Mark Schar

The focus of Mark’s research can broadly be described as ”pivot thinking,” the cognitive aptitudes and abilities that encourage innovation, and the tension between design engineering and business management cognitive styles. To develop these thinking patterns in young engineers, Mark has developed a Scenario Based Learning curriculum that attempts to blend core engineering concepts with selected business ideas. Mark also explores empathy, creative confidence and self-efficacy as it is applied in product design. He has developed self-efficacy measures for engineering, innovation and design thinking which have been used broadly in post-secondary educational environments. He is a Research Scientist and Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Stanford University and teaches the course ME310 Product Management, ME311 Leading New Product Design Teams and ME341 Statistics for Design Researchers. Mark has a BSS from Northwestern University, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. He has a 30 year career in industry at The Procter & Gamble Company and Intuit before returning for his Ph.D and subsequent teaching and research work at Stanford University.