H a r v a r d | B u s i n e s s | S c h o o lExecutive Education
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Program Advising team
Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Reimagining Strategy
Applying Design Thinking to Your Organization
Dates: TBD
Location: HBS Campus
Fee: TBD
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
Program Announcement
The program originally scheduled for 15–18 NOV 2020 has been cancelled. Please
consider applying to <a href="/reimagining-strategy-design-thinking-virtual/">Reimagining
Strategy with Design Thinking—Virtual</a>, running 05 JAN–25 FEB 2021. If you
have any questions, please contact <a href="mailto:executive_education@hbs.edu">executive_education@hbs.edu</a>.
Summary
Design thinking is a powerful tool for rethinking and revitalizing strategy—and for
driving organizational performance. By placing customers' needs at the center of a
product, service, process, or business model, you can reframe strategic challenges
and develop more effective solutions. Drawing on right-brained creativity and left-brained
analytics, this design thinking program enables you to broaden your strategic perspective,
find novel opportunities for innovation, and keep your business moving forward.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
Design thinking is a powerful tool for rethinking and revitalizing strategy—and for
driving organizational performance. By placing customers' needs at the center of a
product, service, process, or business model, you can reframe strategic challenges
and develop more effective solutions. Drawing on right-brained creativity and left-brained
analytics, this design thinking program enables you to broaden your strategic perspective,
find novel opportunities for innovation, and keep your business moving forward.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
Key Benefits
Led by HBS professors Cynthia A. Montgomery and Srikant M. Datar, Reimagining Strategy
explores strategy through a new lens. As you apply the latest design thinking techniques
and tools to the complex problems facing your organization, you will foster a culture
of creative change, spark breakthrough innovation, and boost your company's competitive
advantage.
Led by HBS professors Cynthia A. Montgomery and Srikant M. Datar, Reimagining Strategy
explores strategy through a new lens. As you apply the latest design thinking techniques
and tools to the complex problems facing your organization, you will foster a culture
of creative change, spark breakthrough innovation, and boost your company's competitive
advantage.
Details
Move quickly to develop innovative solutions
Practice systematic inventive thinking (SIT) to overcome functional and relational
immobility
Create models and deploy rapid prototyping to explore complex problems
Build design thinking capabilities
Tolerate risk and failure in order to boost creative thinking—and promote learning
Foster a culture of creative critique and openness to change
Create design-thinking practices core to your strategic approach
Consider the needs of end users in every strategic decision
Build empathy with end users by observing their behavior and drawing conclusions based
on qualitative information
Ensure that business decisions are driven by the user as you consider innovations
in business models, products, services, or processes
Expand your personal and professional network
Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various
backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights
into your business challenges and career decisions
Who Should Attend
This design thinking course is appropriate for C-suite leaders and other senior executives
who play a key role in the formulation and execution of strategy within their organizations,
such as:
Heads of business units, divisions, regions, or functions
Managing director, general manager, and director
Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the
program’s impact on the organization. An executive team should include at least one
C-suite executive and other senior executives.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of
this program.
This design thinking course is appropriate for C-suite leaders and other senior executives
who play a key role in the formulation and execution of strategy within their organizations,
such as:
Heads of business units, divisions, regions, or functions
Managing director, general manager, and director
Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the
program’s impact on the organization. An executive team should include at least one
C-suite executive and other senior executives.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of
this program.
Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place
on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned
HBS case method.
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place
on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned
HBS case method.
Admissions Criteria and Process
We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and
encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal
educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional
achievement and organizational responsibilities.
Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting
with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals.
Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).
Application Submission
We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You
may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application
information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via
email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email
us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.
Application Review
To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions
Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current
responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad
range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications
monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to
the program start date. If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit
your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive
a full refund. Cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start
of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received
within 14 days are subject to full payment.
We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and
encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal
educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional
achievement and organizational responsibilities.
Answering Your Questions
Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting
with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals.
Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).
Application Submission
We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You
may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application
information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via
email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email
us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.
Application Review
To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions
Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current
responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad
range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications
monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to
the program start date. If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit
your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive
a full refund. Cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start
of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received
within 14 days are subject to full payment.
Program content, dates, fees, and faculty are subject to change. In accordance with
Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any
person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion,
age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in
admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.
What You Will Learn
Throughout this design strategy course, you and your peers will dive into the methodology
of design thinking and explore its applications to business strategy. Through a rich
learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies, small-group
workshops, discussions, and hands-on exercises, you will expand your perspective on
strategic issues, discover ways to redesign your organization's strategy, and learn
how to apply design thinking to drive and sustain business success.
Throughout this design strategy course, you and your peers will dive into the methodology
of design thinking and explore its applications to business strategy. Through a rich
learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies, small-group
workshops, discussions, and hands-on exercises, you will expand your perspective on
strategic issues, discover ways to redesign your organization's strategy, and learn
how to apply design thinking to drive and sustain business success.
Gaining a big-picture view of the innovation process
Defining creativity and its essential role in innovation
Building the foundation and structure for innovation success
Exploring human-centered design
Identifying and understanding what customers need and want in a product, service,
or process
Understanding who your target users are and how to reach them
Examining techniques for achieving deep customer understanding
Discovering areas of opportunity
Overcoming barriers to innovation through problem framing
Identifying problem frames using webbing, abstract ladders, and strategy frameworks
Opening up new paths of thinking, redefining problems, and finding areas of opportunity
Generating innovative ideas
Exploring new approaches to innovative thinking and techniques for idea generation
Examining the tools of Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT), including task unification,
division, attribute dependency, and inversion
Applying methods of structured ideation, such as the Nominal Group Technique, Round
Robin, Creative Matrix, and Alternate Worlds
Developing concepts
Focusing on the critical role that prototyping, experimenting, and iteration play
in developing ideas
Understanding how failed experiments can reveal new options and lead to better final
outcomes
Examining methods of prototyping, such as wire framing, body storming, think-aloud
testing, and simulation
Exploring attribute-value mapping, design heuristics, concept poster, rose-thorn-bud,
and critique
Your Individual Project
Upon acceptance into Reimagining Strategy, you will be asked to provide a short description
of a current strategic problem or challenge facing your organization. Throughout the
program, you will have the opportunity to work on a strategy to address this issue
and seek input from HBS faculty and peers—a process that can help to clarify the root
cause of strategic issues and produce a more effective solution.
Optional Post-Program Virtual Follow-Up Session
Three to four months after the program ends, you can participate in a virtual gathering
with HBS faculty members and program participants. During this session, you and your
peers will have the opportunity to discuss the status of your strategic projects and
the implementation challenges you have encountered. You will share and receive feedback
from faculty and peers as you rethink your strategic approach.
Upon acceptance into Reimagining Strategy, you will be asked to provide a short description
of a current strategic problem or challenge facing your organization. Throughout the
program, you will have the opportunity to work on a strategy to address this issue
and seek input from HBS faculty and peers—a process that can help to clarify the root
cause of strategic issues and produce a more effective solution.
Optional Post-Program Virtual Follow-Up Session
Three to four months after the program ends, you can participate in a virtual gathering
with HBS faculty members and program participants. During this session, you and your
peers will have the opportunity to discuss the status of your strategic projects and
the implementation challenges you have encountered. You will share and receive feedback
from faculty and peers as you rethink your strategic approach.
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely
recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors.
Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address
the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
Faculty Cochairs
Srikant M. Datar
Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely
recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors.
Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address
the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
Faculty Cochairs
Srikant M. Datar
Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration
H a r v a r d | B u s i n e s s | S c h o o lExecutive Education
