A Scientific Approach to Innovation Management from Coursera

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Syllabus

THE INNOVATION DECISION

We provide a general discussion of innovation as problem-solving and we link the discuss the building blocks of the scientific approach to innovation decisions – from how to formulate the problem, to how to formulate the hypotheses and the theory, and how to test them. The whole discussion will be framed and applied to concrete managerial problems, including a discussion of the specific managerial tools that facilitate the application of a scientific approach to innovation management.

THEORY AND DATA FOR INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

We provide more details about the scientific approach and we introduce probabilities to understand how and why certain decisions lead to some outcomes instead of others and how to make better decisions. We also focus on how to formulate and test hypotheses in practice, and how to interpret these tests. We finally discuss how to design and run experiments. NB: some videos may contain a downloadable database; please, download it and follow the in-video instructions

DATA ANALYSIS

We cover the basics of data analysis, beginning with the distinction between correlation and causality in the analysis of data. We also teach how to make predictions using regression analysis and link these methods to the scientific approach, showing what role these analyses play, how they help to make scientific decisions and why. We complement this with real examples of companies using data to make innovation decisions. We close by discussing how to interpret these analyses and results critically to make sure we understand what we really learn from the analyses and when, how and why we should interpret our results cautiously and critically.

ADVANCED TOOLS FOR INNOVATION MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

This is s a more advanced part in which we discuss causality and provide the students with some broad exposure to big data and machine learning, and we discuss what they can do for managerial decisions.We provide a general wrap-up and conclusion of the course, including a discussion of when the scientific approach is most appropriate or has limitations. This helps to see when to apply it, or when to apply other approaches, including our own gut feelings. NB: some videos may contain a downloadable database; please, download it and follow the in-video instructions

FINAL PROJECT

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds off existing foundation and strengthens skills

Develops core skills for innovation management

Taught by instructors who are recognized for their work in innovation management

Examines the latest methods and best practices for scientific innovation

Covers the advanced approaches, such as causality and big data

Relevant to the industry

Reviews summary

Scientific approach to innovation management

Learners say that this well-received course is a great way to learn about scientific methods in management. Students describe this course as challenging, but feel that it is worth the effort. While learners particularly appreciate the quality and clarity of videos and examples, some students recommend supplementing the materials with text lessons.

Course includes optional materials

"The course themes are very interesting, as the optional material."

Covers a wide range of topics

"Top"

"Recomend for all innovation managers"

"Intense content and concise explanation"

Course is scientifically rigorous

"When intuition is not enough and data are almost everywhere, managers should use these techniques."

"Excellent path to start understanding and using basic and more advanced scientific methods to managerial decision making."

"True to its name, this course delivers a clear explanation of the role of hypothesis-testing, the use of probabilities in decision making and how to choose the optimal path from the options available."

Course is well-paced and interesting

"course well done in terms of pace and content."

"Interesting course with scientific methods to evaluate business innovation."

"It's a really well designed course and the objectives are out across quite clearly"

Instructors do a great job explaining concepts

"My idea of approaching decisions really changed thanks to this course. Professors are good at accompanying you along the way."

"Clear, concrete and useful. This course help you to think strategically when approaching an idea or you have to evaluate an idea in a broader context"

"The course challenged me and allowed to experiment a way of managerial thinking."

Videos and examples are high quality

"Really good course that helped me de-mystifying several areas within innovation management."

"Clear, concrete and useful. This course help you to think strategically when approaching an idea or you have to evaluate an idea in a broader context"

"It is a really nice course, because of good-quality videos and clear examples."

Students should have above-average math and statistics skills

"Overall I would recommend this course to students and professionals with prior statistics knowledge and a specific desire to deepen their skills on workable models."

Final project is peer-evaluated

"The only weak point is the final project evaluation: as it is done by peers, it happens to be very diverse and sometimes the feedback needed for improving the report is too scarce or ambiguous to be able to take action."

Some lessons may be difficult to follow

"Not an easy course to follow with a lot of videos and reading etc."

"La lógica detrás de la materia explicada es fácil de entender. La forma de explicar de los profesores no plasma esto, con lo cual hace que el material parezca mucho más complejo de lo que realmente es."

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 A Scientific Approach to Innovation Management with these activities:

Review 'Strategic Innovation: How to Create and Sustain Competitive Advantage'

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Develop a deeper understanding of the concepts of strategic innovation and their application in practice.

View Business Strategy: An Introduction on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview
Summarize the key concepts of strategic innovation
Identify examples of successful strategic innovations

Discuss Innovation Case Studies with Peers

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Foster understanding of innovation through discussions and exchange of ideas with peers about concrete examples.

Browse courses on Innovation

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Find a peer group to discuss with
Select innovation case studies
Analyze the case studies and identify key insights
Present and discuss the insights with peers

Create a SWOT Analysis for a New Product Idea

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Apply the SWOT analysis framework to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with a new product idea.

Browse courses on SWOT Analysis

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Identify the key strengths and weaknesses of the product idea
Analyze the market opportunities and threats for the product
Develop strategies to leverage the strengths and mitigate the weaknesses of the product

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Follow a Tutorial on Machine Learning for Innovation

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Expand knowledge of machine learning and its applications in innovation through guided tutorials.

Browse courses on Machine Learning

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Choose a tutorial on machine learning for innovation
Follow the steps and complete the exercises in the tutorial
Apply the concepts learned to an innovation project

Practice Hypothesis Testing Using A/B Testing

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Strengthen understanding of hypothesis testing through practical application in the context of A/B testing.

Browse courses on Hypothesis Testing

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Formulate a hypothesis about a website design change
Set up an A/B test to test the hypothesis
Collect and analyze the results of the test
Draw conclusions based on the results

Contribute to an Open-Source Innovation Community

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Gain hands-on experience in innovation and collaboration through participation in an open-source community.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Choose an open-source community to contribute to
Identify a project or issue to work on
Submit a pull request with your contribution

Develop a Business Plan for an Innovative Product or Service

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Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the process of developing and launching an innovative product or service by creating a business plan.

Browse courses on Business Plan

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Define the problem or opportunity that the product or service addresses
Develop a solution to the problem or opportunity
Identify the target market for the product or service
Develop a marketing and sales strategy
Create a financial plan

Career center

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

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. They work with data from a variety of sources to identify trends, patterns, and insights. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Data Scientists develop the skills they need to analyze data and make data-driven decisions. The course teaches students how to formulate and test hypotheses, interpret data, and design and run experiments. This knowledge can help Data Scientists make more accurate predictions and recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Product Manager

Product Managers lead the development and launch of new products or features. They work with engineers, designers, and marketers to ensure that products meet customer needs and are successful in the marketplace. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Product Managers develop the skills they need to make data-driven decisions about product development. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Product Managers avoid common pitfalls and make better decisions about which products to develop and launch.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses improve their operations and make better decisions. They work with stakeholders to identify problems and develop solutions. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Business Analysts develop the skills they need to make data-driven decisions. The course teaches students how to formulate and test hypotheses, interpret data, and design and run experiments. This knowledge can help Business Analysts identify the root causes of problems and develop more effective solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. They work with a variety of channels to reach target audiences. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Marketing Managers develop the skills they need to make data-driven decisions about marketing campaigns. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Marketing Managers avoid common pitfalls and make better decisions about which campaigns to run.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts conduct research to understand the needs of customers and clients. They work with data from a variety of sources to identify trends, patterns, and insights. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Market Research Analysts develop the skills they need to analyze data and make data-driven decisions. The course teaches students how to formulate and test hypotheses, interpret data, and design and run experiments. This knowledge can help Market Research Analysts make more accurate predictions and recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Innovation Consultant

Innovation Consultants help businesses develop and implement new products or services. They work with clients to identify opportunities for innovation and develop strategies to bring new products or services to market. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Innovation Consultants develop the skills they need to make data-driven decisions about innovation. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Innovation Consultants make more accurate predictions and recommendations to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Consultant

Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead sales teams and develop sales strategies. They work with customers to identify their needs and develop solutions. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help Sales Managers develop the skills they need to make data-driven decisions about sales strategies. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Sales Managers avoid common pitfalls and make better decisions about which sales strategies to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

User Experience (UX) Researcher

UX Researchers study how users interact with products and services. They work with designers and engineers to improve the user experience. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course can help UX Researchers develop the skills they need to make data-driven decisions about user experience. The course teaches students how to formulate and test hypotheses, interpret data, and design and run experiments. This knowledge can help UX Researchers make more accurate predictions and recommendations about how to improve the user experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Researcher

Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. They work with employees to ensure that products and services are produced efficiently and effectively. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Operations Managers who are interested in developing new operations management techniques. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Operations Managers make better decisions about which operations management techniques to use and how to manage operations more effectively.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. They work with a variety of programming languages and technologies to create software that meets the needs of users. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Software Engineers who are interested in developing software that is innovative and user-friendly. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Software Engineers make better decisions about which software features to develop and how to design software that is easy to use.

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Project Manager

Project Managers lead teams and manage projects to completion. They work with stakeholders to define project goals and develop project plans. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Project Managers who are interested in developing new project management techniques. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Project Managers make better decisions about which project management techniques to use and how to manage projects more effectively.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data to make investment recommendations. They work with investors to help them make informed decisions about where to invest their money. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Financial Analysts who are interested in developing new investment analysis techniques. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Financial Analysts make better decisions about which investment analysis techniques to use and how to make more accurate investment recommendations.

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Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data. They work with a variety of data sources to identify trends, patterns, and insights. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Statisticians who are interested in developing new statistical analysis techniques. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Statisticians make better decisions about which statistical analysis techniques to use and how to make more accurate predictions.

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Teacher

Teachers develop and deliver lesson plans to teach students in a variety of subjects. They work with students to help them learn and grow. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Teachers who are interested in developing new teaching methods. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Teachers make better decisions about which teaching methods to use and how to teach students more effectively.

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Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, such as marketing, journalism, and creative writing. They work with words to communicate ideas and stories. The Scientific Approach to Innovation Management course may be useful for Writers who are interested in developing new writing techniques. The course teaches students how to assess the feasibility of an innovative idea, formulate and test hypotheses, and interpret data. This knowledge can help Writers make better decisions about which writing techniques to use and how to communicate ideas more effectively.

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