Design Thinking for Business Leaders from edX

Design Thinking is an approach that enables even the most traditional thinkers to think innovatively and create outcomes that are beneficial for the customer. It is a human-centered design process that makes problems seem simple and manageable.

Why the interest in design thinking now? It is because the process of design thinking has been found to lead to greater creativity and better solutions for problems.

This course by the Institute of Product Leadership covers all the fundamental concepts of Design Thinking for Product Leaders. The course instructor initially gives you a primer on Design Thinking. Later, he takes you through the 5 stages of Design Thinking to help you understand how to target the right problem to solve and generate ideas to solve the problem.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Ideas, concepts, and solutions related to the design and execution of innovation driven projects using design thinking
Design thinking principles

Solve feasible, viable and relevant innovation project/challenge

Ideas, concepts, and solutions related to the design and execution of innovation driven projects using design thinking
Design thinking principles
Solve feasible, viable and relevant innovation project/challenge

Syllabus

What is Design Thinking?

Key Tenets of Design Thinking

The Mindset of DT

The Approach of Design Thinking

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Strengthens an existing foundation for intermediate learners in design thinking and innovation

Introduces beginners to the fundamentals of design thinking

Provides hands-on learning through the 5 stages of design thinking

Focuses on real-world problem-solving using design thinking

Taught by the Institute of Product Leadership, a recognized expert in design thinking

Covers key principles, concepts, and solutions related to innovation-driven projects

Reviews summary

Design thinking for business transformation

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundational understanding of Design Thinking, specifically tailored for business leaders and product managers. Many highlight the course's ability to simplify complex concepts, making them immediately applicable in professional settings. Students particularly praise the practical exercises and real-world case studies that deepen understanding of the Empathize, Define, Ideate, and Prototyping stages. While largely seen as a highly valuable introduction, some more experienced professionals suggest it might serve best as a starting point rather than an advanced deep dive, with a few older reviews occasionally noting aspects that could be updated, though recent feedback indicates continuous refinement.

Best suited for those new to Design Thinking or seeking a refresher.

"While excellent for beginners, more experienced practitioners might find it a bit basic."

"If you're already deeply familiar with DT, this might be more of a refresher than new learning."

"It's a perfect starting point, but don't expect highly advanced strategies for seasoned leaders."

Well-organized modules guide learners through the Design Thinking process.

"The course follows a logical progression, making it easy to grasp each stage of Design Thinking."

"I appreciated the structured approach, moving from empathy to prototyping in a clear manner."

"The syllabus breaks down complex ideas into manageable, digestible modules."

Instructor's knowledge and presentation style are highly regarded.

"The instructor was highly knowledgeable and presented the material in a very engaging way."

"His insights from real-world experience were invaluable."

"The lectures were clear and the instructor's enthusiasm made learning enjoyable."

Offers a comprehensive yet accessible introduction for new learners.

"A fantastic introductory course for anyone looking to understand Design Thinking from scratch."

"It provides a clear and concise overview of all the key tenets and stages."

"For someone new to the concept, this course delivers a very solid framework to build upon."

Focuses on applying Design Thinking directly to business challenges.

"I found the content highly practical; I could immediately apply the concepts to my team's innovation projects."

"The course really helped me bridge the gap between theory and execution for real business problems."

"The emphasis on actionable insights made this course incredibly useful for my daily work."

Some older content concerns, but recent improvements are noted.

"An older review mentioned some content felt outdated, but recent updates have clearly addressed this."

"I initially found certain examples a bit dated, but it seems the course creators have refreshed much of the material."

"While a couple of very early reviews raised concerns about relevance, the course has visibly evolved."

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 Design Thinking for Business Leaders with these activities:

Review the Design Thinking process

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Review the five stages of Design Thinking to refresh your understanding of the process and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Design Thinking

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Read through the course syllabus to identify the key concepts of Design Thinking that will be covered.
Review your notes or other resources from previous courses or workshops on Design Thinking.
If possible, find a real-world example of a product or service that was designed using Design Thinking and analyze the process.

Review Design Thinking concepts

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Prepare for this online course by reviewing the concepts and principles of Design Thinking.

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Research Design Thinking principles
Identify examples of Design Thinking in practice
Practice applying Design Thinking tools and techniques

Complete online tutorials on Design Thinking

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Expand your understanding of Design Thinking by following online tutorials.

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Find reputable online tutorials on Design Thinking
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises
Apply the techniques learned to real-world scenarios

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Participate in online Design Thinking discussions

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Engage with other students and discuss Design Thinking concepts and practices.

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Join online forums or discussion groups
Participate in discussions and ask questions
Share your insights and experiences
Learn from the perspectives of others

Apply Design Thinking to real-world projects

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Put your Design Thinking knowledge into practice by volunteering on projects that make a difference.

Browse courses on Design Thinking

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Identify volunteer opportunities that involve Design Thinking
Contact the organization and express your interest
Apply the Design Thinking process to address real-world challenges
Gain valuable experience and make a positive impact

Develop a Design Thinking process document

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Solidify your understanding of Design Thinking by creating a comprehensive process document.

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Outline the steps of the Design Thinking process
Provide examples and case studies for each step
Include tools and techniques for implementing Design Thinking
Review and refine the document for clarity and accuracy

Contribute to open-source Design Thinking projects

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the Design Thinking community by participating in open-source projects.

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Find open-source Design Thinking projects on platforms
Review the project documentation
Identify areas where you can contribute
Submit your contributions and engage with the project community

Create a Design Thinking case study

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Apply your Design Thinking skills by creating a case study that demonstrates the process.

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Identify a problem or challenge
Apply the Design Thinking process to solve the problem
Document the process and results in a case study
Share the case study with others to showcase your skills

Participate in Design Thinking competitions

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Challenge yourself and demonstrate your Design Thinking abilities by participating in competitions.

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Identify Design Thinking competitions that align with your interests
Form a team or work individually
Develop and submit innovative solutions
Receive feedback and learn from the experience

Career center

Learners who complete Design Thinking for Business Leaders will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Design Thinking for Business Leaders

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Design thinking for business transformation

Activities

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