What is design, and why and how do we teach it at Weatherhead?

Designing is giving form to an idea for a more desirable product, service, process, or organization and refining the idea into something that can be delivered reliably and efficiently. When management encounters the type of ill-defined, ill-structured situations that are referred to as "wicked problems" in their organization, they can create an innovative and effective solution by employing the skills and concepts of design.

We teach design because managers are deeply engaged in designing as part of their everyday work. Design is a core competence for a successful entrepreneur or innovative leader. Specially designed MBA classes help students develop a design attitude, acquire design skills, and gain experience with design methods and techniques. With a design background from Weatherhead, graduates will be able to develop solutions to problems that can provide unique opportunities to distinguish organizations and to create exceptional value.

Executive Education in Managing by Designing

Since 1973, Weatherhead Executive Education has brought together the latest in real-world expertise, academic thinking, and solution-focused curricula to help organizations and individuals boost leadership capacity, build human capital and improve performance.

Great managers are also designers–of processes, projects, strategies and systems. Based on the pioneering research of our Department of Information Systems, these Executive Education programs provide managers with the latest concepts and tools for flexible, innovative thinking that achieves optimal results.

• 09/17/2012 - Driving the Profit Engine through Business Model Innovation
• 10/11/2012 - Strategic Decision Making and Execution
• 11/07/2012 - Cultivating Creativity: Generating New Ideas
• 11/08/2012 - Cultivating Creativity: Putting Ideas into Practice

Weatherhead Executive Education also offers a Designing Solutions For Innovation and Strategy Certificate that is awarded after completion of four class days.

Please note that certificate requirements should be completed within an 18-month period.

Learn More about the Certificate