Innovation of Products and Services: MIT's Approach to Design Thinking

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

February 27, 2025

Course Duration

DURATION

2 months, online
2-4 hours per week

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$1,500

In collaboration

In Collaboration With MIT Sloan | Online Certificate Program

3 Reasons Why You Should Enroll

Professor Steve Eppinger

World-Class Faculty

Learn design thinking from world-class MIT Sloan faculty
Two students working on a solution model while a third looks on

Create Solutions

Identify customer needs & create solutions from concept to completion
Decorative image relating to Applying innovation to practical models

Practical Models

Apply innovation models to solve your critical business problems

What You Will Learn

  • Innovation
  • Design Thinking
  • Applied Creativity
  • Product Development
  • Systematic Innovation
  • Concept Development
  • User-centered Innovation
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Storyboards
  • Business Impact

Your Learning Journey

Decorative image relating to 62 Video Lectures

62 Video Lectures

Decorative image relating to 4 Peer Learning Discussions

4 Peer Learning Discussions

Decorative image relating to 4 Case Studies

4 Case Studies

Decorative image relating to 4 Real-World Applications, 1 Capstone Project

4 Real-World Applications, 1 Capstone Project

Program Topics

Module 1:

Design Thinking Skills

Learn how to apply the three innovation challenges model to a business/product/service while exploring the cases of Airbnb and Apple.

Module 2:

Identify Customer Needs

Grasp the concepts of opportunity evaluation and concept development by identifying a product or service that meets a customer need.

Module 3:

Applied Creativity – Product Concept Generation

Develop a solution concept by understanding the basics of concept generation, down selection, sketch modeling and external and internal search.

Module 4:

Design of Services and Customer Experience

Learn how to generate multiple innovations for one step in a service experience cycle and map out a detailed customer experience cycle for your product/service.

Module 5:

Financial Analysis

Discover how to use modeling to analyze a company's cash flow to maintain NPV and identify key components of financial analysis.

Module 6:

Environmental Stability

Identify environmental impacts that could occur over the life cycle of a product and the key components of Design for Environment (DFE) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Module 1:

Design Thinking Skills

Learn how to apply the three innovation challenges model to a business/product/service while exploring the cases of Airbnb and Apple.

Module 4:

Design of Services and Customer Experience

Learn how to generate multiple innovations for one step in a service experience cycle and map out a detailed customer experience cycle for your product/service.

Module 2:

Identify Customer Needs

Grasp the concepts of opportunity evaluation and concept development by identifying a product or service that meets a customer need.

Module 5:

Financial Analysis

Discover how to use modeling to analyze a company's cash flow to maintain NPV and identify key components of financial analysis.

Module 3:

Applied Creativity – Product Concept Generation

Develop a solution concept by understanding the basics of concept generation, down selection, sketch modeling and external and internal search.

Module 6:

Environmental Stability

Identify environmental impacts that could occur over the life cycle of a product and the key components of Design for Environment (DFE) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Faculty

Faculty Member Steve Eppinger

Steve Eppinger

General Motors Leaders for Global Operations Professor of Management

Prof. Steve Eppinger is the Professor of Management Science & Engineering Systems as well as the Co-director for the System Design & Management Program. His research efforts are applied to improving product design and development practices. More info

Participant Speak

"Faculty videos, real examples, case studies, and assignments were very helpful in providing a better understanding of design thinking."

— Ramesh Arora, Assistant General Manager, TATA Power, India

"By far the first lesson was the most important lesson. That framework has steered the direction of the entire course and is absolutely critical to remember throughout the entire design process. Today, I'm leveraging that framework at my job to question the value/innovation that we provide with our marketing channels."

— Kevin Ly, Associate Director Commercial Analytics, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Jersey

"The course content and the collaboration with peers worldwide was a great learning experience. The outcome within a couple of weeks was astonishing!"

— Andreas Cem Vogt, Business Process Principal, Salesforce, Germany

"The examples that were used to illustrate the different aspects of product development were extremely helpful."

— Jenny Brown, UX & Product Development Specialist, Digital Incubation Center, Qatar

Certificate

Sample certificate that will be awarded after successful completion of this program

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded a verified digital certificate by Emeritus in collaboration with MIT Sloan.

To learn more about the collaboration between MIT Sloan and Emeritus please click here.

Download Brochure

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.


    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.


    Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?

    Program fees for Emeritus programs with MIT Sloan Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.

  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Apply Now

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available. Learn more.