Design Thinking Process
Question 1: Empathize Stage
The reasons why virtual teams have been implemented in present-day organizations include flexibility access to talented people, and information technology. This change in leadership and management has been occasioned by the rise in the application of telecommuting sufficiently to meet organizational needs in terms of coordination, performance, and project objectives. One of the most significant problems that occur when working and managing project teams is the ability to communicate and synchronize within the group when the members of the group are located in different geographic locations rather than in the same building or office, it is as follows (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). The purpose of this term paper is to ascertain which factors influence Virtual teams and provide practical advice on how leaders/managers can enhance virtual climates for team performance.
Considering their schedules, to get an opinion of the required courses in the MBA program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, contacted six potential respondents. Below are the introductions, as well as the answers to the main questions:
Participant Introductions
1. John Doe
Educational Qualification: Bachelors in Business Administration
Nationality: American
Work Experience: 5 years in marketing
Entrepreneurial Experience: None
2. Jane Smith
Educational Qualification: Bachelors in Computer Science
Nationality: British
Work Experience: 7 years in the tech industry
Entrepreneurial Experience: Started a tech startup
3. Ahmed Khan
Educational Qualification: Masters in Economics
Nationality: Pakistani
Work Experience: 10 years in finance
Entrepreneurial Experience: Launched a financial consultancy
4.Maria Garcia
Educational Qualification: Bachelor of Arts
Nationality: Spanish
Work Experience: 3 years in retail management
Entrepreneurial Experience: None
5.Li Wei
Educational Qualification: Bachelors in Engineering
Nationality: Chinese
Work Experience: 8 years in manufacturing
Entrepreneurial Experience: Co-founded a manufacturing firm
6.Emily Johnson
Educational Qualification: Masters in Education
Nationality: Canadian
Work Experience: 6 years in educational management
Entrepreneurial Experience: None
Input from Prospective Participants
Summary of Participant Responses:
Core Courses:
Common themes include Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Financial Management, Leadership, and Strategic Management.
Elective Courses:
Digital Marketing, Technology in Business, Risk Management, Consumer Behavior, Supply Chain Management, and Project Management were frequently mentioned.
Program Duration:
Varies between 12 to 24 months, with a preference for 18 months as a balanced duration.
Course Fee:
Suggested fees range from $25,000 to $40,000, with an average of around $30,000.
Batch Size:
Preferred batch sizes range from 20 to 30 participants, ensuring a balance between personalized attention and diverse interaction.
Lecture Duration:
Preferences vary from 60 to 90 minutes, with a trend towards 60-75 minutes being most favorable for maintaining engagement without fatigue.
Conclusion
Feedbacks from these potential respondents point out the necessity of the work and demonstrates that the efficient and sufficient curriculum should include basic core and various elective courses. The program should be designed to last for 18 months with a fee of about $30000 with a view of admitting 20-30 participants per batch and with lectures of about 60-75 minutes to allow for better comprehension of the content delivered.
Question 2: Participant Personas
Persona 1: Experienced Entrepreneur
Name: Jane Smith
Age: 34
Background: Bachelors in Computer Science
Nationality: British
Work Experience: 7 years in the tech industry
Entrepreneurial Experience: Founder of a successful tech startup
Goals: Jane aims to expand her startup by gaining advanced knowledge in business planning, networking, and innovation. She seeks to learn strategies for scaling her business and improving operational efficiency.
Challenges: Balancing her time between managing her startup and pursuing the MBA program. She also faces challenges in securing additional funding for expansion.
Needs: Flexible course schedules to accommodate her busy lifestyle, practical insights into technology integration in business, and access to a strong alumni network for mentorship and networking opportunities (Allen, 2016).
Persona 2: Aspiring Entrepreneur
Name: John Doe
Age: 28
Background: Bachelors in Business Administration
Nationality: American
Work Experience: 5 years in marketing
Entrepreneurial Experience: None
Goals: John wants to transition from his marketing role to starting his own business. He seeks to acquire essential skills in innovation management, business strategy, and leadership to confidently launch and grow his venture.
Challenges: Lack of hands-on entrepreneurial experience and fear of financial risk. He also needs to manage his time effectively between work and study (Brown, 2009).
Needs: Comprehensive foundational courses that cover all aspects of entrepreneurship, mentorship opportunities to guide him through the startup process, and practical knowledge in digital marketing and leadership skills to help build his business from the ground up.
These personas represent the diverse needs and goals of prospective participants, ensuring the program caters to both experienced and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Question 3: Ideate Stage
To gather input for creating the course curriculum, I connected with two faculty members and two academic administrators.
Faculty Members
1. Dr. Robert King (Professor of Entrepreneurship)
Input:
Emphasized the importance of practical projects, case studies, and real-world applications. Suggested core courses in Innovation Management, Business Strategy, and Entrepreneurship.
Recommended electives in Technology in Business and Digital Marketing.
2. Dr. Sarah Lee (Professor of Marketing)
Input:
Stressed the need for courses on new-age marketing strategies and tools. Recommended including electives on Consumer Behavior and Networking. Suggested integrating courses that focus on digital marketing and its impact on business.
Academic Administrators
3.Mrs. Laura Brown (Director of Online Programs)
Input:
Highlighted the importance of flexible course schedules and diverse elective options. Suggested a program duration of 18-24 months to accommodate different learning paces.
Emphasized the need for a moderate batch size (20-30) to ensure personalized attention and interaction (Gibbons & Rogers, 2009).
4. Mr. Peter Johnson (Dean of Business School)
Input:
Advocated for a strong focus on innovation and strategic management. Recommended setting the course fee based on market research and competitive analysis. Emphasized the importance of including courses on leadership and organizational behavior as core components.
Question 4: Prototype Stage
Initial Course Curriculum for MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Core Courses:
1. Innovation Management
2. Entrepreneurship
3. Business Strategy
4. Financial Management
5. Market Analysis
6. Operations Management
7. Business Ethics
8. Leadership
9. Strategic Management
10. Organizational Behavior
Elective Courses:
1. Digital Marketing
2. Technology in Business
3. Risk Management
4. Corporate Finance
5. Consumer Behavior
6. Retail Management
7. Supply Chain Management
8. Project Management
9. Networking
10. Educational Entrepreneurship
11. Fundraising
Program Details:
- Duration: 18 months (with an option to complete in 12 months)
- Course Fee: $28,000
- Batch Size: 25 participants
- Lecture Duration: 75 minutes
The prerequisite courses are the source of basic knowledge required to understand business and its management, the electives are the areas of interest.
The program for credentials takes about 18 months to carry out and the credit flexibility offers the application of the knowledge which is helpful there is also an opportunity to finish the program in twelve months if one wishes to do so. The cost of the course is $25000 which can be justified as reasonable and affordable to cover the price value of the education for sale (Cooper et al. 2007).
In an ideal world that is possible more so with a view of preparing to have a class setting that gives each participant personal attention so that the class would be virtually a discussion forum, then the batch size would be 20. It is ascertained that the entirety and depth of the topic under discussion require 75-90 minutes and the participants concentration tends to be high in this case.
Question 5: Testing Stage
Feedback from Participants
I shared the initial curriculum with a new group of participants, ensuring that 50% differed from the initial sample.
Participant Introductions and Feedback
Incorporating Feedback
Adjusted Curriculum:
Core Courses:
1. Innovation Management
2. Entrepreneurship
3. Business Strategy
4. Financial Management
5. Market Analysis
6. Operations Management
7. Business Ethics
8. Leadership
9. Strategic Management
10. Organizational Behavior
11.Business Planning
Elective Courses:
1. Digital Marketing
2. Technology in Business
3. Risk Management
4. Corporate Finance
5. Consumer Behavior
6. Retail Management
7. Supply Chain Management
8. Project Management
9. Networking
10. Educational Entrepreneurship
11. Fundraising
Program Details:
- Duration: 18 months (with an option to complete in 12 months)
- Course Fee: $25,000
- Batch Size: 20 participants
- Lecture Duration: 75-90 minutes
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