, and Communicating Value). A series of questions will prompt reflections, with a particular emphasis on how things might have changed or developed from early in semester (Weeks 1-5) versus at completion in Week 13. A rubric and some tips and suggested structure for reflective writing will be provided on Blackboard and this will also be discussed in the workshop in Week 12.
Use of AI and MT (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Translation)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Assessments must be submitted on or before the due date. Late submissions of assessment items will only be accepted if approval for late submission has been obtained prior to the due date.
Penalties Apply for Late Submission
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: As per grade 2 and/or failure to complete assessment items. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Lack of evidence of professional competence in the course material to the degree that teaching team believe would unacceptably inconvenience or endanger participants in any future project. Overall course grade typically between 30-44%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. Overall course grade typically between 45-49%. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstration of competency across core learning objectives around strategic management, leadership, teamwork and the innovation cycle. Students must receive an average peer assessment factor (PAF) > 0.9 across the semester. To receive a 4 or higher, the students must also pass the final presentation. Overall course grade typically between 50-64%. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Competent work showing the clear application of strategic management, leadership, teamwork and the innovation cycle as applied to a new engineering service or technology. Students must receive an average peer assessment factor (PAF) > 0.9 across the semester. Overall course grade typically between 65-74%. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Very competent work showing the clear application of effective thinking, effective communication,strategic management, leadership, teamwork and the innovation cycle as applied to a new engineering service or technology. Students must receive an average peer assessment factor (PAF) > 0.95 across the semester. Overall course grade typically between 75-84%. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Outstanding work showing the clear and concise application of effective thinking, effective communication, strategic management, leadership, teamwork and the innovation cycle as applied to a new engineering service or technology. The work will demonstrate out of the box thinking and students will demonstrate a capacity to go above and beyond task requirements. Students must receive an average peer assessment factor (PAF) > 0.95 across the semester. Overall course grade typically between 85-100%. |
Additional course grading information
Group work will ﾠbe observed during workshops and monitored by Peer Assessments. The teaching team will interact with the groups on a weekly basis, which will allow moderation of the peer assessment factor (PAF) used in some group assessments. Regular non-attendance in class will not be an automatic cause for failure, but will make it impossible for the teaching team to moderate. Hence class attendance is strongly encouraged.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for this course.
Since virtually all of assessment in the course is team based, no supplementary assessment is offered.ﾠ
Additional assessment information
Use of calculators
Unless specified elsewhere in the Course Profile, ONLY University approved and labelled calculators can be used in all exams for this course. Please consult ﾠhttps://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/sitting-exam/approved-calculatorsﾠﾠ for information about approved calculators and obtaining a label for non-approved calculators.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Lecture |
Theory & Discussion Sessions Lectures and Guest Lectures will be held throughout the semester. They will cover the theory and key principles around innovation and entrepreneurship, business modelling (including approaches and tools), customer discovery and human centred design, organisations, leadership, business model environment, value proposition design and the business model canvas. This will be supplemented with pertinent case studies, first-hand examples and library database skills support. |
Workshop |
Workshop Activities You will work in teams of 4-5 students to work through the various structured activities, as they help shape your team's new idea in Sustainable Engineering Innovation. To extract maximum benefit from these workshops, teams and individuals will need to complete extra tasks outside contact hours in a timely manner. A critical component of this course is completing lots of interviews ("Humble Discovery") so that your team makes excellent, informed decisions along the way! |
|
Team Based Learning |
Build the idea using Human-Centred Design (HCD) ENGG7902 will take your teams of 4-5 and your sustainable engineering innovation on a magic carpet ride of "divergence and convergence". Teams that put in the extra effort each week aspire to becoming "truly functional", have a far better chance of connecting perspectives and articulating real and measurable value to their customers. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.