GenAI for Execs & Business Leaders: Formulate Your Use Case from edX

As an executive or business leader, integrating genAI effectively into your organization will be a top priority. Navigating how to strategically use this tool is both critical and pressing. This short course guides you through formulating effective genAI use cases specific to your business circumstances.

Through a series of hands-on activities, you will apply genAI best practices while using IBM’s watsonx AI engine to both understand its nature and to brainstorm ways you can leverage this powerful tool in your organization. You will then construct a potential use case yourself. You will:

Write effective prompts
Develop a business goal suited to your organization’s pain points
Choose an appropriate genAI application that addresses your goal
Critically examine the feasibility of your use case by considering common risks and reflect on ways to mitigate them

Throughout the course, you will draw on your own industry expertise and leverage that knowledge to refine your ideas for your organization with genAI assistance.

To get the most from this course, we recommend you take the first 2 courses in the Generative AI for Executives and Business Leaders series as well. You should also be familiar with basic AI terminology and common AI business concepts.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply a process to formulate potential strategic genai business applications
Identify and mitigate ai implementation risks

Ensuring best practices to produce valid, useful ai output
Critically formulating and reflecting on ai implementation feasibility for your organization

Apply a process to formulate potential strategic genai business applications
Identify and mitigate ai implementation risks
Ensuring best practices to produce valid, useful ai output
Critically formulating and reflecting on ai implementation feasibility for your organization

Syllabus

Module 1: Develop an AI Use Case for Your Organization

Prompt Writing

Formulate A Business Goal with AI Assistance

Finalize and Evaluate Your Feasible Use Case

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Guides learners through formulating effective genAI use cases, which is a critical skill for leaders looking to integrate AI into their organizations

Draws on learners' own industry expertise, which allows them to refine their ideas for their organizations with genAI assistance

Recommends learners take the first two courses in the series, which may be necessary to fully grasp the concepts presented here

Requires familiarity with basic AI terminology and common AI business concepts, which may exclude learners new to the field

Uses IBM’s watsonx AI engine, which allows learners to understand its nature and brainstorm ways to leverage this powerful tool in their organization

Presented by IBM, which is recognized for its work in AI and its development of AI tools and platforms for business applications

Reviews summary

Practical genai for business leaders

According to learners, this course is a valuable introduction to formulating practical GenAI use cases for business. Many highlight the clear guidance on prompt writing and the step-by-step process for developing business goals and use cases. Students found the content highly relevant for executives and leaders seeking a strategic understanding rather than deep technical expertise. The hands-on activities using IBM watsonx were seen as particularly helpful for applying concepts. While generally well-received, some learners noted it serves as a starting point and could potentially benefit from more in-depth coverage or diverse industry examples.

A starting point, not a deep technical course.

"This is a great introductory course, but if you need deep technical knowledge, you'll need more."

"It provides a solid overview but doesn't go into extensive detail on specific models or algorithms."

"Good for understanding the strategic angle, less so for the 'how-to' build technically."

"Serves as a foundation to build upon for more complex applications."

Addresses AI implementation risks.

"Critically examining feasibility and considering risks was a very important part of the course."

"Understanding potential risks and mitigation strategies is crucial for deployment."

"The course covers identifying and mitigating AI implementation risks effectively."

"Glad they included a module on risks and responsible AI use."

Includes useful hands-on exercises.

"The hands-on activities using watsonx were a great way to apply what I learned immediately."

"I appreciated the opportunity to work through examples hands-on."

"Applying the concepts with a tool made the learning concrete."

"The practical exercises helped solidify my understanding of the concepts taught."

Teaches valuable prompt engineering.

"The section on prompt writing was particularly valuable. It changed how I interact with GenAI."

"Writing effective prompts is crucial, and this course gave me solid techniques."

"Got actionable tips on how to write prompts that yield useful AI outputs."

"Understanding how to prompt correctly makes a huge difference."

Well-suited for executives/managers.

"Excellent course for executives and business leaders needing to understand strategic GenAI application."

"It's not overly technical, which is perfect for managers who need the business perspective."

"This course gave me the framework to discuss GenAI opportunities with my team."

"Highly relevant content for anyone in a leadership position considering GenAI adoption."

Provides practical process for use cases.

"The course provides a practical process for formulating potential strategic genAI business applications."

"It helped me structure my thinking around identifying and developing use cases for my organization."

"I found the step-by-step guide to creating a viable use case extremely helpful."

"Learned a clear method to develop an AI use case for my business needs."

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 GenAI for Execs & Business Leaders: Formulate Your Use Case with these activities:

Review AI Terminology

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Reviewing AI terminology will help you better understand the concepts discussed in the course and formulate more effective use cases.

Browse courses on Generative AI

Show steps

Review definitions of key AI terms like generative AI, machine learning, and deep learning.
Identify examples of how these technologies are used in different industries.
Take a short quiz to test your understanding of the terminology.

Read 'Generative AI: How AI is Revolutionizing Business and Society'

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Reading this book will broaden your understanding of generative AI and its potential applications.

View Generative AI for Business: How AI is... on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on chapters relevant to your industry.
Identify potential use cases for generative AI in your organization.
Discuss your findings with colleagues and stakeholders.

Read 'AI for Business: A Practical Guide to Understanding, Implementing and Scaling AI'

Show steps

Reading this book will provide a broader understanding of AI in business and help you formulate more informed use cases.

View Demystifying AI for the Enterprise: A Playbook... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on chapters related to AI strategy and implementation.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.
Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own organization.

Three other activities

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Create a Presentation on GenAI Risks and Mitigation

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Creating a presentation will help you synthesize your knowledge of GenAI risks and communicate them effectively.

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Research common risks associated with GenAI implementation.
Identify mitigation strategies for each risk.
Create a visually appealing presentation with clear explanations.
Practice your presentation to ensure a smooth delivery.

Develop a GenAI Use Case Proposal

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Developing a detailed use case proposal will solidify your understanding of the course material and provide a tangible outcome.

Show steps

Identify a specific business problem or opportunity in your organization.
Define a clear business goal that can be addressed with GenAI.
Outline the steps required to implement the GenAI solution.
Assess the potential risks and benefits of the use case.
Present your proposal to stakeholders for feedback.

Develop a Prompt Engineering Guide for Your Team

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Creating a prompt engineering guide will help your team effectively use GenAI tools and improve the quality of their outputs.

Show steps

Research best practices for prompt engineering.
Develop a set of guidelines and examples for your team.
Share the guide with your team and provide training.
Gather feedback and iterate on the guide.

Career center

Learners who complete GenAI for Execs & Business Leaders: Formulate Your Use Case will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

AI Strategist

An AI strategist is responsible for developing and implementing an organization's AI strategy. This course provides a foundation for formulating strategic genAI business applications, ensuring alignment with business goals. The emphasis on risk mitigation, best practices, and feasibility assessment equips you with the tools to make informed decisions about AI initiatives. Hands-on experience with prompt writing and AI engine usage allows you to translate strategic vision into actionable plans. As an AI strategist, these skills are essential for driving successful AI adoption and achieving desired business outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Strategist

Chief Innovation Officer

The Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) drives innovation strategy and implementation across an organization. This course helps CIOs by providing a framework for formulating strategic genAI business applications. It emphasizes identifying and mitigating AI implementation risks, ensuring best practices for valid output, and critically assessing feasibility. By mastering these skills, the CIO can lead the organization in leveraging genAI to create innovative products, services, and processes. The hands-on approach of the course, using IBM's watsonx AI engine, offers practical experience that is invaluable for a CIO.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Innovation Officer

Innovation Manager

An innovation manager is responsible for fostering a culture of innovation within an organization and identifying new opportunities for growth and improvement. This course is directly relevant to your role as it guides you through formulating effective genAI use cases specific to your business circumstances, facilitating the exploration of cutting-edge AI applications. The hands-on activities, including prompt engineering and risk mitigation strategies, equip you with the tools to champion genAI initiatives within your organization. By mastering these skills, you can help your company stay ahead of the curve and drive meaningful innovation as an innovation manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Manager

Digital Transformation Manager

As a digital transformation manager, you lead initiatives to integrate digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value. This course is directly applicable, guiding you through formulating effective genAI use cases specific to your business, which is essential for leveraging AI in digital transformation projects. The hands-on activities, including prompt writing and risk mitigation strategies, equip you with the tools to champion genAI initiatives within the organization. By mastering these skills, you can drive meaningful change and ensure successful digital transformation as a digital transformation manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Transformation Manager

Automation Consultant

As an automation consultant, you help organizations identify and implement automation solutions to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This course is directly relevant, guiding you through formulating effective genAI use cases specific to your business circumstance, which is essential for identifying opportunities to leverage AI in automation projects. The hands-on activities, including prompt writing and risk mitigation strategies, equip you with the tools to champion genAI initiatives within the organization. By mastering these skills, you can drive meaningful change and ensure successful automation as an automation consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Consultant

Management Consultant

As a management consultant, you help organizations improve their performance by analyzing existing problems and developing plans for improvement. This course prepares you to formulate effective genAI use cases tailored to specific business circumstances, a crucial skill for identifying opportunities to leverage AI for organizational improvement. The hands-on experience with prompt writing and using AI engines to brainstorm solutions directly translates to the consulting process. By learning to critically examine the feasibility of AI implementations and mitigate risks, you will become a more effective and insightful management consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. This course is helpful because it teaches you how to formulate effective genAI use cases, crucial for identifying opportunities to enhance products with AI. Developing a business goal with AI assistance and critically evaluating feasibility, which are skills taught in this course, are vital for product development. An understanding of prompt writing allows product managers to effectively communicate requirements to engineering teams and ensure that AI capabilities are implemented effectively in products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Analyst

A business analyst identifies business needs and determines solutions to business problems, often acting as a liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams. This course enables you to formulate effective genAI use cases, which is invaluable for identifying opportunities to leverage AI to address business challenges. By learning to develop business goals with AI assistance and critically evaluate feasibility, you will be able to assess the potential of AI-driven solutions. Proficiency in writing effective prompts allows you to communicate business requirements clearly to technical teams and extract meaningful insights, making you a more effective business analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Strategy Director

A strategy director is responsible for developing and implementing an organization's strategic goals, ensuring they align with the overall mission. This course will be valuable as it helps you master the process of formulating strategic genAI business applications, which is essential for integrating AI into long-term plans. By learning to identify and mitigate AI implementation risks, you can make informed decisions about adopting genAI. The course's focus on critically evaluating AI's feasibility ensures that your strategies are realistic and achievable, which are abilities crucial for success as a strategy director.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Director

Business Development Manager

A business development manager focuses on identifying and pursuing new business opportunities to drive growth. This course is helpful because it teaches you how to formulate effective genAI use cases, which is essential for identifying innovative ways to leverage AI for business expansion. The course's focus on developing business goals with AI assistance and critically evaluating feasibility helps you assess the potential of new AI-driven ventures. Further, proficiency in prompt writing allows you to effectively communicate business needs to technical teams and extract valuable insights from AI systems, all of which are key to success as a business development manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Data Science Manager

A data science manager leads a team of data scientists and analysts, guiding them in extracting insights from data to inform business decisions. This course is particularly helpful because it equips you with the ability to formulate effective genAI use cases. Understanding how to apply AI strategically to solve specific business problems is essential for leading a data science team. The focus on prompt writing, goal development with AI, and feasibility assessment are important for driving the data science efforts, making you a more effective and visionary data science manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Science Manager

Digital Marketing Manager

A digital marketing manager develops and implements digital marketing strategies to promote a company's products or services online. This course may be helpful, as it teaches you how to formulate effective genAI use cases. This knowledge is helpful for identifying opportunities to leverage AI for marketing purposes. Developing a business goal with AI assistance and evaluating feasibility will help you assess the potential of AI to improve marketing campaigns. Familiarity with prompt writing will allow you to effectively communicate marketing requirements to AI systems and extract valuable insights, which are essential skills for a digital marketing manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Manager

Chief Technology Officer

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of a company. This course may be particularly useful for CTOs who need to integrate genAI into their organizations effectively. Through hands-on activities, the course guides you in formulating effective genAI use cases specific to your business. By learning to write effective prompts, develop business goals with AI assistance, and choose appropriate genAI applications, you can drive your organization's AI strategy forward. The ability to critically examine feasibility and mitigate risks is crucial for making informed decisions about AI implementation as a CTO.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer

Process Improvement Manager

A process improvement manager focuses on identifying and implementing improvements to business processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This course may be useful as it provides a structured approach to formulating genAI use cases, enabling you to identify ways to leverage AI for process optimization. By learning to develop business goals with AI assistance and critically evaluate feasibility, you can assess the potential of AI to streamline processes. Familiarity with prompt writing will allow you to effectively communicate process requirements to AI systems and extract valuable insights, which are essential skills for a process improvement manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Improvement Manager

IT Project Manager

An IT project manager plans, executes, and closes IT projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course may be relevant as it provides a framework for formulating strategic genAI business applications. It also teaches you to identify and mitigate AI implementation risks, ensuring best practices for valid output, and critically assess feasibility. This knowledge is crucial when managing projects that involve integrating genAI technologies. Hands-on experience with prompt writing and AI engine usage can help you understand the technical aspects of AI projects and manage them more effectively as an IT project manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in GenAI for Execs & Business Leaders: Formulate Your Use Case.

Generative AI for Business

Save

Explores the transformative potential of generative AI across various industries. It provides insights into how generative AI is being used to create new products, services, and business models. It is particularly useful for understanding the broader impact of generative AI and identifying potential use cases for your organization. This book adds depth to the course by providing real-world examples and case studies.

Generative AI for Business: How AI is...

Hardcover

Generative AI for Business: How AI is...

Kindle Edition

Demystifying AI for the Enterprise

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of AI and its applications in business. It covers topics such as AI strategy, implementation, and scaling. It useful reference for understanding the practical aspects of AI and how to leverage it for business value. This book adds breadth to the course by providing real-world examples and case studies.

Demystifying AI for the Enterprise: A Playbook for...

Kindle Edition

GenAI for Execs & Business Leaders

Formulate Your Use Case

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical genai for business leaders

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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