City University of Hong Kong

Course Syllabus

offered by
Department of Mechanical Engineering
with effect from Semester A 2019 / 2020

Part I Course Overview

Course Title: Product Development: Methodologies, Innovation and Management

Course Code: MNE4117

Course Duration: 1 semester

Credit Units: 3 credits

Level: B4

Medium of
Instruction: English

Medium of
Assessment: English

Normative 4-year degree and Advanced Standing I students must

complete a minimum of 45 CUs from the engineering major in which they
are enrolled.
Prerequisites : Advanced Standing II students must complete a minimum of 24 CUs from
(Course Code and Title) the engineering major in which they are enrolled.

Precursors:
(Course Code and Title) Broad exposure to mechanical engineering subjects needed

Equivalent Courses: MBE4117 Product Development: Methodologies, Innovation and

(Course Code and Title) Management

Exclusive Courses: MBE4031/MNE4031 Management of Technological Innovation or

(Course Code and Title) MBE4034/MNE4034 Product Development: Managerial Approach

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Part II Course Details

1. Abstract
(A 150-word description about the course)

The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of the knowledge and skills required for
engineers in contributing effectively to product design while incorporating applicable technology
innovations and managerial strategies so as to realize the development of products speedily and
economically.

The objective is to equip students with the techniques of product development for faster and
economic manufacture while satisfying a variety of market needs. It also develops a broad
understanding of the aesthetic and engineering aspects of industrial design, the importance of
technological innovation, the necessity for a customer oriented perspective, and the role of
engineering manager in product development.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

(CILOs state what the student is expected to be able to do at the end of the course according to a given
standard of performance.)
No. CILOs Weighting* Discovery-enriched
(if curriculum related
applicable) learning outcomes
(please tick where
appropriate)
A1 A2 A3
1. Identify the broad range of issues involved in modern product 
development process including the organizational, operational,
and market environments within which design and development
projects are typically carried out.
2. Familiarize with processes to recognize the success of a product 
using product teardown; design for assembly and manufacture;
product portfolio architecture, and product architecture.
3. Explain the nature of innovative work and the ability, skills, and 
techniques to be deployed in technological projects.
4. Compare the technical and business concerns that affect product 
development and accomplishing both of them through appropriate
product development strategies.
5. Apply the appropriate techniques for managing new product 
design and development to ensure development of high-quality,
manufacturable and cost-effective products.
6. Communicate the findings from literature, using some real life  
recent product examples, on management of new product
development that successfully embed technological innovations.
* If weighting is assigned to CILOs, they should add up to 100%. N.A.
A1: Attitude
Develop an attitude of discovery/innovation/creativity, as demonstrated by students possessing a strong
sense of curiosity, asking questions actively, challenging assumptions or engaging in inquiry together with
teachers.
A2: Ability
Develop the ability/skill needed to discover/innovate/create, as demonstrated by students possessing critical
thinking skills to assess ideas, acquiring research skills, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines or
applying academic knowledge to self-life problems.
A3: Accomplishments
Demonstrate accomplishment of discovery/innovation/creativity through producing /constructing creative
works/new artefacts, effective solutions to real-life problems or new processes.

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3. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)
(TLAs designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs.)

TLA Brief Description CILO No. Hours/week

(if
applicable)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Lecture Major topics listed in the syllabus      3 hrs/week
will be covered on product design,
development, and innovation, with
a view to make students
understand the multi-dimensional
and integrated approach needed to
develop products in an effective
and efficient manner as well as
explore the use of most recent
technology innovations towards
making the products commercially
successful.
Self-study Make individual efforts in learning   *  1 hr/week
one or more of the topics related to
technological innovations in the
development of successful
products of recent times by
studying the literature.
Consultation Clearing students’ doubts on the      * 1 hr/week@
topics studied in the course.
*indirectly

Note: @1 hour per week will be scheduled as “consultation hour” for clearing doubts of students who
can meet the teaching staff on an individual or small group basis in his/her office.

4. Assessment Tasks/Activities (ATs)

(ATs are designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs.)

Assessment CILO No. Weighting* Remarks

Tasks/Activities 1 2 3 4 5 6
Continuous Assessment: 50%
Tests     30% Typically two tests
Term Paper  20%
Examination: 50% (duration: 2 hours)
* The weightings should add up to 100%. 100%

For a student to pass the course, at least 30% of the maximum mark for both coursework and
examination should be obtained.

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5. Assessment Rubrics

(Grading of student achievements is based on student performance in assessment tasks/activities with the following rubrics.)

Assessment Task Criterion Excellent Good Fair Marginal Failure

(A+, A, A-) (B+, B, B-) (C+, C, C-) (D) (F)
1. Tests Ability in answering a range of questions High Significant Moderate Basic Not even
related to product design, development, reaching
innovation, multi-dimensional and marginal
integrated approach needed while levels
developing products in an effective and
efficient manner as well as explore the use
of most recent technology innovations
towards making the products commercially
successful.
2. Term Paper Focus on focus and addressing the topic High Significant Moderate Basic Not even
given (typically related to technological reaching
innovations in the development of marginal
successful products), which includes levels
evidence of background work done, quality
of presentation, use of relevant case studies,
discussion, summary, and referencing.
3. Examination Ability in answering a range of questions High Significant Moderate Basic Not even
related to product design, development, reaching
innovation, multi-dimensional and marginal
integrated approach needed while levels
developing products in an effective and
efficient manner as well as explore the use
of most recent technology innovations
towards making the products commercially
successful.

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Part III Other Information (more details can be provided separately in the teaching plan)

1. Keyword Syllabus
(An indication of the key topics of the course.)

 Product Development Process: Engineering essentials, Product development teams, Team structures
and evaluation, Product development planning.
 Product Architectures, Teardown and Experimentation: Product modularity, Subtract and operate
procedure, Measurement and experimentation, Disassembly plan.
 Concept Embodiment and Design for Manufacture and Assembly: Refining geometry and layout,
Mechanical embodiment principles, FMEA method, DFA and assembly systems, Prototyping.
 Technical and Business Concerns: s-curves and technical forecasting, mission statements.
 Customer Needs, Product Functions and Value: Customer satisfaction, methods of gathering customer
needs, Prioritizing customer needs, Function decomposition and value analysis, FAST method.
 Concept Generation and Benchmarking: Information gathering and brainstorming, Concept selection
process, Benchmarking approach, House of quality.
 Technological Innovation: Activities and characteristics of technical management. Issues in product
design. Technology transfer, Organizing and staffing for research and development, Intellectual
property, Technoeconomics, Strategic issues in innovative projects.

2. Reading List
2.1 Compulsory Readings
(Compulsory readings can include books, book chapters, or journal/magazine articles. There are also
collections of e-books, e-journals available from the CityU Library.)

Students will be guided to read the selected chapters and case studies from the following books:
1. “Product Design: Techniques in Reverse Engineering and New Product Development”, Kevin Otto and
Kristin Wood, Prentice Hall, NJ, 2001 or later edition.
2. “Managing Innovation: New Technology, New Products and New Services in a Global Economy”, John E.
Ettlie, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006 or later edition. (OR)
“Managing Technological Innovation”, John E Ettlie, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2000.

2.2 Additional Readings

(Additional references for students to learn to expand their knowledge about the subject.)

Students can gain further insights into product development by reading selected topics and case
studies by choosing three to five books from the following list or any other books related to product
design, development, and innovation:
1. Dieter G E, “Engineering Design - A Materials and Processing Approach”, McGraw-Hill, 2000 or other
editions.
2. Nigel Cross, “Engineering Design Methods: Strategies for Product Design”, John Wiley & Sons, 3rd or
later edition.
3. Theodore C Fowler, “Value Analysis in Design”, Fowler & Whitestone, Dayton, OH, 2000 or later edition.
4. Ulrich K T, “Product Design and Development”, McGraw-Hill, recent edition.
5. Biren P, “Concurrent Engineering Fundamentals: Integrated Product and Process Organization”, Prentice-
Hall, recent edition.
6. Michael J C Martin, “Managing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Technology-based Firms”, John Wiley,
recent edition.
7. Joe Tidd, John Bessant, and Keith Pavitt, “Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and
Organizational Change”, Wiley International, recent edition.
8. Nino S Levy, “Managing High Technology and Innovation”, Prentice Hall, recent edition.
9. Clayton M Christensen, “The Innovator’s Dilemma: When Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail”,
Boston, Mass., Harvard Business School Press, 1997 or later edition by Harper Business.

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