Best Free MOOCs In Business In September

Strategic Innovation Toolkit For Managers

School: Vanderbilt University

Platform: Coursera

Link: REGISTER HERE

Start Date: September 4, 2017 (4 Weeks)

Workload: 3-4 Hours Per Week

Instructor: David Owens

Credentials: An accomplished author and consultant, David Owens teaches courses in product development, change management, and innovation at Vanderbilt’s University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. He also oversees the school’s Executive Development Institute. Before entering academia, Owens served as the CEO of Griffin Technology, which markets accessories for smartphones and mobile devices. Owens also performed product design work for firms ranging from Apple to Daimler Benz to Corning. He earned a Ph.D. from Stanford and is the author of Creative People Must Be Stopped!.

Graded: To earn a passing mark, students must complete all graded assignments.

Description: How do the best companies innovate? Despite paying lip service to the concept, many companies kill their best ideas. While many might blame “the process,” most creative solutions are stifled by something more difficult to influence: People. To overcome people hurdles, this course identifies several areas where idea formulation, evaluation, and execution can be bottlenecked. In particular, it explores our personal constraints and (intelligence, persuasive skills) and the threats inherent to group dynamics (groupthink, fear and ego). The course will also explore how problem-solving can be undercut by people’s perceptions of organizational operations (structure and strategy), technology (capabilities and expertise), and the marketplace (openness to change).

During this course, students will learn how to manage peers, superiors, and business partners and help them embrace innovation. Each week, students will watch lecture videos, along with completing readings, quizzes, and individual and group assignments. At the end, students will understand what conditions foster innovation; how innovation and change initiatives can be undermined; and how to gain buy in and maintain creative momentum over time.

Review: “Excellent! Perfect for new managers and those with in depth training that need best practices for dealing with issues on the front line.” For additional reviews, click here.

Additional Note: This course is the first in a four part specialization from Vanderbilt on “Business Essentials for Managers.” To learn more about this specialization and register for it, REGISTER HERE.

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