Professional Development –Technical Issues and Solutions

STSO-4100

This course focuses on increasing students' knowledge concerning the impact of non-technical issues on the viability of technical (engineering) designs and solutions. The non-technical issues to be considered include the cognitive and physical strengths and limitations of people in the chain spanning from product/equipment designers/manufacturers to end users, as well as economic, environmental, cultural, political, ethical, health and safety, and societal influences. During the course, students will read and discuss articles and case studies in which the technical solution pursued did not have the desired effect, or led to disaster. Possible explanations include a failure to take into account the environmental, economic, socio-cultural, and/or political issues associated with the technology's ultimate usage.

Past Term Data