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DESIGN THINKING (KOE-077)
B.Tech SEM VII – Complete Solved Question Paper (2022–23)
⏱ Time: 3 Hours | 📊 Marks: 100
SECTION A
Attempt all questions in brief (2 × 10 = 20 marks)
(a) Why is design thinking needed?
Design thinking is needed to solve complex, real-world problems by focusing on user needs. It encourages creativity, innovation, empathy, and iterative problem solving rather than fixed, linear solutions
(b) What are the steps of the design thinking process?
The main steps are: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. These steps help understand users, identify problems, generate ideas, build solutions, and test them effectively
(c) How can we implement design thinking in an organization?
Design thinking can be implemented by encouraging user-centric culture, cross-functional teamwork, brainstorming sessions, rapid prototyping, continuous feedback, and openness to experimentation and failure
(d) What are the issues in the design process?
Issues include lack of user understanding, unclear problem definition, time constraints, limited resources, resistance to change, and fear of failure during experimentation
(e) Can we do design thinking with no initial user research?
No, user research is essential. Without understanding user needs and pain points, solutions may not be relevant or effective. Empathy is the foundation of design thinking
(f) What makes design thinking different from project-based learning?
Design thinking focuses on solving real user problems through empathy and iteration, while project-based learning focuses mainly on completing tasks or projects based on predefined objectives
(g) How would you test a design thinking strategy?
Testing is done by creating prototypes, collecting user feedback, observing user interaction, measuring usability, and refining solutions based on results
(h) What are the positive effects of having ethical behavior?
Ethical behavior builds trust, credibility, fairness, accountability, and long-term relationships in professional and social environments
(i) What is the most common cognitive bias?
Confirmation bias is the most common cognitive bias, where people favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence
(j) What is a claim or statement?
A claim is an assertion or statement that expresses a belief or position which can be supported or challenged with evidence and reasoning
SECTION B
Attempt any THREE (10 × 3 = 30 marks)
(a) Difference between a rhetorical and argumentative essay
A rhetorical essay analyzes how language and techniques are used to persuade, focusing on style and expression.
An argumentative essay presents a clear position supported by logic, evidence, and reasoning to convince the reader of a viewpoint
(b) Purpose of role-play activity
Role-play helps participants understand different perspectives, improve empathy, enhance communication skills, and simulate real-world situations for better problem understanding and solution design
(c) POV (Point of View) statement in engineering
A POV statement clearly defines the user, their needs, and the insight gained. It helps engineers focus on solving the right problem instead of jumping directly to solutions
(d) Metaphor in learning techniques
A metaphor explains complex ideas by relating them to familiar concepts. In learning, metaphors simplify understanding and improve memory retention by connecting new knowledge to known experiences
(e) How to identify and fill the gap between desire and reality
The gap is identified by analyzing user expectations versus actual experience. It is filled by empathy, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and continuous improvement
SECTION C
Q3 (Attempt any one)
(a) Examples of design criteria
Design criteria include usability, safety, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, durability, aesthetics, reliability, accessibility, and user satisfaction. These criteria guide solution development
(b) Four rules for brainstorming
Defer judgment Encourage wild ideas
Build on others’ ideas Focus on quantity of ideas
These rules promote creativity and innovation
Q4 (Attempt any one)
(a) Importance of understanding core values
Core values guide behavior, decision-making, ethics, and organizational culture. Understanding them ensures alignment between actions, goals, and social responsibility
(b) How to logically structure an argument
An argument should include a clear claim, supporting evidence, logical reasoning, counter-arguments, and a strong conclusion for clarity and persuasion
Q5 (Attempt any one)
(a) Is “How might we” a problem statement?
Yes. “How might we” statements frame problems positively and encourage creative thinking without limiting possible solutions
(b) Difference between critical and ordinary thinking
| Critical Thinking | Ordinary Thinking |
|---|---|
| Logical & analytical | Emotional & habitual |
| Evidence-based | Opinion-based |
| Reflective | Reactive |
Q6 (Attempt any one)
(a) Purpose of role-play activity
Role-play enhances empathy, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills by simulating real-life scenarios
(b) Characteristics of tribalism
Tribalism includes strong group loyalty, shared identity, resistance to outsiders, emotional bonding, and collective decision-making
Q7 (Attempt any one)
(a) Example of a logical fallacy
Ad hominem fallacy: Attacking the person instead of addressing the argument.
Example: Rejecting an idea because of who proposed it rather than its merits
(b) Barriers to critical thinking and how to overcome them
Barriers include bias, assumptions, emotional reasoning, and lack of information.
They can be overcome by open-mindedness, questioning assumptions, evidence-based reasoning, and reflective thinking