Conscious Business Strategy

What does business strategy look like when profit is not the primary goal? How do we create strategies in business that are useful to internal stakeholders rather than impressive to shareholders? How do we even strategize when our economic future feels uncertain?

This program will explore different applications of design thinking, also known as “human-centered design,” as a tool for identifying and researching possible goals of work, and then exploring and even testing scenarios for achieving those goals. While this program is focused primarily on (reframing) traditional business strategy, our studies will also be useful for nonprofit work, and for both personal and professional “career” strategizing. 

Students will spend time outside of class researching problems and solutions by interviewing various stakeholders, learning how to engage people in productive conversations at the other end of the spectrum from statistical market research. We will then explore how to analyze and transform findings into action, and practice highly generative brainstorming processes. Finally, we will apply decision-making methods across multiple contexts, engaging in an alternative approach to strategizing. Students will emerge from the course with hands-on experience strategizing in multiple contexts, and a fully developed strategic plan on a topic or context of their choosing. 

Course concepts will be explored through online learning and in-person evening classes. In-person classes will also be an opportunity for students to practice applying course concepts and share findings with each other for feedback. 

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

4 - Strategic Planning

2 - Design

2 - Management or Entrepreneurship