Complex Problem Solving Y3, 20cr

Overview

A demanding exercise in hands-on complex problem solving. Student teams experience the pressures of a start-up business by engaging directly with real, open-ended problems presented by external sponsors. The module is interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial, exploiting the fresh insights a student team can bring when talking to multiple stakeholders.

Each team receives a unique problem from a sponsor — scope is extremely broad and may cover policy, economics, technology, national security, environment or logistics. A range of Lean Start-up methodological tools is provided to structure how students tackle the challenge. Teams discover and validate customer needs, building and testing hypotheses through intensive stakeholder engagement; each team is expected to conduct up to ten interviews every week.

Students work together to propose a Minimum Viable Product: a clear proposal for a viable solution that a company or sponsor's organisation could implement. They are not expected to build the solution.

The module is based on the Hacking for Defense (H4D) programme developed at Stanford University, delivered here as Hacking4Sustainability and H4MoD with support from the Common Mission Project. Students with conscientious objections can be assigned environmental or university-based projects.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a sophisticated, empirically-grounded understanding of challenges facing large organisations.
Demonstrate an ability to engage critically with a range of methodological tools and approaches commonly deployed to address real-world challenges.
Demonstrate a deep understanding of the practical dynamics underpinning team-based approaches to addressing real-world challenges and solutions.
Demonstrate the development of critical analysis, independent judgment, complex problem solving, team coordination and oral and written presentation to a level commensurate with taught undergraduate study.