STS.420

The Structure of Engineering Revolutions

Graduate · Historical course

Fall 2001

Topics

Introduction, Course Overview
Reading: Latour, Bruno. Science in Action . Introduction, and chapter 3, pp. 1-17 and 103-144.
Reading: Latour, Bruno. Science in Action . Chapters 4-6, pp. 145-259.
Reading: Mindell. “Opening Black’s Box: Rethinking Feedback’s Myth of Origin.”
Reading: MacKenzie, Donald. Inventing Accuracy . Chapters 1-2.
Reading: Christensen, Clayton M. The Inventor’s Dilemma . Chapters 1, 2, 4, 9, and 11.
Reading: Discussion of Methodology, Research Methods, Library, Techniques, Source Materials, etc.
Presentation: “Working Effectively in Groups.” In-Class Group Work
In-Class Group Work
Reading: Tufte, Edward. Visual and Statistical Thinking .
Presentation: “How to Read a Patent.” In-Class Group Work
Presentation Rehearsals
Group Presentation of Project Histories

Readings

Latour, Bruno. Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, October 1988. ISBN: 9780674792913.
Listed reading
Buy at MIT Press MacKenzie, Donald. Inventing Accuracy: A Historical Sociology of Nuclear Missile Guidance . Reprint ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, January 29, 1993. ISBN: 9780262631471. ↗
Listed reading
Christensen, Clayton. The Innovator’s Dilemma: The Revolutionary National Bestseller That Changed The Way We Do Business . 1st ed. New York, NY: HarperBusiness, May 2, 2000. ISBN: 9780066620695.
Listed reading
Tufte, Edward. Visual & Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Decision Making . Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, April 1997. ISBN: 9780961392130.
Listed reading
———. Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative . Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, February 1997. ISBN: 9780961392130.
Listed reading
Latour, Bruno. Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers Through Society . Reprint ed. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, October 1988. ISBN: 9780674792913.
Listed reading
Buy at MIT Press MacKenzie, Donald. Inventing Accuracy: A Historical Sociology of Nuclear Missile Guidance (Inside Technology) . Reprint ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, January 29, 1993. ISBN: 9780262631471. ↗
Listed reading
Christensen, Clayton M. The Innovator’s Dilemma: The Revolutionary National Bestseller That Changed The Way We Do Business . 1st ed. New York, NY: HarperBusiness, May 2, 2000. ISBN: 9780066620695.
Listed reading
Tufte, Edward. Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative . Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, February 1997. ISBN: 9780961392123.
Listed reading
Tufte, Edward. Visual & Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Decision Making . Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, April 1997. ISBN: 9780961392130. (Note: the latter is much shorter and much cheaper)
Listed reading

Sources

Course catalogue ↗Historical OpenCourseWare
MIT OCW syllabus ↗
MIT OCW readings ↗
MIT OCW calendar ↗
Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.