Innovation and Design Thinking
Move your business model forward and uncover customer needs
View session datesInnovation and Design Thinking
About the program
Most organizations today have identified innovation as a key enabler now and going forward. In fact, if you clicked on this link, yours is one of those organizations. The challenge these organizations face, however, is how to get started. They need the tools, concepts, and approaches that will drive innovation and build a sustainable, creative organization.
This program develops the concepts of innovation, intrapreneurship, and design thinking over two days of interactive, hands-on learning and skills development. When we think of innovation, we often focus of the realm of products - shiny, larger, smaller, faster, connected products. More often, an innovation focus gives us the ability to improve processes, services, and even our business model and the way the firm behaves and competes. Intrapreneurship is the practice of driving innovation within existing organizations and operations, adapting to evolving conditions, customer needs, and societal change. Design Thinking is an innovative, human-centered, rapid prototyping approach that helps tap into creative potential.
Now, more than ever, we are expected to deliver value in new ways, managing the constantly changing environment in which we work.
Why innovation and why now?
Suggesting the pace of change has accelerated and the world around us is far different than even a few years ago may sound cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The way we work has evolved; the needs of our customers, clients, and partners continue to change while systemic constraints present ongoing challenges. Through all of this, we still have a responsibility to deliver. Start now and realize the creative potential within your group.
Who should attend?
Anyone involved in generating new ideas, products and/or processes, and dissatisfied with progress towards corporate goals and objectives.
- Public and private-sector managers and leaders; education, healthcare, not-for-profit and industry
- Problem solvers and impact-driven team members
- People with an itch to solve internal problems that challenge customer and employee enthusiasm
Discounts Available
Registered Charities
Queen’s Executive Education is pleased to offer a limited number of discounted seats in every program to employees of Canadian registered charities. Check your eligibility to receive a registered charity discount
Volume Discounts
Queen’s Executive Education is pleased to offer a 15% discount for organizations that pre-pay for five or more seats on any of our programs within a 12-month period. Check your eligibility to receive a volume discount
A Recognized Symbol of Excellence
Participants who complete the program earn the Innovation and Design Thinking digital badge credential.
Personal Benefits
- Improved ability to lead creative brainstorming sessions
- Increased acuity for discovering customer needs
- Deliver your ideas with clarity and confidence
- Greater motivation and alignment to corporate goals and objectives
- Access to tools that can be applied throughout the workplace
Organizational Benefits
- Higher employee engagement and morale
- Decreased development times thanks to rapid prototyping
- New products or services better aligned with customer needs
- A proactive, "Let’s Go!” innovation culture
The program covers the following curriculum:
- Innovation Sprints, Storyboarding, and Design Thinking
- Aligning ideation and creativity to customer needs
- Identifying and freeing up the resources necessary to support new initiatives
- Translating ideas into execution and action
- Leading effective brainstorming sessions
- Empathizing to discover new customer needs
- Developing rapid prototypes to evaluate and communicate proposals
- Building an innovation culture
In-Person Learning
Learn alongside fellow participants from across the country, discovering best practices that span industries and sectors.
Our in-person programs include classroom learning sessions led by award-winning Smith School of Business professors and industry experts. Practice new skills in breakout sessions, projects and simulations, and apply your learning toward real-world case studies.
Queen’s Health and Safety protocols for in-person programs are evolving and may change by the program date. View the Respiratory Illness Information (COVID-19) (opens in a new tab).
SmithToronto
SmithToronto is located on the 30th floor, 200 Front Street West in the heart of Canada's financial centre and is easily accessible by GO, subway and the PATH system.
Smith School of Business delivers many programs and classes at SmithToronto and it is home to the Master of Finance, Master of Management Analytics, and Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence programs. The site includes classrooms, meeting rooms, staff offices, special events spaces, and a variety of multi-media presentation systems.
As well, it includes three Boardroom Learning Centres with fully interactive videoconference capabilities. These rooms are used to deliver classes for Smith’s Executive and Accelerated MBA programs.
Session Leaders
Session leaders include senior professors from Smith School of Business and knowledgeable experts from industry. These outstanding teachers are constantly in touch with today's business world through real-world business experience, Board memberships and their own consulting practices.
Barry Cross is an expert and thought leader in innovation, execution and operations strategy. He joined Smith School of Business after nearly 20 years in the automotive and manufacturing sectors with Magna Autosystems and DuPont, where he led many key strategic initiatives, including nearly 30 program launches in North America, Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Barry speaks and consults widely in the areas of Lean Innovation, Strategy, Projects and Execution, enabling organizations to create sustainable value for their customers. He is the bestselling author of three books, including Simple: Killing Complexity for a Lean and Agile Organization, and several Most Read articles.
Upcoming Sessions
200 Front Street West
200 Front Street West
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