Design Thinking and Innovation (5 Weeks)
- Course Description
- Learning Objectives
- Who should take this course
- Professional Training Certificate Elective Course For:
- Textbook
- Instructor
- Instructor Biography
Design thinking is an iterative process to help teams understand their customers better by challenging assumptions, redefining problems and creating innovative solutions. It views innovation as a process with five phases (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test), and is deeply tied to human values, needs, emotions, and motivations.
Many companies create products and services without ever seeing commercial success. Often this is the result of a lack of understanding of what potential customers want and need. Do we know why people make the choices they do? How can we create products and services that appeal to the true needs of those we are trying to serve? How do we tell the difference between what people say they want and what they actually want?
This 5-week course covers the essentials of the psychology behind human needs and motivations to inform the development of our products and services. We will cover how to observe people, how to empathize, and how to foster creativity that leads to innovation, as well as the processes of divergence, conversion, validation, and selection. These concepts will be explored through case studies. Aligned with the learning outcomes, participants will have the opportunity to apply what is learned through the course by running a small project for designing a hypothetical product or service for a target customer segment.
Many companies create products and services without ever seeing commercial success. Often this is the result of a lack of understanding of what potential customers want and need. Do we know why people make the choices they do? How can we create products and services that appeal to the true needs of those we are trying to serve? How do we tell the difference between what people say they want and what they actually want?
This 5-week course covers the essentials of the psychology behind human needs and motivations to inform the development of our products and services. We will cover how to observe people, how to empathize, and how to foster creativity that leads to innovation, as well as the processes of divergence, conversion, validation, and selection. These concepts will be explored through case studies. Aligned with the learning outcomes, participants will have the opportunity to apply what is learned through the course by running a small project for designing a hypothetical product or service for a target customer segment.
1. Develop a firm grasp of design thinking steps.
2. Understand and recognize various factors that impact customer experience.
3. Devise methods to enhance the quality of product or service design process.
Marketing professionals, product developers, business developers, customer service professionals, product, and project managers.
No required textbook
Mete Yasuji
Mete Yasuji is a naturalized Japanese citizen, a trilingual executive coach, and a seasoned business professional with expertise in coaching, teaching, psychology, and techno-futurism. Over his 22-year career as a senior leader in financial services, insurance, IT/software, and legal services, Mete developed a deep understanding of organizational dynamics before transitioning to leadership coaching and training. His current mission is to help companies and leaders achieve sustainable growth.
Mete holds a Doctor of Psychology from California Southern University, an MBA from the International University of Japan, and a Certificate in NGO Management from Temple University. His diverse interests include positive psychology, leadership development, digital well-being, self-leadership, and coaching.
Mete holds a Doctor of Psychology from California Southern University, an MBA from the International University of Japan, and a Certificate in NGO Management from Temple University. His diverse interests include positive psychology, leadership development, digital well-being, self-leadership, and coaching.