Michael Dearing and I are teaching this class again. We had a blast last year, changing tires on a NASCAR racing car, doing quick "consulting jobs" to a host clients with real problems, reading Orbiting the Giant Hairball and the Innovator’s dilemma. This class is a bit different from other d.school classes as it entails a bit more reflection, reading, and conversation than most — but that conversation is made "real" by talking with managers and executives from real companies, and trying to help them a bit with the tough struggle of sustaining innovation in a complex organization. We consider, critique, and try to improve some of the ways that big organizations innovate (a tough challenge, as this post shows)
Here is the scoop, including testimonials:
Innovation in Complex Organizations
Applications due by Dec 1, 2007 – email mdearing@stanford.edu with a statement of interest and a
writing sample of any length
(MS&E 282 A, B)
Time – Thursdays 3-6PM, 3 Units, Enrollment limited to 12
The purpose of this course is to offer students a chance to
pause, discuss, and integrate design thinking and innovation in business in a small seminar, case-study format. This centerpiece of
this small seminar will be three or four "live" case studies where,executives from large, complex organizations come to class
and describe their efforts to move creative new ideas from inception to implementation. Past cases have included Google AdSense,
P&G, NASCAR, Method Home, and General Motors. They will describe
how their organizations screen and move along promising
ideas and how their organizational practices facilitate and impede that
journey. Student teams will analyze each case and provide
recommendations to the executives, who along with the teaching
team,will judge the work. The final project will be a general
analysis and set of recommendations about this vexing organizational
problem.
This course is co-sponsored by
the d.school and STVP (Stanford Technology Ventures Program).
Teaching Team: Robert Sutton, Management Science &
Engineering
Michael Dearing, d.school
"If you’re looking for a small class on big ideas, this is it! This course provides the perfect setting for a rich, intellectual discussion on challenges that large organizations face in trying to remain innovative. When I took the class, I loved the unique opportunity to engage with top-level executives in companies like P&G and General Motors. The fact that they listened to our ideas and took notes was very rewarding." — G.B. MSE Masters Student
" When you have Claudia Kotchka from P&G in the room asking you your
opinion on her organizations design process, you know you are involved in something unique.I loved 282 not just because of the incredible projects, but working together as a team made it even more amazing. As a group, we formed this amazing bond that ended up feeling like a few hours with good friends, rather than the usual weekly class. I would recommend this class to anyone who wants a rich, and deep learning opportunity."
— K.W., Masters Student in the Joint Program in Design
P.S. The picture above is from our NASCAR day — we can’t promise that will happen again, but we will have fun.
Leave a Reply