EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
English
Intermediate to Advanced
No available sessions at this moment.
Get in touch with our Training Advisior to find out about the next available sessions.
Download Brochure
Course Overview
We’ll let you in on a secret: Innovation happens everywhere. More often than not, it is about ordinary people solving real problems.
This course will teach you to look at the world through the lens of problem discovery and problem solving. You will explore problems that you see in your life and in the world and evaluate their potential for entrepreneurial innovation. You will iterate toward solutions that are just right. As you do that, you will become a user innovator.
Examples of user innovation and its entrepreneurial potential are infinite. A surfer created the GoPro to take “selfies” while surfing. A student came up with Dropbox after losing the flash drive. Two entrepreneurs created a tool for themselves to track software bugs, giving rise to Atlassian.
This course will guide you through a step-by-step process for ideating a user innovation and shaping its entrepreneurial possibilities. Importantly, through immersive case studies, this course will introduce you to effective strategies of entrepreneurial bootstrapping, so that you can succeed even when you do not have many resources.
This course will teach you to look at the world through the lens of problem discovery and problem solving. You will explore problems that you see in your life and in the world and evaluate their potential for entrepreneurial innovation. You will iterate toward solutions that are just right. As you do that, you will become a user innovator.
Examples of user innovation and its entrepreneurial potential are infinite. A surfer created the GoPro to take “selfies” while surfing. A student came up with Dropbox after losing the flash drive. Two entrepreneurs created a tool for themselves to track software bugs, giving rise to Atlassian.
This course will guide you through a step-by-step process for ideating a user innovation and shaping its entrepreneurial possibilities. Importantly, through immersive case studies, this course will introduce you to effective strategies of entrepreneurial bootstrapping, so that you can succeed even when you do not have many resources.
Key Takeaways
1
Understand fundamental user innovation concepts such as lead user, sticky information, peer-to-peer diffusion, diffusion via the market, and low-cost innovation niche.
2
Apply the concept of lead user to identifying numerous opportunities for entrepreneurial innovation.
3
Learn the concept of “solution/ need co-forming” and apply it to conceiving a viable and feasible solution to the problem that you seek to solve.
4
Learn the tools and strategies of entrepreneurial bootstrapping, and apply them to designing the strategy for diffusing your user innovation.
5
Explore the trends and forces driving the democratization of innovation and apply the insights to uplifting the potential of your entrepreneurial contribution to society.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology — a coeducational, privately endowed research university founded in 1861 — is dedicated to advancing knowledge and educating students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century. Learn more about MIT. Through MITx, the Institute furthers its commitment to improving education worldwide. MITx Courses MITx courses embody the inventiveness, openness, rigor and quality that are hallmarks of MIT, and many use materials developed for MIT residential courses in the Institute's five schools and 33 academic disciplines.
Course Outline
Learning Module 1: Solve Your Problem, Go Through Evolution & Refine Your Problem Set
Preflection: Defining Innovation
What’s the difference between inventions and innovations?
What is disruptive innovation?
Reflection: An Example of Your User Innovation
Exploration: Find and Share Three User Innovation Examples
What is User Innovation?
What are some examples of user innovations?
How can you become a user innovator?
The Da Vinci Code: what can we learn from historical user innovators?
Why ideas alone have no value?
Preflection: Are You a User or Producer Innovator?
Module 1 Videos – Solve Your Problem
Case study: Skateboarding
Featured innovator: Emily Lagasse, Founder, Fedwell
Case Study: AirBnB
Learning Module 2 – Frame Your Problem, Go through Evolution & Look In
How prevalent is User Innovation?
Why do people innovate and why don't companies always do it for them?
How to have a great idea?
Cultivating an innovation mindset
What is human-centric design and why is it crucial to modern innovation?
Preflection: Hard Problems
Case Study: Focus on a Problem You Can Solve
Learning Module 3 – Peer-to-Peer Diffusion
Why are some innovations given away for free?
What are the challenges and rewards of giving away your innovation?
How do you make your innovation worth adopting for others?
Is your innovation right for Peer-To-Peer diffusion?
Preflection: Does Free Mean Free?
Module 3 Videos – Diffuse Your Innovation Peer-to-Peer
Case study: Khan Academy
Case Study: Canva
Learning Module 4 – Diffusion via the Market
Why do some User Innovations become commercial?
What makes people happy to pay for your innovation?
How do User Innovators survive among big producers?
Is your innovation right for Market Diffusion?
Preflection: Why Can't Everything Be Free?
Module 4 Videos – Diffuse Your Innovation via the Market
Case study: Steadicam
Case Study: Ring
Learning Module 5 – Turning your idea into reality
Smart innovation: building a better mousetrap
Rapid prototyping tools & techniques
VR/AR, a new age of prototyping
Difference between a sketch, prototype and MVP
The rise of no-code
Case Study: ShapesXR
Learning Module 6 – Democratization of Innovation
What is making innovation today more accessible for everyone?
What is the future of User Innovation?
Micro-innovation is the future
Innovation as a habit: how to strengthen your innovation muscle?
Preflection: The Future of User Innovation
Module 6 Videos – Democratization of Innovation
Case study: Mods
Featured innovator: Slava Menn, Co-founder, Fortified Bicycle
Case Study: Micro-Acquire
Learning Module 7 – Bootstrapping Your Venture
What are the next steps after you have identified and understood the problem and developed a prototype solution?
Are there pathways for you to grow your venture even if you don't have the resources?
What are the short-term and long-term advantages of bootstrapping your venture?
Beyond VC: clever, low-barrier funding options
Live virtual learning session on venture bootstrapping
Case study: Atlassian
Featured innovators: Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, Atlassian
Case-study: Clearbanc
Who Should Attend?
This highly practical and interactive course has been specifically designed for
The course should be timely and specifically beneficial for:
→ Aspiring entrepreneurs searching for startup ideas;
→ Inveterate inventors looking to expand the impact of their innovations on society;
→ Committed entrepreneurs seeking effective strategies for advancing their entrepreneurial missions, especially under constraints of resource scarcity.
Related Courses
FAQ
What language will the course be taught in and what level of English do I need to take part in an LEORON training program?
Most of our public courses are delivered in English language. You need to be proficient in English to be able to fully participate in the workshop and network with other delegates. For in-house courses we have the capability to train in Arabic, Dutch, German and Portuguese.
Are LEORON Public courses certified by an official body/organization?
LEORON Institute partners with 20+ international bodies and associations.We also award continuing professional development credits (CPE/PDUs) for:1. NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) 2. Project Management Institute PDUs 3. CISI credits 4. GARP credits 5. HRCI recertification credits 6. SHRM recertification credits
What is the deadline for registering to a public course?
The deadline to register for a public course is 14 days before the course starts. Kindly note that occasionally we do accept late registrations as well, but this needs to be confirmed with the project manager of the training program or with our registration desk that can be reached at +91 4 95 5711 or register@leoron.com.
What does the course fee cover?
The course fee covers a premium training experience in a 5-star hotel, learning materials, lunches & refreshments, and for some courses, the certification fee and membership with the accrediting bodies.
Does LEORON give discounts?
Yes, we can provide discounts for group bookings. If you would like to discuss a discount on a corporate level, we will be happy to talk to you.
Reviews
- Review:IAMM Internal Audit Maturity ModelIn recognition of their dedication and contribution supporting IKEA Saudi Arabia in arranging training programs during 2017 & 2018, looking forward for more development and exciting effort this year. On behalf of IKEA Saudi Arabia, THANK YOU!Dalal Kutbi
- Review:Certified Professional in Quality and Patient SafetyDating back to 2014, Mobily’s “LEORON” experience has grown from a single collaboration to a long-term partnership. We consider “LEORON” Institute as a strategic partner, whose contribution has been nothing but premium in equipping our staff with field-based knowledge and information. Past three years have resulted with an expanded collaboration with superior customer service and support. Best Regards,Turki S. Alsahaan
- Review:Certified Professional in Quality and Patient SafetySince the partnership was signed between BAE Systems Saudi Development & Training and LEORON in 2017, we have been working together to offer the Saudi market a complete portfolio of training solutions benefiting from the wide and extensive experience of both parties. Recognizing the great success of this partnership, we are looking for further collaborations in the future that will position both companies as one of the leading training providers in Saudi Arabia. We thank the LEORON team for their full cooperation and continuing support, and look forward to further success together in the years to come.Emad Alrajih
- Review:Certified Professional in Quality and Patient SafetyWe have been working with LEORON for the past two years and will be working with them again this upcoming year. The programs they delivered were fruitful and exciting and our organization has received positive feedback from the participants. What our organization aims to do is to provide at no cost training for all the private sector employees so that they may benefit from our offered programs in Innovation and Professional development. Leoron has helped us achieve this goal. We look forward to continuing this service and wish them the best of luck. Regards,Nasser M. Al-Subaie
