Creative Thinking, Values and Design and Technology Education

The development of Design and Technology curricula has always been premised on the importance of the act of designing and of the value of the contingent activity of creative thinking. Despite this, there has been a great deal of uncertainty about methods for developing creative thinking abilities in design and technology students. However, the results of research from cognitive psychology, engineering and invention suggest some promising strategies for application in design and technology classes. Moreover, these strategies are emerging during a time when issues concerning ethics and values are also being raised. This paper presents a brief summary of the research into problem-solving and design. It then explores a range of creative thinking strategies, and of their possible applications in design, and goes on to argue that the strategies and settings that promote creative thinking in design and technology make the area not only one that is suitable for addressing ethics and values, but that it may be one of the major reasons for including design and technology programs in school curricula.     

技术竞争中商业模式的作用

在知识经济时代,技术革新日新月异,企业之间的技术竞争也愈演愈烈,渐渐演变为标准竞争。然而,技术的经济价值只是潜在的,只有通过合适的商业模式才能将其充分释放出来,从而为企业带来巨大的经济效益,乃至实现持久的竞争优势。以企业技术竞争中所采取的商业模式为研究对象,利用切萨布鲁夫提出的商业模式六维度分析框架,运用多重案例研究的方法探讨商业模式在企业技术竞争中的重要作用。通过对案例分析结果的归纳和总结,为商业模式理论提供了新的观点,也能够为标准竞争中的企业提供有益的启发。     

统计在煤炭质量管理工作中的指导作用

本文通过实例,介绍了应用数理统计分析方法加强煤质管理,在提高煤炭质量工作中的作用。     

Creativity in Design Engineering and the Role of Knowledge: Modelling the Expert

The present study focuses on the relationship between the acquisition of design knowledge by novice design students and the quality of their designs. Design learning is typically based on action and reflection. Knowledge of solution processes, being part of this reflection, is found to be crucial in monitoring and controlling the design process and in reaching an optimal, creative result. The studies described in this article suggest a close relationship between the amount of process knowledge – knowledge of managing and monitoring the solution finding process – reported by novice designers, and the creativity of the designed product.     

Using Focus Group Methods to Improve Students' Design Project Research in Schools: Drawing Parallels from Action Research at Undergraduate Level

Focus groups are increasingly used in industry to elicit data on product users' less tangible needs and associated product symbolism. This can have a considerable impact on a product's subsequent sales and hence is commercially extremely valuable design research. This paper provides an overview of an action research project which placed both a designer and an undergraduate designer, rather than a market researcher in direct contact with users in focus groups. The aim of the work was two-fold: firstly to develop a protocol for a designer to manage focus groups effectively, and secondly to see if this experience could improve the designer's ability to empathise with a range of users (socio-economic, culture, gender, age or abilities). In reporting the above, the paper also attempts to extrapolate the findings to a schools context; could focus group methods be used be used by students at a school level both as a vehicle for design research and as a learning tool? This paper provides a background to focus group methods, together with their advantages and limitations. The action research project is described and three case studies within it are outlined. The protocols developed are described. The final section of the paper looks at the degree to which this work could be extrapolated to schools level design work both in the United Kingdom and internationally.     

Contingency Organizations and Shared Values: Multiple Logics in Managing Diversification

Two logics of managing diversification have been suggested in the strategic management literature. The first is a very economic and structural approach that emphasizes the contingency fit between strategy and structural arrangements to maximize organizational effectiveness, while the second is a cultural approach that focuses on the use of strong shared values to minimize opportunistic behaviors of members. This paper empirically examines and compares the efficacy of two approaches to managing diversification, by using Taiwanese business groups as the sample. It is found that both approaches can lead to satisfied economic performance and they are supplementary. Diversified firms employing simultaneously two management logics will outperform firms with only one logic.     

煤矿事故的预测、预报在安全管理工作中的作用

在煤炭生产中,对事故可能发生的情况提前进行分析、预测、预报,做到有针对性的实施超前监管,对安全工作将起到积极作用。     

抓好机电管理是煤矿正常生产的关键

随着我国煤炭事业和煤炭生产的加速发展,抓好机电管理工作,对于保证煤矿的安全正常生产至关重要。     

Research on Basic Design Education: An International Survey

This paper reports on the results of a survey and qualitative analysis on the teaching of ‘Basic Design’ in schools of design and architecture located in 22 countries. In the context of this research work, Basic Design means the teaching and learning of design fundamentals that may also be commonly referred to as the Principles of Two- and Three-dimensional Design. The body of knowledge associated with Basic Design may be regarded as part of the general theory of teaching and learning design as practiced in many design schools and which has its origins in the classical design schools such as the Bauhaus. In the author’s perception and practice, the pedagogy of Basic Design promotes a holistic, creative and experimental methodology that develops the learning style and cognitive abilities of students with respect to the fundamental principles of design. This includes an understanding of the elements of shape, colour, texture, light, and rhythm in a manner complementary but usually unrelated to the common design methods teaching approach. As is well known among design practitioners, including architects and industrial designers, a deep understanding of the purpose of these fundamental design elements and principles is still relevant to contemporary design practice. The main objective of the research described in this paper was to determine the status and development of Basic Design pedagogy in a significant number of contemporary design schools. On the basis of the results of two surveys conducted in 2001–2002, this paper will identify and illustrate interesting aspects concerning the programmes and organisation of courses delivered by teachers of ‘Basic Design’. This work will also survey the viewpoints of Basic Design teachers in elementary years of design courses and of those teaching design through projects during the subsequent years of the same courses. Interestingly, the design project teachers surveyed in this research expressed a desire to be more involved in the teaching of Basic Design fundamentals which indicates strongly that Basic Design principles are still relevant in contemporary design education terms as they have ever been and that more research is needed in order to better understand and apply the related pedagogy.     

党风建设是行风建设的关键

一、认清特点，找出关键供电企业行风建设具有复杂性和特殊性：一是布局分散与权力分散并存，容易产生鞭长莫及的问题。供电企业是没有“围墙”的企业，由于高度分散，点多线长，流动作业，很多职工手中的权力难以监督，反腐倡廉、端正行风的要求到了班组、个人那里，容易成为强弩之末。二是经济效益与社会效益并存，容易产生顾此失彼的问题。作为企业，显然要以经济效益为中心，但是作为垄断、公益型的供电企业，又必须讲社会效益。在实际工作中，强调了经济效益就容易忽视社会效益，强调了社会效益又影响了经济效益。在市场经济条件下，容…     

Characterizing the Role of Design in New Product Development: An Empirically Derived Taxonomy*

This article empirically explores the nature of the role of design in the new product development process. The investigation adopts a multiple case study methodology. Data were collected through a six‐month interview program carried out with mid‐size to large U.K. manufacturing companies. The researchers articulate the scope and detailed nature of actions undertaken by design across all phases of the new product development process. Design functional, integration, and leadership actions are unraveled from the data. A taxonomy characterizing three roles for design in new product development is developed and explained. In the first role, design is explored as a functional specialism. The second categorization develops the role of design as part of a multifunctional team. The third role depicts the designer as process leader. Detailed actions and skills associated with each role are discussed and illustrated. Contextual factors explaining and influencing each design role are unraveled. These are articulated as speed of development process, innovativeness of the product development effort, and use of external design agencies. The implications of these findings for the development of design skills and capabilities are discussed in terms of recruitment, training, and educational policies.     

全球化战略决策中高管团队的国际化角色：国外市场进入模式

海外扩张的模式是决策制定者协商的结果,高管团队（TMT）在此类型的决策过程中起到了重要的作用。通过整合市场准入模式理论与高层梯队理论,并结合组织国际化相关的因素后发现,TMT跨国经验和TMT国籍多样性在组织国际化战略决策中充当着不同的,甚至是相反的角色。在分析了100多个公司近7年的数据后,得出TMT跨国经验与全面控制型市场进入模式正相关、TMT国籍多样性与合作控制式市场进入模式正相关两个重要结果。因此,跨国经验能够通过出国实践获得,但这种经验在某种程度上受到自身国籍影响。人力资源管理实践旨在通过外派出国来获得国际经验的方式,还要认识到拥有这种经历的人不能替代高管团队中所有的外国国籍的人。     

技术创新在企业经营活动中的价值漫谈

本文从客观实际出发,由浅入深地剖析了技术创新的基本含义和基本价值。同时,阐述了在企业的经营活动中,如何结合企业的特点,开展技术创新活动,从而实现技术创新的应有价值,推动企业经济发展的几点看法。     

论中国工程担保的操作策略与品种设计

根据中国不发达市场环境和立法习惯,对限额以上工程项目采用统一的强制标准。论述品种的规制与自选结合、人和物的担保共存的操作机制,包括建筑许可责任和总包付款的强制保证担保,履约、分包商和杂项等自选约定担保和强制保额标准。指出了公共项目只能在法定框架内行使大业主自治要求,应当调整的关系和具体路径。     

Knowledge and Values in Technology Education

This paper addresses two closely interrelated issues in Technology Education: knowledge and values. The starting point for the discussion is analysis of the nature of knowledge in technology education. Approaches for theorising knowledge will be analysed in this paper as well as problems associated with them. Three major types of problems are identified: problems with finding an appropriate approach for the analysis of technological knowledge; problems with a technocratic interpretation of technological knowledge for the purpose of its classification; and problems with establishing a consistent approach to distinguish common features of technological knowledge. A model that represents knowledge in technology education and the place of values in it is presented as a way of overcoming the problems specified. The claim is made that understanding of knowledge/values relationships can improve theoretical understanding of how technology education can be constructed.     

Beyond `The Design Process': An Alternative Pedagogy for Technology Education

`The design process' as an underpinning structure for technology education is well established. A number of increasingly complex models have been produced to describe the design process. These models have had a widespread, paradigmatic effect on the teaching of technology education. The development and implementation of models of the design process and the influence of these on teacher's classroom practice is examined, and it is then argued that the paradigm is fatally flawed, and that continued adherence to it is having a detrimental impact on children's learning in technology. It is suggested that the basis of an alternative pedagogy for technology education already exists within the research literature. Two examples of an alternative approach for teaching technology are described, and some practical limitations outlined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

情感化设计在服装中的体现

随着时代的进步,人们的生活也变得更加现代化和科技化,同时人们对精神范畴的追求就更加强烈。本文从情感化设计的角度,对中西方传统服饰中的情感因素进行分析,并阐述了现代新型服装中所渗透的情感概念,为情感化的设计发展提供理论支撑,以提升现代服装设计的情感内涵和人文关怀。     

The Immensity of Technology . . . and the Role of the Individual

Technology is a force that reshapes society, the dominant organizer which fundamentally changes everything. It provides material comforts and benefits but can change social patterns and values. Major innovations are happening simultaneously, stretching biological, mental and social adaptation to the limit. Technological decision making relies on an equal focus on three areas: resources (knowledge and information), expression (skills and practices) and responsibility (values and ethics). Decisions cannot be left to the ‘blackbox’ stage when functioning is effectively hidden from view and the technology has entered our culture. Similarly, participation in decision making cannot be left to a select few but must be the role of every citizen. Ensuring full participation in decisions should form the central role of technology education if it is finally to be recognized as a full member of the ‘general education club’. All students must be able to reflect, develop ethical standards and demonstrate how values are expressed through technology. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Political Ecology of Design and Technology Education: An Inquiry into Methods

At the beginning of this new century, design and technology educators face a serious dilemma: Practice conventional modes of design and technology, which have consumed proponents in Canada, England, Germany, and the US, or model design for sustainable lifestyles. Our conventional design, problem solving and technological methods embody a liberal, political ecology and in effect, these methods – our practices – are not sustainable. Using the political ecology of Nike shoes as an example, I describe ecological footprints, resource streams, and wakes as effective metaphors for sustainable practice. In contra-distinction to technocentric methods, I argue for modelling ecocentric processes rooted in political ecology and cultural studies. Attending to the political ecology of design and technology means nothing less than remodelling the design of lifestyles and reducing production and consumption in our practice.     

中原民间艺术进“时装专题设计”课堂的教学探讨

传统“时装专题设计”课程在课程结构和内容方面缺乏独创性和时效性,通过探讨中原民间艺术文化在“时装专题设计”课程中的教学问题,在专业设计课程中致力达到挖掘、整理、传承、活化应用中原民间艺术符号与元素,总结中原民间艺术在创意产品设计中的应用方法,结合现代创意服装设计的特点,使中原传统文化有机地融入到现代创意服装设计类别当中,在原有的课程大纲中设立项目结合环节,让服装设计的单项类别与中原传统文化课题项目发生交叉,力图使学生能够结合中原区市场实际需要设计出更符合时代需求的服饰品。