Using a Delphi Study to Confirm the Characteristics of an Engineering Innovator

Abstract

is a second year graduate student interested in entrepreneurship, the design process, and innovativeness of engineering graduates and professionals. She is currently working as a student mentor in the Lion Launch Pad program, where she works to support student entrepreneurs. Jessica is currently conducting her graduate research with Dr. Kathryn Jablokow on a project devoted to the development of a psychometric instrument that will measure the skills, behaviors, and traits of an innovative engineer. Her hope is that this awareness of individual innovativeness levels will enhance engineering professionals and student's innovative skillsets. Jessica is also interested in studying and teaching design thinking methods to students, and is currently working to spread design thinking through mini-workshops across Penn State. Using a Delphi Study to Confirm the Characteristic Definitions Describing an Engineering Innovator AbstractFew empirical studies describe the individual behavioral characteristics that lead to discovery, development and implementation of innovations. Even fewer studies focus on innovative behavior by engineers. After interviewing 53 engineering innovators about their experiences as an innovator and qualitatively analyzing the interview data, we identified twenty unique characteristics of engineers who had demonstrated extraordinary innovative behavior (Ferguson D., 2013). This finding was corroborated by a separate focus group study (Ferguson D. et al., 2014). We then initiated a modified This paper discusses our modified Delphi study methodology and the analysis process executed for the first Delphi survey round. In the first round of the Delphi Study, 150 participants ranked the importance of the innovative characteristics of engineers and indicated an 87% agreement with the initial characteristic definitions. Delphi study participants also provided over 600 comments to help us clarify and improve those definitions. After integrating the Delphi participant comments, we received a 96% consensus agreement on the revised definitions. Delphi participants also confirmed that the engineering innovativeness characteristics developed from our interviews covered all of the behaviors they had personally exhibited or observed as engineering innovators.The implications for engineering education and for professional engineering training and management are that these innovative characteristics should be developed, supported and enhanced in engineers if innovative behavior by engineers is desired.

Exploring Connections between Engineering Projects, Student Characteristics, and the Ways Engineering Students Experience Innovation

“…For example, Golish and colleagues 5 identified no less than 133 tasks and activities utilized in developing innovative technologies. Further, professional innovators demonstrate a range of characteristics and competencies that may not be the same for any two innovators 3,4 . As such, innovation may be understood in different ways based on individual characteristics and the contexts (i.e., projects and their unique features) in which they encounter innovation.…”

“…These implications are particularly important in the field of engineering, where innovativeness is considered a key competency and outcome of education 1,2 . Many recent studies have attempted to clarify how innovation occurs by investigating the personal characteristics 3,4 , processes 5,6 , and environments 7 that support and align with innovation. While these studies often suggest certain core facets, they also describe innovation as a diverse phenomenon with many potential pathways.…”

Instilling an Entrepreneurial Mindset through IDEAS Studio Courses

“…Like entrepreneurship itself, a mindset is a construct that is illdefined and in flux. Thought leaders agree, however, that an entrepreneurial mindset is composed of a multidimensional and overlapping set of personal characteristics that support and map to the constellation of attributes and skills of an entrepreneur 7,11 . For example, entrepreneurs must be aware of the shifting landscape around them.…”

“…It is intrinsic motivation that enables the entrepreneur to stay focused on what drives them rather than letting the world tell them where to place their energies and talents. Many other components of an entrepreneurial mindset have been proposed, and include but are not limited to grit, resilience, growth orientation, and selfefficacy 7,1214 . What is perhaps most important, however, is that regardless of the exact makeup or definition of a mindset, these personal characteristics can be applied not only to entrepreneurship but much more broadly to design, research, professional development and personal fulfillment.…”