Boosting Creativity for Innovation from Coursera

The HEC Boosting Creativity Specialization will close for enrollment on August 11, 2020. If you are interested in earning a Specialization Certificate, please upgrade or apply for Financial Aid in each course of the specialization by August 11, 2020, if you have not already done so. After August 11, 2020, learners will no longer have access to courses they have not paid for. In order to earn a Specialization Certificate, you will need to complete all graded assignments, including peer reviews, by February 8, 2021. After that point, no new assignment submissions will be accepted for Certificate credit. If you are enrolled in the degree or certificate version of this course, you will not be affected and can continue your studies beyond August 11, 2020. Successful contemporary business relies on the ability of all its employees to be creative. Creativity can be developed and refined, albeit with effort and practice. The first goal of this course is to provide a variety of experiences and activities with the aim of developing the creative abilities of each participant. A second goal is to understand the importance of creativity from a consumer perspective. Consumers are being offered more and more opportunities to customize their products and services, and are increasingly seeking to express their creativity through their purchasing choices. As entrepreneurs, we have the ability to shape the consumer environment in ways that help consumers enhance their own creative abilities, and develop a unique relationship with them as a result. This course is aimed at anyone who wants to understand what we actually know (as opposed to what we think we know) about human creativity, and how to use this knowledge to think differently and productively about business challenges. As the focus is on creativity as a cognitive function, it does not matter what your background is, what industry you come from or want to enter. After completing this course, past students report having acquired a set of strategies that enable them to tackle business problems with a fresh perspective. This course is part of the HEC Paris MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. If you are admitted to the full program, your coursework will count towards your degree program

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Know what's good

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Provides strong foundation for students and professionals who wish to hone their creativity skills and knowledge

Suitable for a wide range of individuals, regardless of their background, industry, or career aspirations, given its focus on creativity as a cognitive function

Offers a blend of practical experiences and theoretical insights to foster creative thinking and problem-solving

Presents a contemporary and industry-relevant perspective on creativity, emphasizing the impact of technology and consumer behavior

Part of the HEC Paris MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, indicating potential recognition and quality

Reviews summary

Innovative creativity

Students overwhelmingly find this course to be enlightening and valuable in terms of learning about creativity and developing their own creative abilities. The course is well-structured and engaging, and the professor is knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter. Students report that they have gained a variety of practical tools and techniques that they can apply to their own work and personal lives, and many have experienced a shift in their mindset about creativity.

Practice creativity through a variety of exercises.

"Assignments were fun"

"Very good exercises."

"Such a fun course! The content"

Gain practical techniques to boost creativity.

"Great course, practical and fun"

"Practical, useful and creative"

"Great course, practical and useful, with clear fundamentals and practice exercises"

Learn to see creativity as a skill that can be developed.

"It turned to be better than I thought it would be, Great course."

"I learned a lot of mechanisms of creativity. I also obtained a nice toolkit of creativity techniques for further use."

"This course really helped me channel my creativity into ways I had never tried before. It gave me a different perspective to my mundane way of thinking, and I would definitely recommend this course."

Learn from a passionate and engaging professor.

"Amazing Teacher! Great Class Thank you"

"Very interesting and the teacher is great."

"Great course, the professor is fantastic."

"I really like the course and the professor was phenomenal. Very knowledgeable and very good at explaining all the concepts."

Experience a shift in your mindset about creativity.

"Honestly, this course made me change the old perspective I had about creativity."

"Very interesting and useful MOOC about creativity. Thank you very much Anne-Laure for involving us and for all your pieces of advice :D"

"Ever wondered that you are not creative enough? If yes, this is the right course for you. The tools and techniques shared in this course are meant to boost one's creativity."

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 Boosting Creativity for Innovation with these activities:

Review the key concepts of creativity, such as divergent thinking, convergent thinking, and problem solving.

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Ensure a strong foundation of the essential concepts that drive creativity. Reviewing in advance will help anchor the incoming information.

Browse courses on Creativity

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Gather materials such as notes, textbooks, and articles.
Identify the key concepts: divergent thinking, convergent thinking, problem solving, and creativity.
Read, take notes, and reflect on each concept.

Practice generating new ideas using a technique such as brainstorming or mind mapping.

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Solidify the theory learned in this course by practicing these techniques with a variety of scenarios.

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Review brainstorming and mind mapping techniques.
Choose a topic or scenario.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and brainstorm ideas using your chosen technique.
Repeat Steps 2-3 using the other technique.

Participate in an online forum or discussion group dedicated to creativity.

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Engage with other students, ask questions, and share your experiences to gain different perspectives and expand your understanding.

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Find a online forum or discussion group dedicated to creativity.
Create an account and join the group.
Introduce yourself and share your interests.
Participate in discussions.
Ask questions and share your own experiences.

Five other activities

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Read Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

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Review heuristics and biases as discussed in Kahneman's book to gain deeper insight into your own creative process.

View Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes as you read.
Write a summary of the book.

Write a blog post about how you apply creativity to your daily life.

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Linking creativity to daily life will help reinforce the concept beyond an academic level.

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Consider your daily routine and identify moments when you have or could have used your creativity.
Brainstorm how to apply creative thinking to these daily life instances.
Write a blog post including your ideation process and steps you can take.

Develop a creative solution to a business problem.

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Apply the concepts learned in this course to a real-world business problem to deepen comprehension and refine solutions.

Browse courses on Problem Solving

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Identify a business problem.
Brainstorm creative solutions to the problem.
Develop a plan to implement the solution.
Implement the solution.
Evaluate the results.

Participate in a creativity competition or hackathon.

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Put your creativity to the test in a competitive setting to challenge yourself and gain valuable feedback.

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Find a creativity competition or hackathon.
Register for the competition.
Develop a creative solution to the competition challenge.
Submit your solution.
Attend the competition and present your solution.

Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams from this course.

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Keep all of your course materials in one convenient and accessible place for future reference and review.

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Gather your materials.
Sort the materials into logical categories.
Store the materials in a way that makes sense to you.

Career center

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

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are responsible for starting and running their own businesses. This course can help Entrepreneurs develop the creative skills they need to come up with new business ideas and develop innovative products and services.

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User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers are responsible for designing the user interface and experience for websites and applications. This course can help User Experience Designers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and user-friendly designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help User Experience Designers develop designs that meet the needs of their users.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers are responsible for creating visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course can help Graphic Designers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and visually appealing designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Graphic Designers develop designs that meet the needs of their clients.

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Industrial Designer

Industrial Designers combine art, science, and engineering to enhance the usability, safety, and aesthetics of products. This course can help Industrial Designers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and user-friendly designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Industrial Designers develop designs that meet the needs of their users.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and execution of a product strategy. This course's focus on boosting creativity is a key asset for Product Managers, who need to be able to think outside the box and come up with new ideas for products and features. Additionally, the course's emphasis on understanding consumer perspectives can help Product Managers develop products that meet the needs of their target market.

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Web Designer

Web Designers are responsible for designing and developing websites. This course can help Web Designers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and visually appealing designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Web Designers develop designs that meet the needs of their users.

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Fashion Designer

Fashion Designers create clothing, accessories, and footwear. This course can help Fashion Designers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and stylish designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Fashion Designers develop designs that meet the needs of their customers.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics. This course can help Consultants develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative solutions to business problems. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Consultants develop solutions that are tailored to the needs of their clients.

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Architect

Architects design buildings and other structures. This course can help Architects develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and sustainable designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Architects develop designs that meet the needs of their clients.

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Landscape Architect

Landscape Architects design outdoor spaces, such as parks, gardens, and playgrounds. This course can help Landscape Architects develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and sustainable designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Landscape Architects develop designs that meet the needs of their clients.

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Interior designer

Interior Designers plan, research, and coordinate the design of interior spaces of commercial and residential buildings. This course can help Interior Designers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative and stylish designs. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Interior Designers develop designs that meet the needs of their clients.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This course can help Data Scientists develop the creative skills they need to come up with new ways to collect and analyze data. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Data Scientists develop insights that are relevant to their business.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. This course can help Marketing Managers develop the creative skills they need to come up with effective marketing campaigns. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Marketing Managers develop campaigns that resonate with their target market.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst typically examines, analyzes, and develops business processes. This course aims to provide its students with a better understanding of how to approach creative problem-solving, which is a vital skill that can be applied in process development. Additionally, understanding the consumer insights that drive business innovation can help Business Analysts provide value-added services to their stakeholders.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. This course can help Software Engineers develop the creative skills they need to come up with innovative software solutions. Additionally, the course's focus on understanding consumer perspectives can help Software Engineers develop software that meets the needs of their users.

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