PANEL DISCUSSION CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF DIVERSITY IN BME EDUCATION

GROUP DYNAMICS IN ENGINEERING DESIGN Mary Besterfield-SacreAssociate Professor Fulton C. Noss Faculty FellowDepartment of Industrial EngineeringUniversity of Pittsburgh

GROUP DYNAMICS IS A FUNCTION OF THE CONTEXT OF DESIGN

Design for context The drivers or constraints imposed by the social

and economic conditions of the design problem.

Design within context The constraints imposed by the structure,

organization, location and operating policy under which a design team must function

A central issue is how innovative design teams address both for context and within context modes

EXAMPLE - JAIPUR FOOTMCGIRK, T., “THE $28 FOOT,” TIME: HEROES OF MEDICINE, WWW.TIME.COM/TIME/REPORTS/HEROES/FOOT3.HTML

Within Context - Chandra, a master artisan w/ 4th grade education, and Sethi, an orthopedic surgeon. Chandra and Sethi met at a hospital in Delhi, collaborated for 2 years as a “volunteer” team before developing the innovative prototype and final design. They had persistence, skills and medical knowledge.

For Context – An intrinsically important idea …problems with traditional prosthesis: it did not facilitate common postures like sitting cross-legged; the heavy sponge shoe inhibited a farmer from returning to the fields after rain or irrigation. Local amputee population rejected them.

The Innovation - Waiting for a bicycle tire to be repaired, Chandra envisioned an artificial limb and employed a tire repair owner to build his design. Here is an affordable, “appropriately engineered” product that improves lives and reaches a broad population. To make the limb affordable, they used locally available materials and manufacturing skills.

K&SGender

EthnicityBackgroundWork ExpLife Exp

Etc. CrossSocietyCultures

WHAT ARE THE ASPECTS OF DESIGN FOR AND WITHIN CONTEXT THAT RELATE TO GROUP DYNAMICS?

Design ProcessInnovativeInnovativeDesignDesign

for Contextfor Context

what studentswhat studentsbring…bring…

within Contextwithin ContextWork/Design Environment

……what we bringwhat we bring

K&SGender

EthnicityBackgroundWork ExpLife Exp

Etc. CrossSocietyCultures

CAN CHANDRA AND SETHI’S DESIGN FOR AND WITHIN SKILLS BE TAUGHT? INFLUENCED?

Design ProcessInnovativeInnovativeDesignDesign

for Contextfor Context

what studentswhat studentsbring…bring…

within Contextwithin ContextWork/Design Environment

……what we bringwhat we bring

Faculty Challenges:•Effective teaming•Developing a sensitivity•Pedagogy of design

Avoid exploitation (of weak and vulnerable) Avoid bribery – different from extortion,

grease and gifts Avoid paternalism Avoid violation of human rights. Promote the host country’s welfare. Respect host country’s cultural norms and

laws.

FOR CONTEXT…9 ETHICAL NORMS WHEN WORKING CROSS-CULTURALLY/CROSS-SOCIETY HARRIS, PRITCHARD AND RABINS (2004)

FOR CONTEXT…9 ETHICAL NORMS WHEN WORKING CROSS-CULTURALLY/CROSS-SOCIETY HARRIS, PRITCHARD AND RABINS (2004)

Protect health and safety of host country’s citizens.

Protect the environment. Promoting Legitimate Background

Organizations Society’s laws, practices and institutions

are necessary for stability and economic success

Also unions, consumer groups, environmental groups, etc. These exist in developed but not LDCs

WITHIN CONTEXT…CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN & UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPSSCHMIDT, SCHMIDT, SMITH, BIGIO &CONTARDO (2005)

Build for context awareness into team trainingParticularly at the beginning of a courseA diverse team leads to better designsGroupthink – explore multiple perspectives

Include diversity as part of team charteringGoal of promoting effective interactions

among membersAccepted ground rules and expectationsValuing team member’s strengths and

weaknesses

WITHIN CONTEXT…CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN & UNDER- REPRESENTED GROUPSSCHMIDT, SCHMIDT, SMITH, BIGIO &CONTARDO (2005)

Include team building exercises Jones, A. (2002). More Team Building

Activities for Every Group. Rec Room Publishing

Use strategic team member assignmentCommon - Skills inventory, GPA, Secret

ballot, RandomGood but time consuming - Football draft,

Resume selection Include at least 2 members of the non-

majority group on each team

WITHIN CONTEXT…CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN & UNDER- REPRESENTED GROUPS SCHMIDT, SCHMIDT, SMITH, BIGIO &CONTARDO (2005)

Identify the source of interpersonal conflict:Value differencesExpectation differences Perception differences

Myers, SG (1996). Team Building for Diverse Work Groups: A Practical Guide to Gaining and Sustaining Performance in Diverse Teams. Irvine, CA: Richard Change Associates, Inc.

INNOVATIVE DESIGNS ARE A RESULT OF “EFFECTIVE” DIVERSITY WITHIN CONTEXT THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO THE CONTEXT FOR WHICH THEY ARE DESIGNING …

K&SGender

EthnicityBackgroundWork ExpLife Exp

Etc. CrossSocietyCultures

Design ProcessInnovativeInnovativeDesignDesign

for Contextfor Context

what studentswhat studentsbring…bring…

within Contextwithin ContextWork/Design Environment

……what we bringwhat we bring