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Design Thinking and Corporate Change

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ENGLISH

In cooperation with HPI Academy (Hasso Plattner Institute)

Design Thinking is one of the world‘s most popular methods of establishing a dynamic, customer-focused and goal-oriented innovation culture within the organization – for start-ups, SMEs and large corporations alike. With the methods of the Design Thinking approach, ideas can be improved within the entire corporate value chain, from internal process optimization and digitalization to customer contact in both the B2B and B2C areas.

However, even the most promising innovations often fail due to internal organizational resistance. Successful implementation requires a strategy that takes organizational complexity and power relations into account, a careful analysis of key stakeholders and their interests, as well as communication skills.

This workshop addresses these two challenges: innovation and its implementation within the organization.

 


Please register here for the workshop.

Next intakes:

April 28 – 30, 2025 

December 3 - 5, 2025


 

Your profile

  • Managers and executives eager to learn and implement new processes and tools of customer-centricity, both within their organizations as well as when they are in contact with their external customers and users of their products and services.

Benefits

  • Get acquainted with the principles of Design Thinking and familiarize yourself with the major steps of this process: understanding the needs of internal and external customers and gaining empathy for them, conducting interviews, implementing creativity methods, as well as prototyping and testing.
  • Enhance your ability to trigger user-centered innovation in the managerial practices of your firm.
  • Receive practical advice on how to establish networks of like-minded people and refine your communication skills to convince your peers across hierarchies.

Topics

  • The changing landscape of innovation: customer centricity as the driving factor„
  • Applying Design Thinking methods to a real challenge from the business world„
  • Conducting interviews with customers and stakeholders„
  • Tools for implementing organizational change: discussion of potential hurdles and pitfalls„
  • Communication techniques and best practices of stakeholder management„
  • Communicating change stories and dealing with resistance„
  • Gaining insights from users of products and services

Downloads

Video

In this video hear from a program participant as he explains the program's key benefits and the impact it had on his own professional development.

Meet our teaching staff

The programs have been 
designed – and will be led –
by ESMT faculty members 
and ESMT visiting faculty. 
They will also guide and 
advise you throughout 
your studies.

Ulf Schäfer

Visiting Lecturer, ESMT Berlin and Associate Professor of Practice, SDA Bocconi

Testimonials

Anastasia Zencika

"Attending the Design Thinking and Change Management course at ESMT was an incredibly inspiring experience. The practical approach, where we immediately applied the knowledge with a real company, made the learning process engaging and memorable. Ulf Schäfer's presentation on change management was a highlight, inspiring me to implement the practices in my job and even make a career change. I enrolled in the Executive MBA program at ESMT and relocated to Berlin, a life-changing decision. I highly recommend this course to enhance your skills in design thinking and change management."

Anastasia Zencika, Chief Marketing Officer, ECOMMPAY

Alkan Dogan

"The HPI Academy, together with ESMT, manages to set up a unique training concept through the combination of professionalism and close cooperation with the corporate world. The smooth organization and innovative implementation of the workshops is noticeable and so is the involvement of important collaboration partners. In my opinion, this kind of involvement is essential as it gives workshop participants the opportunity to not only develop their skills within a “vacuum”, but to build them up and actually test them using practical use cases."

Alkan Dogan, Innovation Manager, Simmons and Simonns

Your program advisor

​​​​​​​Beatrix Becker
Head of Business Development, ESMT Berlin

Phone: +49 30 21231 6205

Request a call back

HPI Academy

 

A joint hands-on workshop led by ESMT Berlin and HPI Academy.

Join us for our workshop

Please register here.

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