English   Danish

2013/2014  BA-HA_HU68  Creative problem solving in business – An in-class internship

English Title
Creative problem solving in business – An in-class internship

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration Summer
Course period Summer
Please check www.cbs.dk/summer for the course schedule.
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Course instructor - William R. Holmes, Simon Fraser University/Sheridan Institute of Technology
    Patricia Plackett - Department of Operations Management (OM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Corporate and Business Strategy
Last updated on 07-05-2013
Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
  • Identify, isolate and define the parameters of a real world business problem as presented by a client company.
  • Exhibit broad comprehension of concepts, theories, models and frameworks that underpin the development of creativity as a discipline.
  • Exhibit broad comprehension of concepts, theories, models and frameworks that underpin the creative problem solving process.
  • Apply the creative problem solving process to a real world business problem
  • Describe the relationship between creativity, innovation and commercialization.
  • Describe the importance of risk management and risk mitigation when engaged in creative problem solving.
  • Construct and deliver a well-developed and persuasive presentation promoting an innovative solution to a real world business problem or challenge.
Course prerequisites
This course should be accessible to all senior level undergraduate students.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam
Requirements about active class participation (assessed approved/not approved)
Mandatory Mid-term Assignment: Group Presentation. The Mid-term Assignment will actually take place during final class. Students will be placed in groups during the first class and each group will be assigned a real world business problem provided by a client company or organisation. The students must investigate the problem and formulate and develop a solution or solutions to that problem. Milestones will be established, and students will be able to consult with their peers in the class throughout the course for input, ideas and support. In the final class, each group will present a proposed solution to the class and a panel of external judges from the client company, non-profit or institution.
This presentation will not be graded but satisfactory completion is a prerequisite for taking the final exam/assessment.
Examination
Home project assignment:
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Summer Term
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content and structure
This undergraduate level course in business problem solving provides students with a broad based understanding of creative problem solving in business from both theoretical and applied orientations. Students are presented with a comprehensive overview of theory of creative problem solving and its development as it relates to finding solutions to real world business problems.  A significant characteristic of this course is its use of self-reflection to enhance the students’ self-awareness with respect to their own level of acceptance and aptitudes for creative problem solving, and to identify areas where they may need to access expertise from partners, service providers, or other external sources.  A significant differentiating characteristic of this course is its use of current business problems provided by corporations and/or non-profits. By using business cases and examples illustrating specific approaches to business challenges (both successful and unsuccessful) that have been undertaken in the recent past, the aim of this course is to train students to critically evaluate contemporary business problems and to formulate and develop creative and innovative solutions to those problems. 
 
In addition to the theoretical aspect of the course, students will be assigned groups on the first day of class and tasked with defining and isolating a current business challenge provided by a client company, non-profit or other institution.  The students must investigate the problem and formulate and develop a solution or solutions to that problem.  Milestones will be established, and students will be able to consult with their peers in the class throughout the course for input and ideas and support.  The final class will culminate in each group presenting a proposed solution to the class and a panel of external judges from the client company, non-profit or institution.  This presentation will not be graded but satisfactory completion is a prerequisite for taking the final exam/assessment. 
 
The course will be tentatively structured as follows;
 
Lesson 1 Course overview / Introduction to Creative Problem Solving
Lesson 2 Presentation of Business Problems
Lesson 3 Problem Definition and Isolation
Lesson 4 Creative Thinking
Lesson 5 Methodologies in Creative Problem Solving
Lesson 6 Cases and Examples of Creative Problem Solving in Action
Lesson 7 Persuasion and Creative Leadership
Lesson 8 Diagnostics: Evaluation the Creative Thinking Process
Lesson 9 Critical Evaluation of Multiple Solutions
Lesson 10 Identification and Mitigation of Risks and Pitfalls 
Lesson 11 Presentation of Solutions to Client Panels
Each lesson contains a lecture, case presentation and discussion.

The course’s development of personal competences:
Students are expected to be active participants in the learning experience as opposed to passive receptacles for information.  The importance of clear and concise written and verbal communication will be stressed throughout the course.  In addition to the material covered in the course, students will develop hands-on skills in case analysis, group dynamics and formal business presentations.
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars, case study discussions and presentations.

Preliminary Assignment: To help students get maximum value from ISUP courses, instructors provide a reading or a small number of readings to be read before the start of classes with a related task or tasks in the first two classes in order to ‘jump-start’ the learning process. Each student will be required to write a synopsis and review of required chapters of Dweck, Carol S, 2006, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Write a 3pp synopsis of Dweck, Carol S, 2006, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Chapters 1,2,3,5,and 8
Expected literature
Textbooks

Dweck, Carol S, 2006, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Ballantine Books, New York, NY, Chapters 1,2,3,5,and 8.
 
Puccio, Gerard J, 2012, Creativity Rising, ICSC Press, Buffalo, NY.
 
2010, Fostering Creativity: Expert Solutions for Everyday Problems, Harvard Business Review Press, Boston, MS.
 
Cases
 
Teresa M. Amabile, T.M., 2018, Creativity under the Gun at Litmus Corporation, Harvard Business School, Case # 9-808-075
 
Chua, R.Y.J. and Eccles, R.G., 2010, Managing Creativity at Shanghai Tang, Harvard Business School, Case # 9-410-018
 
Palepu, K, Khanna, T., Vargas, I., 2006, Haier:Taking a Chinese Company Global, Harvard Business School, Case # 9-706-401
 
Petersen, S., Espinoza, F. and Wathieu, L., 2012, Tchibo Ideas: Leveraging the Creativity of Customers, ESMT – European School of Management and Technology

Shih, W., Kaufman, S., Spinola, D., 2007, Netflix, Harvard Business School, Case # 9-607-138
Last updated on 07-05-2013