Examination arrangement

Course content

There is an increasing focus on the application of design methodology at a strategic level in organizations, much due to the incorporation of design methodology in innovation work and business development (design thinking and lean startup). This has led to a desire to understand and apply design approaches in an organization at a higher level, with exploration of where and how design can add value creation in new / strategic contexts. Strategic design and scenario building is a new field of study that includes how to lead and implement transformative processes in your own organization with employees, customers and partners in the center. Competence in strategic design and scenario building is in demand precisely because it is considered a prerequisite for success with digitization and digital transformation in a time characterized by high uncertainty and unpredictability, and for being able to develop future-oriented, socially beneficial and competitive companies and associated services.

After completing the course, the candidate must have expanded their understanding and ability to facilitate change and transformation through a design-driven process involve employees, partners and other roles into digitization processes, and be able to create new and value-creating systems, services and / or business models that benefit people, suppliers, the organization and society as a whole.

Participants will be left with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience and tools associated with digitization and strategic transformative processes.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the candidate should:

Knowledge:

• Be able to describe what strategic design entails.
• Have specific knowledge of design principles and tools for strategic design.
• Know key tools for scenario building and how these can be used strategically.
• Know how to work with strategic design and scenario building in relation to future technological possibilities.
• Have knowledge of the prerequisites for successful change processes (management, anchoring, decision-making basis, organization, creativity) that ultimately benefit the end user, service provider and society).
• Know basic topics within strategic design in the form of realizing the value of design and design thinking in larger organizations and companies; including future-oriented competitive situations, change and systems thinking.
• Understand the value of visual communication of complex knowledge.

Skills:

• Be able to identify key principles in strategic design drawing.
• Be able to use relevant theories and models for strategic design.
• Know key tools for scenario building and how these can be used strategically.
• Have knowledge of how to use strategic design and scenario building in your company or area.

General knowledge:

• Have prerequisites for successful value creation through design.
• Be able to use design principles in a strategic context.

Learning methods and activities

The course is set up as 2 + 2 days physical sessions with online mentoring between the sessions. The subject will be assessed based on an assignment submitted in December. The theme for the thesis will be based on the company’s case. Other exercises and case will be used the physical sessions.

Compulsory assignments

• Attendance at lecture 1 and 2

Further on evaluation

Mandatory participation in Sessions 1 and 2 is registered as approved/not approved. The work consists of a written project report which, as a general rule, is delivered in groups. Individual delivery can exceptionally be agreed. For group submissions, the same grade is given to all group members.

In addition to the written project report, a 20-minute oral presentation of the work is mandatory. The oral presentation may have an impact on the assessment of the report.

Lack of attendance / participation in gatherings and teaching can be assessed on the basis of an application to the Department of Design.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

The primary target group is managers, decision makers and advisers in the private and public sector, all sectors and disciplines that work with digitization and change processes. The secondary target group is project employees, developers, designers and other participants in service development projects. The study will be relevant for everyone who works with complex change and digitization processes and/or strategic processes in a company.

Required previous knowledge

The admission requirement is twofold:

1. Completed degree of 180 credits
2. Minimum of two years of relevant work experience

You must document employment with a certificate from your employer describing the type of job and work tasks, full-time equivalent percentage and duration.

If you do not have a bachelor's degree or equivalent completed education of at least 180 credits, you can request an assessment of prior learning of your admission criteria.

Course materials

Course material will be made accessible at course start.