Curriculum development for enhancing the imagination in the technology commercialization process

The imagination capability in technology commercialization is the key success factor for innovation. However, higher education in general and engineering-related curricula in particular, has offered limited courses incorporating imagination. A complete and well-verified curriculum that will enhance the imagination capability in technology commercialization is critical and imperative to resolve the problem. Thus, this research summarizes possible course modules and the criteria for evaluating and selecting the core modules based upon a literature review. Final criteria were defined by using the modified Delphi method. The influence relationships of each criterion on the others were derived by the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). Subsequently, the derivation of critical criteria, a weight was defined for each criterion by using the DEMATEL-based Network Process (DNP). Finally, the correlations between the criteria and the course modules were derived by using the Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). Based on the analytic results, QFD, TRIZ, and SCAMPER courses were recognized by the experts as important for enhancing engineering students' imagination capabilities.