Module: The Art & Science of Solution Design - Learning from the Unexpected

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	The Art & Science of Solution Design - Learning from the Unexpected
Module Code	IDE1004 (ITS: GC2DN)
Faculty	L&G/Electronic Engineering	School	FEC/FHSS
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

The ability to design solutions for real-world challenges is a vital skill for future thought leaders. Part of this process is learning from previous projects and analysing the outcomes in relation to various factors including political, social, economic and institutional power relations that shape the policy environment. This involves consideration of the technical and resource constraints that inhibit progress on global challenges; and the potential - and limitations - of innovations in emerging tech to be applied in diverse, and dynamic, contexts. This ASC includes an exercise to assess a past policy problem that has been deemed to fail or resulted in unexpected outcomes. Assessment will consist of group-based activities, report and proposal development and evaluation in simulated real-world challenges and dynamic environments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge on issues of power, interests, institutions, collaboration and potential conflict between stakeholders.
2. Identify features of innovation in connection with the nature of success and failure in the implementation of solutions based on experimentation.
3. Evaluate the sociotechnical and intercultural dimensions of global challenges solutions, in how they incorporate social, human components, hardware, software, and data.
4. Identify and apply suitable mathematical and statistical techniques to analyse and evaluate proposed solutions to real world problems.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Assessment Feedback	36	class workshops
Total Workload: 36

Section Breakdown
CRN	10633	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Stephen Daniels	Module Teacher	Shirley Coyle

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Presentation	Policy controversy presentation	20%	n/a
Report(s)	Analysing failure in policy implementation	40%	n/a
Assignment	Assessments associated with FLOs, 10% GC2FLO Deterministic and Statistical Modelling 10% GC2FLO6 Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Systems Design 10% GC2FLO Sensors and IoT 10% GC2FLO Politics and Law	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None