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2023/2024  KAN-CSDEO1006U  Strategic Design and Consulting

English Title
Strategic Design and Consulting

Course information

Language English
Course ECTS 15 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Social Sciences
Course coordinator
  • Bo Christensen - Department of Marketing (Marketing)
Main academic disciplines
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Project and change management
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 29-11-2023

Relevant links

Learning objectives
  • Develop a strategic design project concept for, and in collaboration with the client organization, based on (but not necessarily in direct accordance with) the challenge given by the client.
  • Execute the project through an appropriate and argued application of design process models (e.g., emphasizing iteration, complexity, and framing, in dynamic environments) and entrepreneurship techniques such as Business Model Canvas, in order to support the development of the strategic design concept.
  • Develop and apply a plan for engagement, involvement and communication with relevant actors, such as stakeholders and users, in relation to your work on the project proposal.
  • Clearly and effectively communicate the strategic design concept and the design process preceding it.
  • Manage the development of the project, with special emphasis on managing stakeholder relations; cross-functional team management, time management and effective communication skills.
  • Reflect on your work as team, including your role as consultants to the client.
  • Provide a comprehensive analysis of the client organization in relation to those of its challenges that are relevant to your work and propose theoretically argued changes to the organization, in alignment with the project.
Examination
Strategic Design and Consulting:
Exam ECTS 15
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 4-5
Size of written product Max. 30 pages
Assignment type Project
Release of assignment Subject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
75 min. per group, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If a student is ill during the regular oral exam, he/she will be able to re-use the project in the make-up exam. If a student is ill during the writing of the project and did not contribute to the project, the make-up exam can be written individually (15 pages) or in groups (provided that other students are taking the make-up/re-exam). If the student did not pass the regular exam, he/she must make a new revised project (confer advice from the examiner) and hand it in on a new deadline specified by the secretariat.
The individual oral defense at the retake will be 20 minutes per student.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Through a semester-long company case, the students work in cross-disciplinary teams (groups) in studio workshops, applying theoretical models and their derived tools to the case. This semester emphasizes research-based learning in interaction with real-life stakeholders, providing the groups with a strategic design challenge that the group aim to solve.

 

Teaching will focus on the student's role as process consultants and on developing the project through relevant techniques and models (e.g., business model innovation, practice theories, prototyping techniques). Workshops will cover both discussion of theoretical topics and practical design activity. Alongside the workshops, the groups develop a strategic plan and/or process outline, using the theory package provided.

 

A central aim is to provide the students with tools for communication with the client organization: Tools to engage the client in an exploration about the content and scope of the strategic design challenge and tools to present results and receive relevant feedback from client representatives.

 

Feedback and formative evaluation is given to the groups as supervision and sessions with external participants throughout the project process. Groups receive supervision on the projects from different angles: From the business/organizational side, from the practice-oriented side and from the artistic, design-related side.

 

During the project process, the students achieve a reflected approach to strategic design and the high complexity of a project process.

Description of the teaching methods
The students will be working in cross-disciplinary teams, collaborating throughout the semester. In connection with the case/project, a theory packet will be developed; and students can collect knowledge, theory and methods as it becomes relevant in each group's project process. The teaching will be a combination of intensive studio-based workshops stretching over several days, and group based supervision. The students will learn and reflect through academic analysis, concept development and interaction with professional stakeholders.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is provided in the form of (1) group supervision (also including peer feedback), (2) dialogical workshop and studio based teaching, (3) feedback on problem formulation, (4) office hours, and (5) feedback at the exam.
Student workload
Attending workshops, supervision and lectures 93 hours
Preparation (including reading of syllabus) 120 hours
Project work and participation in the exam 200 hours
Expected literature

This course will tentatively be organized around the following topics:

  • Strategic design as concept
  • Design thinking
  • Process consultation and organizational development
  • Practice theories
  • Design and Entrepreneurship project management
  • Business model innovation
Last updated on 29-11-2023