participants in the Customer-Focused Innovation program

Customer-Focused Innovation

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Customer-Focused Innovation

Learn about cutting-edge social science frameworks and design thinking techniques in a unique partnership between Stanford GSB and d.school.

Clean models. Dirty hands. Customer-Focused Innovation is the perfect blend of theory and practice, strategy and innovation — an opportunity to flex both your business and your creative muscles. At Stanford, we teach innovation as a mindset, not a project.

Every morning, you’ll learn about strategic frameworks and models based on cutting-edge research from Stanford’s world-renowned GSB faculty. You’ll learn how to better understand customer experiences, develop deeper customer insights, and diffuse customer learning throughout the organization. You’ll discuss strategies for reducing the knowing-doing gap and building a customer-centric culture.

Every afternoon, you’ll work in small teams with faculty members and trained coaches from the d.school on a real-world innovation challenge from an outside company. Design thinking’s user-centered, prototype-driven process will teach you how to interview and observe customers in the field to understand what motivates them.

Then, it’s time to embrace experimentation: ideating and prototyping to develop fresh, innovative solutions. And because we’re committed to implementation, you’ll receive post-program coaching to help bring a higher level of customer-focused innovation to your company.

Key Benefits

Create a customer-centric organization using design thinking, and develop strategies to reduce bureaucratic processes and support innovation.
  • Observe and understand the needs of customers, develop fast experiments and prototypes with users, and develop prediction markets.
  • Gain cutting-edge insights about the sources of customer satisfaction and brand personality.
  • Create a culture of innovation that harnesses the creativity of your customers and employees.

Who Should Attend

  • C-level and senior executives who are charged with planning and implementing innovation programs — from any size company, any industry, and any country
  • Executives with responsibility for research and development, product design and development, new business development, marketing, or brand management

02 Oct 2016 – 07 Oct 2016

Show Program Information

Format

In-person|Stanford University
Full-time

Deadline

Accepting applications for waitlist only

Program Fee

US $15,500

The program fee includes tuition, private accommodations, all meals, and course materials.

Awarded

Certificate of completion

01 Oct 2017 – 06 Oct 2017

Show Program Information

Format

In-person|Stanford University
Full-time

Deadline

Application will be available in September 2016.

Program Fee

US $15,500

The program fee includes tuition, private accommodations, all meals, and course materials.

Awarded

Certificate of completion

Contact

Sara Fernandez
Associate Director, Programs
Executive Education
​Video Introduction
See how Customer-Focused Innovation combines academic rigor with relevant hands-on projects to drive innovation and eliminate the red tape that often impedes it.

Learn More About the Program

Curriculum

Explore our carefully designed curriculum, and go deeper with select course descriptions or a sample schedule.

Application Requirements

Review all eligibility requirements, and learn about the application process.

Participant Profile

Learn more about our past participants, and find out if the program is right for you.

Faculty Leadership

Hayagreeva Rao
The Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources
  • Co-Director, Customer-Focused Innovation
  • Director, Managing Talent for Strategic Advantage
  • Co-Director, Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate
Robert I. Sutton
Professor of Organizational Behavior (by courtesy)
  • Co-Director, Customer-Focused Innovation
  • Co-Director, Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate

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