Title: Applicability of the design thinking process to the development of capstone project proposals

Authors: Fernando Cezar Leandro Scramim; Rui M. Lima; Hong Yuh Ching; Denise L. Rieg

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, University Centre of FEI, Av. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 3972, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil ' Algoritmi Research Center/LASI, Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal ' ESEG School of Engineering and Management, Rua Vergueiro, 1549, São Paulo, SP, Brazil ' Department of Management, University Centre of FEI, Av. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 3972, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical study that explores how design thinking can be applied to develop ideas for capstone projects in undergraduate engineering programs. Action research was the research method used in this study. The collected data consisted of students' project proposals, grades, classroom observations, and focus group findings. This study has two levels of implications: 1) for the practice of educators, as they can adjust the approach developed to help undergraduate engineering students find a potential idea for a viable and relevant capstone project; 2) for research, thereby adding to the ongoing discussion on exploring the design thinking process as a conceptual structure that provides a basis for dealing with difficult situations and solving complex problems in undergraduate courses.

Keywords: design thinking process; capstone project; engineering education; scientific methodology course; project-based learning; PBL.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2024.143311

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2024 Vol.34 No.6, pp.541 - 561

Received: 19 Jun 2022
Accepted: 23 Jun 2023
Published online: 13 Dec 2024 *

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