What You'll Learn
Today’s top companies succeed by making innovation a fundamental part of their strategy. As the pace of change continues to increase and the threat of disruption becomes the new normal, companies need to have a focused and effective approach to innovation and strategy. Apple, Amazon, Intuit, and other industry leaders continue to build breakthroughs—strategies that reshape markets, deliver greater value at a lower cost, redefine channels, and force competitors to scramble.
In this program, you’ll examine the frameworks that market-leading companies use to build innovation into their business approach. Through interactive group exercises and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to drive innovation and develop winning strategies for your organization. The program emphasizes tangible, practical content which can be immediately deployed in your organization.
Program Benefits
- Build innovation into the strategy development process.
- Foster innovation culture and identify the most compatible structures to execute innovative ideas.
- Enhance innovation discovery capabilities and shape new markets.
- Evaluate and prioritize strategic options and allocate resources effectively to generate high ROI.
- Design innovative, go-to-market strategies that capitalize on the organization’s resources and capabilities, create differentiated value for customers, and fuel growth.
- Learn how to orient your business for speed in order to secure a competitive advantage.
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education.
Topics Covered
- Ensuring that innovation remains a strategic priority.
- Fostering corporate innovation culture and driving innovation across the organization.
- Exploring the habits of today’s “new innovators” and the various types of innovation.
- Identifying innovation opportunities and evaluating their potential in context of your organization.
- Developing a toolkit of innovation frameworks, including design thinking and jobs to be done.
- Using defined metrics to assess innovation ideas objectively and effectively.
- Setting up the right structure for innovation.
- Managing and measuring a strategic innovation portfolio.
- Learn the dynamics of minimum viable offerings, tech scouting, and coalition-building when considering build, buy, partner decisions.
- Navigating the organizational challenges inherent in innovation programs in established companies.
Who Should Enroll
This program is designed for business leaders committed to building strategic innovation into their organization. It is equally suited for professionals from established companies who want to develop new revenue sources or from scale-ups who want to systematize non-core growth.
Considering this program?
December Schedule
Week 1
- The Four Types of Innovation
- The Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators
- Utilizing Your Organization’s Resources and Capabilities to Innovate Inside the Box
Week 2
- Using Design Thinking and Lean Startup Frameworks to Innovate Outside the Box
- Identifying Strategic Innovation Opportunities using Ideation Frameworks
- Assessing Your Innovation Ideas Objectively
Week 3
- Building an Innovation Culture and Structure
- Innovating Strategically to develop a Sustainable Competitive Advantage
- Case Discussion: How Apple is Organized for Innovation
Week 4
- Innovation by Acquisition
- Assessing your Innovation Environment
- Managing your Innovation Portfolio
- Individual Presentations: Innovating Inside or Outside the Box
*This schedule is subject to change.
February Schedule
Week 1, Day 1
- The Four Types of Innovation
- The Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators
- Utilizing Your Organization’s Resources and Capabilities to Innovate Inside the Box
Week 1, Day 2
- Using Design Thinking and Lean Startup Frameworks to Innovate Outside the Box
- Identifying Strategic Innovation Opportunities Using Ideation Frameworks
- Assessing Your Innovation Ideas Objectively
Week 2, Day 1
- Building an Innovation Culture and Structure
- Innovating Strategically to Develop a Sustainable Competitive Advantage
- Case Discussion: How Apple is Organized for Innovation
Week 2, Day 2
- Innovation by Acquisition
- Assessing Your Innovation Environment
- Managing your Innovation Portfolio
- Individual Presentations: Innovating Inside or Outside the Box
This schedule is subject to change
May Schedule
Day 1
- The Strategic Imperative for Innovation
- Innovation Methodologies & Frameworks
Day 2
- Lean Start-Up Workshop & Debrief
- Innovation Leadership in Practice
September Schedule
Day 1
- The Strategic Imperative for Innovation
- Innovation Methodologies & Frameworks
Day 2
- Lean Start-Up Workshop & Debrief
- Innovation Leadership in Practice
Instructor
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![Areen Shahbari]()
Areen Shahbari
Areen has over 17 years of corporate, business training, and consulting experience. Through her two self-founded ventures, Areen Training and Consultancy, and Cactus International, as well as her roles as an instructor at Harvard, Stanford, and Babson Executive Education, Areen has offered training, consultancy, and coaching services to numerous firms, governments, non-profits, and startups globally.
Instructor
-
![Areen Shahbari]()
Areen Shahbari
Areen has over 17 years of corporate, business training, and consulting experience. Through her two self-founded ventures, Areen Training and Consultancy, and Cactus International, as well as her roles as an instructor at Harvard, Stanford, and Babson Executive Education, Areen has offered training, consultancy, and coaching services to numerous firms, governments, non-profits, and startups globally.
Instructor
-
![Ben Little]()
Ben Little
Ben Little is an accomplished professor, practitioner, and researcher with a strong passion for innovation. As the Vice President of Design Strategy at Fidelity Investments, he leads explorations of new technologies and experiences. Additionally, Ben serves as the Program Director of Design Innovation at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where he leads graduate studies for students pursuing careers in new product and service design.
Instructor
-
![Areen Shahbari]()
Areen Shahbari
Areen has over 17 years of corporate, business training, and consulting experience. Through her two self-founded ventures, Areen Training and Consultancy, and Cactus International, as well as her roles as an instructor at Harvard, Stanford, and Babson Executive Education, Areen has offered training, consultancy, and coaching services to numerous firms, governments, non-profits, and startups globally.
[The] Innovation and Strategy program has been especially relevant in helping me think about how my institution…should further innovate to stay relevant.
Director, Instructional Technology Services, San Diego State University
Certificates of Leadership Excellence
The Certificates of Leadership Excellence (CLE) are designed for leaders with the desire to enhance their business acumen, challenge current thinking, and expand their leadership skills.
This program is one of several CLE qualifying programs. Register today and get started earning your certificate.
