There are 9 lessons:

1. Scope and Nature of Innovation

• Innovation VS Improvement
• Why Innovate?
• Types of Innovation
• Adoption of Innovations
• Developing Innovative Products or Services
• Models of Innovation

2.  Creative Thinking

• Creativity and Innovation
• What is Creative Thinking
• What Make Employees Creative
• Ways to Improve Creativity
• Creative Thinking VS Critical Thinking

3. Design Thinking

• Design Thinking and Innovation
• Design Thinking Process
• Association with Innovation
• Applications of Design Thinking

4.  The Process

• Innovation Process
• Continuing Innovation
• Case Study

5.  Managing Risk and Problems

• Managing Risk
• Risks Associated with Innovation
• Scaling Innovation
• Enhancing Employee Innovation
• Innovative Identification of Risks and Risk Management

6.  Types of Innovation

• Innovation Types
• Innovation Matrix
• The Innovation Lifecycle

7.  Prototyping

• Why Prototype?
• Product Failures
• Types of Prototyping

8.  Journey Mapping

• How to Write a Journey Map

9.  Implementation

• Pilot Testing
• Planning
• KPIs and Tracking
• Roll Out, Bringing to Market
• Benefit Realisation

Please Note:   Each lesson culminates in an assignment,  marked by your and returned suggestions, comments, and extra reading, if necessary.

• Explain what innovation is, types of innovation, and how it may be used.
• Define creative thinking and explain its association with innovation.
• Explain design thinking and its association with innovation.
• Describe innovation as a process and its application to organisations.
• Identify risk management strategies required when formulating new innovative products or services.
• Explain different types of innovation.
• Explain the purpose of journey maps as a tool in understanding consumer behaviour.
• To explain how innovations are implemented.

• Talk to someone who is responsible for a team (e.g. business owner, manager or supervisor) about the role of creativity within their business.
• Create a Creativity Matrix.
• Talk to a local business owner about the process they apply when wanting to innovate.
• Investigate how different industries could benefit from applying design thinking.
• Explore how a business you are familiar with or researched has launched an innovated product or service.
• Create a SWOT analysis
• Consider how employees would feel if there were to be innovations introduced into their place of work.
• Consider the innovation life cycle, talk to 2 family members, colleagues, or friends about where they enter the cycle when innovations appear on the market.
• Create a journey map for yourself or a friend as a customer purchasing a new car.
• Evaluate their buyer journey processes and consider the types of customers they are aiming for.
• Discuss how would you approach implementation of a wearable technology device including the pilot, tracking metrics and at what stage you would be confident to proceed with the rollout.

BENEFITS OF INNOVATIONS FOR THE HUMAN RACE AND THE PLANET

On a macroeconomic scale, innovation has many knock-on effects. Innovation increases economic growth through increased productivity, which ultimately increases a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). This makes innovation and technological improvement attractive on a governmental level.

It is also important on a human level. It can lead to large technological shifts, as seen in the shift from steam power to electrical power, and small-scale farming to larger agronomic systems. This type of change – or innovation – has resulted in mass increases in productivity which have led to increased access to food, water, electricity, and other needs around the world.

Innovation can also lead to improved access to education and thereby improved educational outcomes through the use of technology and improved teaching methods, which stand to benefit children and adults all over the world.

Finally, innovation can affect the planet. Using an innovation mindset and reworking existing technology and ideas can improve sustainability, which may reduce pollution and help in the battle against climate change.

Business Innovation
On a smaller scale, innovation is important for businesses because it is a key part of remaining agile in ever-changing environments.

This is especially important as we move into more technologically demanding times, where competition may grow rapidly, particularly as the cost of outsourcing and automating labour decreases. In terms of improvement, innovation offers businesses the opportunity to find ways to:

• improve return on investment (ROI)
• increase productivity
• differentiate themselves from the current market
• develop their competitive advantage
• and improve company outcomes and culture.

Innovation can also help a company grow and expand. We can see examples of this in companies which have diversified, or in verticals such as Luxxotica, which started out contracting to make some parts for optical supply, and now controls most of the manufacturing and supply for glasses all over the world, including major design brands and supply to all large optical stores.

In Luxxotica’s case, innovation began with founder Del Vecchio’s move from making components for glasses to making and supplying whole ready-made frames, which meant taking on product development (research, design, engineering) and manufacturing, instead of leaving the development to others.

This shift to a ready-made product made Luxxotica much more competitive in the marketplace.

In short, businesses must be innovative because it helps them to adapt to changing demands and circumstances, and to be able to grow and survive financially. For businesses, innovation is an ongoing process.

It is a way that they can keep adapting and refining the way they do things as well as improve their products and services to increase market share.

The most obvious forms of employee innovation in organisations are products and services, however other types of employee innovation include devising a more efficient production method, a novel organisational structure, or a cost-saving efficiency.

Besides businesses, all sorts of organisations innovate. These include universities, hospitals, schools, local governments, police forces, and trades associations.

Innovation here may be more concerned with improving management systems, work protocols, assessment processes, and so forth. Innovative changes to systems can help improve productivity or efficiency.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.