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3155

Implementing Innovation

Ronald J. Bennett, Ph.D.

Engineering and Technology Management University of St. Thomas St. Paul, Minnesota

ABSTRACT

In 2002, a paper was presented at the ASEE Annual Conference titled “Selling Innovation.” (Bennett) The content related to a course taught to working adult graduate students in the Master degree programs in Engineering and Technology Management at the University of St. Thomas. These students are employed in a wide range of innovative organizations, including 3M, Medtronic and Andersen Windows. The objectives of the course include increasing the student’s ability to think like an executive and demonstrate leadership and innovation in a business setting.

The course has now been offered three times with modifications for continuous improvement. This paper documents the results as measured by surveys of students who have completed the course and have had time to apply it to their work environment, showing the degree to which they have internalized innovative behavior and the ways they have implemented this learning in their jobs.

Introduction

How much a student actually learns, and is able to apply, from any course is always a question. Course assignments and end-of-course evaluations attempt to assess this learning, but there are many pitfalls in this process. It may take months, years or longer for much of the learning to “sink in” and for students to more objectively assess how they have actually benefited from the course.

To look at longer-term results, a survey was conducted of students who have completed the “Implementing Innovation” course at the University of St. Thomas. As reported earlier, these are graduate students in Master degree programs in Engineering and Technology Management. They are employed full-time by local industries, varying from Medtronic and 3M to the Hennepin County Medical Center, who have emerging leadership responsibilities in their organizations. In their positions, they have the opportunity to use the workplace as their “laboratory” to test their learning in real organizational settings.

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004,American Society for Engineering Education

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Bennett, R. (2004, June), Implementing Innovation Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13771