A Computational Approach to Identifying Engineering Design Problems

Abstract Identifying new problems and providing solutions are necessary tasks for design engineers at early-stage product development. A problem fosters innovative inventive solutions. Hence, it is expected that engineering pedagogy practice should equally focus on problem-exploring (EDPE)—a process of identifying or coming up with a need the design, problem-solving (EDPS)—a developing to given problem. However, studies suggest EDPE scarcely practiced attention in academia industry, unlike EDPS. The aim this paper investigate any information relating its scarce industry. This explore how emerging technologies could support process. Natural models phenomena explain investigated, including “rational” “garbage can” models, associated challenges identified. computational framework mimics natural presented. based Markovian model technologies, machine learning. case study conducted sample size 43 participants drawn worldwide from community result shows first-of-its-kind presented supports both novice experienced EDPE.