Design MBA Blogtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog/12008-11-04T21:54:59ZMovable Type Personal 4.1New DMBA descriptiontag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3172008-11-04T21:46:25Z2008-11-04T21:54:59Z Lead Create Imagine Enable Manifest Innovative Meaningful Sustainable Design-led Visionary Practical Successful Thoughtful Provakative Profitable Responsible Courageous Persuasive Change We've rewritten the program description now that we've got a year's-worth of perspective. Though the program is very much focused...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
Change
We've rewritten the program description now that we've got a year's-worth of perspective. Though the program is very much focused on innovation, many programs now claim the same thing. We feel that our approach is unique, however, since innovation itself is not enough. Instead, we seek students who are want to make change in the world--in a variety of ways. Innovation is one path toward change and sustainable, meaningful innovation is an even more powerful path toward change. In addition, design-led innovation can be more productive and successful than traditional business approached to change.
So far, our experiences with the curriculum are confirming these assumptions though it will be a while before we can claim success. In the mean time, we hope to have student work to share after our first semester ends next month.
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Mark Dwight speaks in the DMBA programtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3162008-10-26T06:22:24Z2008-10-26T06:54:50ZTonight, we were fortunate to have Mark Dwight, founder and CEO of Rickshaw Bags come to talk to us about his new company. Mark typifies everything this program is striving to integrate: he has both an engineering degree and an...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
Rickshaw Bags come to talk to us about his new company. Mark typifies everything this program is striving to integrate: he has both an engineering degree and an MBA (both from Stanford) but describes himself as a lifelong designer. He's been an investor as well as business leader and founded several companies but his attention is on developing innovative solutions from every aspect of product development, manufacturing, and business models.
In addition, Rickshaw makes a point to develop products with sustainable materials, processes, and considerations like overall footprint. They carefully partner with a variety of organizations in order to build environmental, social, and financial sustainability into every part of their company. He's quick to admit that, because Rickshaw is actually a small company, they can't do everything they want or plan at once.
Mark's an inspiration for how innovative, integrative perspectives can make positive change not just in local communities but through whole systems.]]>
The Economic Downturntag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3152008-10-25T19:06:08Z2008-10-25T19:20:13ZOf course, the economy is on everyone's mind these days. There's been much talk about the, now infamous, slide presentation from Sequoia over the past weeks. This presentation is fine, to me, until Doug Leon's slides start at slide number...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
slide presentation from Sequoia over the past weeks. This presentation is fine, to me, until Doug Leon's slides start at slide number 39. The first part of the presentation is all data, which is (of course) sobering and painfully obvious to anyone who's been critically watching the economy for the past few years.
However, Doug Leon launches into ungrounded assessments with his prescriptions and they feel tired and expected (cut, cut, cut... don't think about why or where, focus on features, not on customer relationship). Whether he meant this or not, that's how his advice sounds and it's the same old story that businesses have told forever when times get rough.
Notice how none of his timelines have times or dates on them? That's because they're loose predictions based on opinion and not data. It's pure theory masquerading as fact. Yes, companies need to focus on cashflow but this is ALWAYS what companies should be doing. For those who are suddenly worried about cashflow, their eyes have already been off the ball. If a company hasn't been lean, by all means, it should reassess what it truly needs but, again, this is something that every company should have been doing continuously all along. Suddenly, we expect businesses to get serious about their businesses? That would be the problem all along.
I suspect that a lot of good businesses will die along with the bad ones just like during the bust in 2000-2004. However, those who focus on customer-led innovation and delivering true value in customers' eyes are the ones that will have the best chance not only of survival but of growth. The same goes for sustainability.
"In a stable economy, sustainability is the competitive advantage strategy. (Refer to all the aspects of the Integrated Bottom Line.)
In a down economy, sustainability is the turnaround strategy. (See the recent Florida Climate Report: $26 billion savings from achieving 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from now, 33% reduction below 1999 levels. Or the Colorado numbers: consciously unleashing the new energy economy has led to net jobs growth, and relative economic health, even in a down economy.)
"In a collapse, sustainability is a survival strategy. (Look at Braddock, Pennsylvania. It went from 20,000 population to 2,000, from an oil and manufacturing center to a rust belt. The mayor is now using the vacant land to grow biofuels, has enlisted a 100 year old, 3rd generation oil company to produce it, and is growing organic vegetables, and attracting green companies to town.)"
We need to be a lot smarter about the value we deliver to customers and the market than simply cutting aimlessly. Most companies actually need to invest more in development and innovate even harder (that includes the entire automobile and electronics industries). They need new, better, more valuable offerings, not merely selling-through what they already have.
And this brings us to the problem with most US businesses. Try as they might, most companies can't successfully innovate. It's sad but true. Their focus has been on features, performance, and price, not on delivering value or developing deep customer relationships. That's why we've created this program: to help businesses better innovate in meaningful, sustainable ways.]]>
Our new studiotag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3132008-10-21T06:03:42Z2008-10-21T21:38:40ZFinally, after waiting on some parts for the storage system, our DMBA studio is finally complete--not that the students haven't been using it for the past two months. Aside from a nice mix of work zones (casual and more formal,...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
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MBA in Design Strategy Information Night (2008)tag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3072008-09-21T07:40:54Z2008-09-21T07:42:35ZFriday 17 October 2008 6:30 pm San Francisco campus Please join us on the CCA campus in San Francisco for an in-depth look at our new MBA in Design Strategy. Nathan Shedroff, the chair of this program, will present the...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
RSVP for this event »]]>
Instructors for 2009-2010tag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.2992008-09-08T21:06:54Z2008-09-01T21:11:37ZNow that the program has finally started, it's time to set and eye toward next year. We have all of the professors we need for the 2008-2009 academic year but we're looking for a few for the 2009-2010 year. In...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
here):
Operations & Systems, (Third Semester) Fall 2009 Managerial Finance, (Third Semester) Fall 2009 Capital & Markets, (Fourth Semester) Spring 2010
If you or someone you know has experience in either of these subjects and is willing to supplement what they know to include innovation and sustainability perspectives to these topics, please contact Nathan Shedroff.]]>
Financial & Managerial Accountingtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3032008-09-07T17:00:00Z2008-09-01T21:23:58ZThe accounting course in the DMBA program is a mix of both financial and managerial accounting in order to acquaint our students with the kinds of knowledge, skills, and tools they'll need to be leaders. We don't expect our students...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
In addition to readings and problem sets, the students will also work on a semester project comparing companies in a chosen industry.
For those following along at home, the required books this semester include:
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Managerial Economicstag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3022008-09-06T17:00:00Z2008-09-01T21:18:54ZThis introduction to economics basics as they relate to markets, organizations, and innovation will challenge the students to understand traditional, neo-classical economics as well as to push past this material into new economic theories. For those following along at home,...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
For those following along at home, the required books this semester include:
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Live Exchange, Fall 2008tag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3012008-09-05T17:00:00Z2008-09-02T03:29:50ZLive Exchange In some ways, this is the most important course in the program as it teaches a core set of communications and collaboration skills that are built-upon throughout the rest of the semesters. Students are challenged to question their...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
Most of the readings for this course use a reader that gathers articles, reports, and chapters throughout a wide variety of sources and, unfortunately, isn't available outside the program. However, there are two required books as well:
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Innovation Studio, Fall 2008tag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3002008-09-04T17:00:00Z2008-09-03T21:53:47ZInnovation Studio, Fall 2008 In the first innovation studio, the students will be leading about a variety of development processes and using a hybrid process developed for strategic innovation for their semester-long team project. The challenge theme has not yet...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
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Our accreditationtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3052008-09-04T16:58:53Z2008-09-04T17:10:23ZEarlier this week, we received word from WASC (the Western Association of Schools and Colleges) that the DMBA program is accredited for students starting this year. We'll be reviewed with the rest of CCA's programs. We still aren't pursuing AACSB...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
Earlier this week, we received word from WASC (the Western Association of Schools and Colleges) that the DMBA program is accredited for students starting this year. We'll be reviewed with the rest of CCA's programs.
We still aren't pursuing AACSB accreditation at this time (and won't be eligible for several years) but it remains a possibility in the future.
Our new classroomtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.3042008-09-02T21:24:26Z2008-09-03T01:24:55ZOver the summer, the facilities and IT folks here at CCA have been upgrading the boardroom to use as a classroom for the DMBA program. Because our classes are big (up to 30 students at once), there aren't a lot...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
Changes to the boardroom include:
A new projector that casts a big, beautifully sharp picture from laptop, DVD, VHS, etc.
Microphones mounted around the table to pick-up everyone in the room
Speakers in the ceiling connected to any audio source we need
30 Ethernet and power outlets flush-mounted around the table (there are more in the walls as well
A rack with mixing boards, DVD player, VHS player, digital audio recorder, and system interface
30 beautiful and comfortable new Catifa 46 chairs by Arper. These adjust up and down, swivel, and roll--all things the last chairs didn't do.
Two new white boards (it's difficult to believe we haven't had any kind of writing surface up until now).
In addition to standard needs for teaching, we've already tested the system for Skype and iChat-based video conferencing with the Oakland campus as well as across the country. It won't be quite as nice as a professional videoconferencing system but it gets us 80% of the way for a fraction of the price.
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Course Title Changestag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.2942008-08-29T19:20:06Z2008-08-29T19:21:34ZWhile the curriculum has stayed true to our initial vision, while working with faculty on their specific courses, we've renamed and refined many of the course titles in the program. They're all up-to-date now on the program website....Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
program website.]]>
The Beginningtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.2932008-08-29T19:14:57Z2008-09-02T14:45:49ZLong time, no post. We've been extremely busy over the summer with all of the little details of starting a new program and in 5 days, we'll have 26 students* begin the first year of this new program. This pioneering...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
In the coming days, we'll be posting a lot: pictures of our new facilities, booklists and project lists from our Fall courses (for those of you following along at home), and other details about the program, our faculty, and students.
* Incidentally, we lost our 4 outstanding international students over the summer when the Department of Homeland Security decided not to validate our program for international student visas. We're already at work to request a status change so that we can enroll international students next Fall. Stay tuned for more aboutthis.]]>
Summer Sketching/Observation Clubtag:www.designmba.org,2008:/blog//1.2862008-05-26T02:45:41Z2008-05-26T02:48:26ZIn addition to readings and films to watch, we're encouraging our students to spend some time over the Summer carefully observing and sketching. Sketching is one of those critical communication skills that only gets better with practice. It's core to...Nathan Shedroffhttp://www.nathan.com/
In addition to readings and films to watch, we're encouraging our students to spend some time over the Summer carefully observing and sketching. Sketching is one of those critical communication skills that only gets better with practice. It's core to visual communication whether someone is drawing a picture, a diagram, or a system. Each week, we'll take a new theme and share the best of our sketches for comments and feedback but, mostly, the point is simply to loosen-up our wrists and arms and practice.
Hands
Shoes
Trees/Plants
Building in Perspective
People Shopping
Skyline
Landscape
Portrait
Animal
System
Self-portrait
Emotion (can be representational or abstract)
