Resumen de Innovative solutions through innovated problems
Shanna R. Daly, Seda Mckilligan, Jaryn A. Studer, Jaclyn Murray, Colleen M. Seifert
Designers are accustomed to solving problems that are provided to them; in fact, common practice in engineering is topresent the problem with carefully delineated and detailed constraints required for a promising solution. As a consequence,engineers focus on creating feasible solutions rather than exploring novel perspectives on the presented problems.However, the Engineer of 2020 needs to respond with innovations for multiple and dynamic user needs, diverse users andcultures, and rapidly changing technologies. These complex demands require engineering students to learn that problemsare not ‘‘fixed’’ as presented, and to build the habit of exploring alternative perspectives on the stated problem. Creativeinnovations in problem understanding may lead directly to more innovative solutions. While previous research hasdocumented the ‘‘co-evolution’’ of problem and solution during the design process, the present work aims to understandhow designers intentionally explore variants of problems on the way to solutions. Summaries of two empirical studiesprovide initial evidence about how stated problems are altered within successful solutions in open design challenges, alongwith evidence of problem think aloud protocols. Analysis of qualitative changes in problem perspectives reveals systematicpatterns, or cognitive ‘‘heuristics,’’ and these same patterns are evident as student engineers solve problems. By exploringdiverse perspectives on a stated problem, engineers can incorporate innovations intobothproblems and solutions duringthe design process.
