The Impact Factory is a methodology designed to address messy engineering problems. The methodology works backwards from an original problem statement to the point where the real question is understood. This involves asking naive questions and challenging discipline norms working back to the scientific principles that govern the system and therefore the solution. Once the real question is understood, projects are designed to answer the questions, with student projects being a key part of this.  

The design of the ‘real question’ or ‘root question’ aims to start with a non-solution-based description of the problem translation. Eg. for a zero carbon transport system, the root question is how to best convert  sunlight – 2 – traction which broadens the boundary conditions beyond a purely electric solution. The broader question embraces wider issues such as unintended impacts on prosperity and health and not just at the point of use.

sunlight – 2 – traction and the boundary conditions that need to be met for success at the broadest level possible, eg. the solution should be sustainable, economically and environmentally, and not detrimental to the health or functionality of the supply chain. 

Engineers are clever people who create ingenious solutions to practical problems. We deal with remarkable complexity every day but don’t like a mess. But the world is often messy and quite ill behaved. Despite years of effort, we still face multiple crises in protecting our health, climate, and prosperity. By ignoring the ill-ordered nature of the world are we over-simplifying the problem and missing the obvious solutions? Good engineering alone cannot solve the world problems, but can certainly help. Perhaps it is time for engineers to ‘embrace the mess’ to find new solutions to old problems?

Drawing from his experiences in industry and current research, Professor Robert Morgan illustrates how tackling messy complexity can lead to unexpected solutions in his inaugural lecture below.