Curriculum

During the course of the 18 month Executive MBA program, students pursing this concentration complete 16 credits of Innovation and Design Management-related coursework. Students should contact the Executive MBA Programs Office at execmba@suffolk.edu or 617.573.8660 for curriculum information.

Unlike traditional MBA programs where students take courses in a sequential order, the Suffolk Executive MBA features a cutting edge cluster structure which mirrors how business works across functional areas. In our unique approach the relationships between subject matter is leveraged. Each cluster features a Residential seminar which builds upon previous classroom work and sets the stage for the next cluster of courses. 

Innovation and Design Management Course Descriptions:

This course examines through case analyses, readings and student generated scenarios the strategic use of innovations and their impact on organizations, markets, and competition; in this course we:

• identify types of innovations, innovation strategies and their uses

• assess how innovations and innovation strategies influence and are influenced by markets, government policies and competition

• examine opportunities and challenges posed by outsourcing, strategic alliances and competing business models of intellectual property and collaboration

• diagnose an organization’s innovation capabilities and develop action plans consistent with capability, market and competitive assessments

People and Project Perspectives on Innovation Management
This course provides a hands-on, experiential approach to innovation projects and practices. We will begin with an assessment of personal innovation-adoption styles and how different profiles impact one’s response to innovation challenges.
Additional topics include

• creative challenges and practices for the conceptual stage of innovation projects

• challenges and practices for leading project teams and managing project portfolios

• challenges and practices for learning from innovative experiences

• behavioral techniques for utilizing networks to broker innovations

Introduction to Design Management
This course serves as an introduction to the business of design; exploring the link between design and its management as a core business function. We will move from a historical review of design to its current economic, social, cultural and consumer impact. We will examine the contributions of design to products, environments, communications interfaces, culture and planning. We will also examine how design adds value to company performance and operations. This course will explore the internal and external challenges of the design manager as orchestrator of professionals in technology, marketing, management and product design.

Design Management – Strategies and Decision Making
This course will explore the complex role of the design manager as both a leader at the strategic level and a manager at the operational level. In this course we use a practical, real-world approach to identify and create design strategy, and learn the tools of effective decision making. Topics will include:

• managing designers, workflow, and understanding corporate culture

• process design management; cost, planning, and control

• managing creativity while maintaining customer relevancy

• design research and measurement methods

Global Product Innovation and Development
Designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge, expertise and capabilities to understand and apply the foundational concepts of global product innovation and development. This course covers a variety of topics related to global product development, engineering and manufacturing and their integration to successfully launch new products. We will use casework and an experiential project, the latter of which will immerse the students in the concept of virtual teamwork.

Global Seminar
This week long seminar is an exceptional opportunity to experience the global business environment first-hand in Europe, Asia, or Latin America.  The seminar includes a comprehensive examination of the economic, political, and cultural perspectives of doing business in the global community, and exposes you to strategic issues through an experiential learning process.  Students register for the combination of EMBA 625 and EMBA 780 which are the two courses which comprise this seminar.

Program Experiential Field Research Project
This course is an individually designed synergistic project combining your course work, research, and professional expertise. You are assigned a faculty facilitator to guide you through the successful completion of the project.  Past student projects have ranged from tackling a major issue facing their organization to exploring an idea for starting a new business.  The result is tangible and affords you the opportunity to tie your education directly and immediately to your career goals.