Overview
Being able to adapt to change has always been critical for any successful organization. As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's even more important. Clinging to the old way of doing things is a fast track to obsolescence. New products, services, and processes may be the answer, but which ones? And for which audiences?
Design Thinking can help leaders navigate turbulent waters by equipping them, and their people, with the tools to create innovative solutions and make "smart bets" with increasingly limited resources. Design, long thought of as a discipline focused on how products look and feel, has evolved to a mindset that informs and influences all aspects of an organization. Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi puts it this way: “Design leads to innovation and innovation demands design.”
In this course, we’ll share principles and tools that leaders (and aspiring leaders) can use to help their organizations innovate through disruption.
What is Design Thinking
Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that employs the principles and practices of design, such as empathy, rapid prototyping, and a healthy respect for failure.
Equal parts toolset and mindset, Design Thinking can be applied in a variety of ways to help organizations collaboratively solve complex problems, develop products and services, and design experiences that delight customers AND employees.
Certificate Topics
- Design Thinking Framework
- Role of Empathy in Innovation
- Ethnographic Research
- Sense Making
- Problem Framing
- Idea Generation
- Rapid Prototyping
- Concept Testing & Feedback
- Inclusive Design
- Journey Mapping
- The Power of Storytelling
- Intentional Design
Who Should Attend
The program is designed for managers and leaders who are responsible for strategic decision making, organizational growth, and/or the professional development of their workforce. The course will also benefit entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who seek to disrupt the status quo in a well-defined, yet highly flexible way. Lastly, anyone who wants to add new and creative approaches to their problem-solving will find this program to be invaluable.
Certificate Requirements
To earn a Design Thinking Certificate you must complete all 4 courses. However, you can take individual courses without having to complete the entire certificate.