Using Design to Generate Innovative Business Solutions (Coursera)

To succeed in this specialization, you should be a professional with at least two to three years of experience in an organizational setting. Experience in a design role or working with designers is helpful.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Examine design thinking methodologies and essentials
• Choose a business model to maximize opportunity and manage shifts
• Assess challenges in the design process
• Develop solutions to design challenges and problems

What You Will Learn
Examine design thinking methodologies and essentials
Choose a business model to maximize opportunity and manage shifts
Assess challenges in the design process
Develop solutions to design challenges and problems

Course 3 of 4 in the Business Innovation and Digital Disruption Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Alternative Design Methodologies
In this week, you will explore design thinking and insight gaps. You'll start to think about what bias is and how to manage it in the design process. We'll outline the five stages of design thinking, and you'll gain insight into testing with a prototype. Finally, we'll consider why people hire and fire products or services as you discuss the relationship between design methodologies and the jobs to be done model.

WEEK 2
Choosing a Business Model to Take Your Solution to Market
In this week, you'll learn more about business models. We'll look at the difference between incremental change or radical innovation and the purpose of each. We'll look at specific examples of successful business model shifts and focus on the relationship between business models and product experience. You will learn about the three pillars of sustainable business models as well. You'll do this through an exploration of six types of business models. Finally, we'll discuss recommendations of business model shifts given a company's context.

WEEK 3
Design Tools to Evolve Your Business Model in Market
In this week, you'll learn about the three types of fit: problem-solution fit, product-market fit, and commercial fit. You'll gain insight into how shared value is applied in the market, as well as discuss how business model selection impacts the creation of shared value. We'll introduce you to the concept of the conversion funnel, and share how this is applied through the design process. Finally, you'll learn about using heuristic analysis to identify problems and opportunities on the conversion funnel.

WEEK 4
Pain Points and Success
In this week, we'll explore the neuroscience behind cognitive load and user benefit. You'll look at the role of technology and consider how some companies and industries leverage cognitive load and increase user benefit well, and what happens if they're unable to do that. We'll explore analyses and perspectives on growth hacking. You'll recognize how to balance fast track delivery and innovation concurrently. Finally, we'll provide a few helpful tips for implementing design practices.