Innovation Leadership
Curriculum and Agenda
Day 1
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Introductions & Program Orientation
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Blue Ocean Strategy
John McVea – Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of St. Thomas
Provides frameworks for radically rethinking the strategic dynamics of an industry in order to spark breakthrough thinking that leads to the development of major innovations and new market space. The session will include both case study analysis and discussion as well as an opportunity to begin applying the tools and principles to participants’ firms.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Growth from the Core
Laura Dunham – Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of St. Thomas
This session addresses the need for developing innovation strategies within the context of the core business. In this session, we will examine tools for evaluating the current state of the core, assessing future potential, considering appropriate growth paths and determining when and how to redefine the core.
Day 2
8:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Sources of Innovation Insight - John McVea
Participants will learn and practice the use of tools and techniques for carrying out the kinds of exploratory research that yields new insights into customer needs. These tools include ethnographic approaches to understanding end user needs, empathic design, and lead user research.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Managing Uncertainty and Risk - Laura Dunham
This purpose of this session will be to identify issues surrounding the evaluation and pursuit of radically innovative opportunities. Through case study analysis and a computer simulation, participants learn and practice strategies through which the uncertainties and risks of innovation can be managed, and through which gaps in skills, capabilities and resources can be overcome in order to increase the odds of success.
Day 3
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Organizing for Innovation - Laura Dunham
This session will provide participants with an understanding of the kinds of organizational structures, processes, norms and cultures that support and foster ongoing innovation and allow participants to assess their own organizations.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Entrepreneurial Leadership - John McVea
Explore the role of the entrepreneurial leader and identify the characteristics and behaviors that support a manager’s ability to shape entrepreneurial vision, to galvanize support among key internal and external stakeholders, and to lead a department, division or corporation toward continual renewal through entrepreneurial action.
