Innovation and Creativity Management from edX

Business innovation is nothing without great ideas. But creativity can be difficult to spark on a schedule. It requires a steady hand to manage the creative process and move it forward in a productive way.

This course focuses on ways to manage creativity effectively and introduces a flexible and iterative innovation management process model. You will learn how to navigate a new product concept through all different stages:

The Development stage of an Innovation Project

What are the key perspectives of problem solving activities in the development stage of the innovation process?
How to use experimentation as a core activity of problem solving?
How to utilize open innovation and the TRIZ method

The Launch and Nurture Stage

What needs to be considered for the diffusion and adoption of an innovative product or service?
How do Diffusion and Adoption work in this stage of an innovation launch?
How to employ consumer reactions towards new products?

Launch and Project Review

How to finalize an innovation launch?
What are the key points of a project review?

Besides the online lectures you will engage in a series of exercises to deepen your understanding of the topic at hand. Real-life case studies and examples from companies will help you to better prepare for real-life situations in your company.

After completing this course you will improve your career qualifications as Product Manager , Engineer , Process Manager and Marketing Manager. Learners from the industries of Product Management , Engineering , Human Resources and Change Management already completed the course as well as Consultants and Entrepreneurs.

This course is part of the "Managing Technology & Innovation: How to deal with disruptive change" MicroMasters program designed to teach the critical skills needed to be successful in this exciting field. In order to qualify for the MicroMasters Credential, you will need to earn a Verified Certificate in each of the six courses of the RWTHx MicroMasters program.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to manage different types of innovation projects and how to gain your own understanding of the factors making it successful
The role of creativity for innovation and how individual and organizational creativity can be raised

The success factors on the level of an innovation project
The importance of soft skills and leadership capabilities for managing innovation successfully

How to manage different types of innovation projects and how to gain your own understanding of the factors making it successful
The role of creativity for innovation and how individual and organizational creativity can be raised
The success factors on the level of an innovation project
The importance of soft skills and leadership capabilities for managing innovation successfully

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Intends to allow learners to comprehend the significance of soft skills for successful innovation management

Expounds upon the pivotal role of creativity as an engine for successful innovation

Encapsulates notions of management of technology and innovation

Approaches innovation management in both theory and practice

Offers insights into the nuances of persuasive product launches

Requires learners to complete six courses to earn a MicroMasters Credential

Reviews summary

Highly praised: innovation and creativity

Learners say the Innovation and Creativity Management course is very interesting and well done, and they appreciate the balance between theory and practice. They find the workload manageable and the instructor well-prepared. This course is part of a MicroMasters program, and many learners recommend taking this course over 'Customer-centric Innovation' if you're not doing the full program.

Workload is manageable.

"It is quite some work but not extremely difficult."

"The workload is a described."

"It is a worthwhile course on its own, made better of you do the entire Micro Master's."

Instructor is well-prepared.

"The course is very interesting and well done, the professor is very well prepared."

"I really like this course, the instructor introduced the lesson in very easy way to understand"

Good balance between theory and practice.

"A good balance between theoretical and practical concepts and tools."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Innovation and Creativity Management with these activities:

Review Problem-Solving Techniques

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Review fundamental techniques like brainstorming, lateral thinking, and mind mapping to enhance creative problem-solving abilities.

Browse courses on Idea Generation

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Explore mind mapping software
Practice brainstorming techniques
Break down a problem into smaller parts

Read "The Innovator's Dilemma"

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Gain insights into the challenges and strategies for successful innovation through Christensen's classic work.

View The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books) on Amazon

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Summarize the key concepts
Identify examples of disruptive innovation

Develop an Innovation Management Plan

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Design a comprehensive plan that outlines your approach to innovation, including strategies, metrics, and processes.

Browse courses on Innovation Management

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Define the innovation objectives
Identify resources and constraints
Develop a roadmap for implementation

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Conduct Ideation Sessions

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Participate in regular ideation sessions to generate and refine innovative ideas through collaborative brainstorming.

Browse courses on Ideation

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Prepare by gathering background information
Facilitate brainstorming using various techniques
Evaluate and select the most promising ideas

Join Innovation Discussion Groups

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Engage in discussions with fellow innovators to share ideas, learn from diverse perspectives, and stay up-to-date on industry trends.

Browse courses on Innovation Management

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Identify relevant discussion groups
Participate actively in discussions
Share your own insights and experiences

Mentor Junior Innovators

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Share your expertise by mentoring junior innovators, providing guidance and support to foster their growth and development.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify a suitable mentee
Set goals and expectations
Provide regular feedback and guidance

Develop an Innovation Resource Collection

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Gather and organize a collection of articles, books, videos, and other resources to support your ongoing learning and development in innovation.

Browse courses on Innovation Management

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Identify relevant resources
Categorize and organize the resources
Share the resource collection with others

Career center

Learners who complete Innovation and Creativity Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Development Manager

Product Development Managers oversee the development of new products or services, from concept to launch. This course would be beneficial for Product Development Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new products or services. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Product Development Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Development Manager

Innovation Consultant

Innovation Consultants help organizations to develop and implement new products, processes, or services. This course would be beneficial for Innovation Consultants because it provides a comprehensive overview of the innovation process, from idea generation to product launch. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Innovation Consultants.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Consultant

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns for products or services. This course would be beneficial for Marketing Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new marketing campaigns. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Marketing Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Process Manager

Process Managers are responsible for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes. This course would be beneficial for Process Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new processes. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Process Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing out projects. This course would be beneficial for Project Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new products or services. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Project Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Research and Development Manager

Research and Development Managers are responsible for overseeing the research and development of new products or processes. This course may be useful for Research and Development Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new products or processes. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Research and Development Managers.

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Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing out programs. This course may be useful for Program Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new programs. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Program Managers.

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Technology Manager

Technology Managers are responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of new technologies. This course may be useful for Technology Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new technologies. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Technology Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Manager

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for designing and improving manufacturing processes. This course may be useful for Manufacturing Engineers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new processes. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Manufacturing Engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer

Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers are responsible for designing and improving industrial processes. This course may be useful for Industrial Engineers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new processes. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Industrial Engineers.

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Design Engineer

Design Engineers are responsible for designing new products or processes. This course may be useful for Design Engineers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new products or processes. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Design Engineers.

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Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers are responsible for ensuring that products or services meet quality standards. This course may be useful for Quality Assurance Managers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new quality standards. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Quality Assurance Managers.

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Process Engineer

Process Engineers are responsible for designing and improving manufacturing processes. This course may be useful for Process Engineers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new processes. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Process Engineers.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing and developing software applications. This course may be useful for Software Engineers because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new software applications. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Software Engineers.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting and analyzing data to solve business problems. This course may be useful for Data Scientists because it provides a framework for managing innovation projects and developing new data-driven solutions. The course also covers topics such as creativity, problem solving, and project management, which are all essential skills for Data Scientists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist