Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The aim of the elective is to provide the students with foundational knowledge about business design processes and how to apply design methods to collect data, inform insights, and prototype ideas for business innovation. Within the last 15-20 years, design practices have moved into businesses and become a strategic tool for many business leaders. Therefore, the aim of this elective is to introduce the student to the essential design practices used in business decision-making today. The elective will guide the students through understanding and practicing need and problem identification, framing and reframing problems, and solving case-based business problems with design thinking. The students will be evaluated on their ability to reflect on and improve their use of methods and processes. The course will be workshop-based and case-based to ensure experiences with the application of business design.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary knowledge on:

• key theoretical approaches to business design in an open organisational context, being capable of reflecting on the modification of business design on a scientific basis.
• the diverse design practices inside organizations (e.g. strategic design, service design, customer experience design and employee experience design)
• key methodical approaches to study and modify business design from both a theoretical and a practical perspective.
• key theoretical aspects of collaboration and partnerships in an open organisational context.

Skills

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary skills in:

• selecting and applying relevant methods and tools in order to generate knowledge and analyse key issues within business design.
• argueing both theoretically and practically for opportunities and limitations within business design in an open organisational context.
• presenting and discussing professional and scientific issues within business design with different target groups.

Competences

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary competences in:

• applying design methods to collect data, inform insights, and prototype ideas for business innovation.
• independently conducting ongoing analyses, adapting and possibly developing new solutions for key business design issues as the complexity increases.
• translating the knowledge and abilities necessary in order to be part of processes related to business design on an academic, interdisciplinary and professional basis.

Type of instruction

For infomation see § 17.

Exam

Exams