Course Title: Design Thinking and Innovation

Course Duration: Typically a semester-long course

Course Description: This course explores the principles and practices of design thinking and
innovation within the context of modern business. It equips students with the tools and
strategies to foster creative problem-solving, customer-centric design, and innovation-driven
leadership.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the fundamentals of design thinking and its application in business.

2. Apply design thinking methodologies to identify and solve complex problems.
3. Foster a culture of innovation within organizations.
4. Develop and prototype innovative solutions.
5. Analyze and evaluate the impact of design thinking on business strategies.

Week-by-Week Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction to Design Thinking and Innovation

• Overview of design thinking

• Historical context
• Significance in contemporary business

Week 2: Design Thinking Process

• Empathize and define stages

• Ideate and prototype stages
• Test and implement stages

Week 3: User-Centered Design

• Understanding user needs

• Persona development
• User journey mapping

Week 4: Problem Framing

• Problem statement development

• Root cause analysis
• Defining constraints and criteria

Week 5: Ideation and Brainstorming

• Techniques for generating creative ideas

• Divergent and convergent thinking
• Idea selection and refinement

Week 6: Prototyping and Testing

 • Rapid prototyping
• User testing and feedback
• Iterative design

Week 7: Design Thinking Tools and Methods

• SWOT analysis
• Mind mapping
• Storyboarding
• Customer journey mapping

Week 8: Innovation Management

• Types of innovation
• Managing innovation pipelines
• Intellectual property considerations

Week 9: Organizational Culture for Innovation

• Building an innovative culture

• Leadership's role in fostering innovation
• Overcoming resistance to change

Week 10: Design Thinking and Strategy

• Integrating design thinking into strategic planning

• Business model innovation
• Competitive advantage through design

Week 11: Case Studies and Guest Speakers

• Real-world examples of design thinking and innovation

• Guest speakers from innovative companies

Week 12: Final Project Presentations

• Students present their design thinking projects

• Peer evaluation and feedback

Week 13: Assessment and Reflection

• Final assessments and reflection on the course

Assessment Methods: Assessment methods may include individual and group projects,
presentations, case studies, quizzes, and a final exam.