Last modified: 2017-03-25
Abstract
Can ordinary people learn to be extraordinarily creative? Can organizations create a culture that fosters innovation? Can leaders develop capabilities for accelerating innovation in any organization? The answer to all three questions is yes! Creativity as a core competence empowers organizations to gain competitive advantage by anticipating and responding to diverse pressures (DeGraff and Lawrence, 2002).
Breakthrough innovation is rarely accidental. That’s why design thinking has emerged as powerful methodology for matching human needs and wants (desirability) with solutions that are technologically feasible and commercially viable. However, as architects, engineers, and industrial designers learn early in their training, design thinking is not creativity for creativity’s sake; it’s a disciplined approach to solving problems on a timetable while meeting specifications and overcoming constraints. Successful application of design thinking for breakthrough innovation often requires mental and cultural shifts to reward curiosity, cross-disciplinary collaboration and testing over expedient problem-solving and tweaking.
Integrating design thinking into curricula or coursework elevates problem-solving and supports career success in any field, because design thinking instills best practices for applying the full range of critical thinking skills -- including research, observation, synthesis, analysis, hypothesis forming, prototyping and testing – while students continuously evaluate and nurture their ideas into profitable, human-centered products and services.
This professional development workshop offers pedagogical insight for tying design thinking theory to practice based on a decade of experience using IDEO methodology in live MBA consulting engagements and undergraduate projects in marketing, sales and strategy courses. The workshop features instructional guidance as well as advice for developing projects, assignments and grading rubrics that reinforce the steps and processes as well as link assurance of learning to program and course goals.