STRAMGT546

RDI Foundations is a hands-on, applied course that teaches RDI as a method for developing a prepared mind¿building deep industry understanding, uncovering non-obvious problems, and identifying meaningful opportunities. A core emphasis of the course is learning to rigorously leverage AI tools within the RDI process to enhance and accelerate learning. This course is ideal for students interested in entrepreneurship or career advancement and serves as the required foundation for the follow-on RDI course focused on conducting original research. The course prioritizes learning how to do RDI well before applying it independently in depth, using highly interactive class time that includes short lectures, live demonstrations, guided exercises, and laptop-open working sessions focused on AI-enabled research, interviewing, synthesis, and sensemaking. Early in the course, the class works through the RDI process together using a shared, real-world topic predetermined by the instructors, allowing students to internalize the process, expectations, and quality bar through a shared, real-world context. As the course progresses, students begin identifying and ramping up RDI work in a space of their own choosing, with guidance on how to carry the framework forward independently. The course emphasizes how to do RDI well:- Using AI effectively to accelerate learning without shortcutting insight- Quickly building foundational fluency through secondary research- Conducting high-quality, curiosity-driven research conversations- Synthesizing qualitative inputs into patterns, hypotheses, and points of viewBy the end of the course, students will have a clear mental model of the RDI framework, confidence using AI and primary research as complementary tools, and a well-formed proposal for a domain they can independently frame and explore further.Completion of this course is required for enrollment in the follow-on RDI research course.