Summary
Advance your career path and your organisation’s growth potential with this applied learning Diploma in Strategic Innovation. McKinsey states that companies who invest in innovation through a crisis outperform peers during a recovery. Ensure that you gain a competitive advantage within your markets and add genuine shareholder and stakeholder value by investing in these skills now and taking a strategic approach to innovation.
At the end of the programme participants will:
- Critically analyse the core principles of effective strategy and innovation
- Evaluate your organisation’s approaches to strategy and innovation, evaluate these with some fresh thinking and apply the learning
- Evaluate the key approaches to analysing, evaluating and adopting appropriate strategies to capitalise on organisational strengths and overcome weaknesses
- Apply systematic approaches to problem solving and decision making and understand the benefit to your business goals and strategic direction
- Identify and apply key leadership skills related to strategy to optimise on success potential and how this can be implemented in your business
- Evaluate the effectiveness of key approaches to creative problem solving, decision making and innovation.
- Use this applied learning to bring an innovative culture to your business
- Evaluate core approaches to strategy and innovation with reference to their own professional context
- Develop the ability to write, present and defend material that articulates ideas, insights and analysis relevant to strategy and innovation to ensure innovation is embedded in all communications
This programme is for:
Those new to innovation-related roles as well as helping to develop the skills and knowledge of those currently engaged in innovation in their organisations. Applicants should typically have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in management and occupy roles involving a significant degree of engagement with innovation or expect to move into these positions in the near future. Suitable for senior executive teams, management or marketing roles, or to anyone who is challenged to bring innovation to their role.
Approach
This programme is delivered over a series of 12 full day sessions spread over 7 months to fit in with a fulltime work schedule. There are a number of activities and case studies used throughout the programme which ensures that all of the learning is applied in a real way. The programme leader encourages group discussion and involvement throughout each session, ensuring opportunities for questions and real issues are discussed at all times. Students get access to the new Ibec Academy portal for all material and course schedule.
Assessment & Accreditation
To achieve cpd Level 8 NFQ accreditation by TU Dublin, this course is assessed by exam and assignment submissions.
Individual assessments are an integral part of the programme and count towards end of year results as follows:
- Closed book exam 40%
- Project on a company specific innovation project, involving the application of the key principles of innovation and innovation development (4,500 words) 40%
- Learning journal and class participation 20%
70% attendance is required.
Programme Schedule
Developing a strategic outlook
- Understanding strategy and strategic management
- Analysing the external environment
- Analysing the organisation
- Stakeholder mapping and analysis
- Defining the value chain
- Developing and assessing strategic options
Understanding innovation
- What is innovation?
- Creativity and innovation
- Enhancing your personal creative confidence
The innovation organisation
- Managing innovation
- Moving from ideas to implementation
- Organisational structures to support innovation
- Embedding Innovation as a core competency
Innovation and Change
- Managing change
- Measuring and evaluating innovation and change
Taking a strategic view of innovation
- Building an innovation strategy
- Innovating the Business Model
- Defining the customer and understanding their needs
- Engaging with an innovation ecosystem
- Managing and protecting your IP
How leadership, teams and people contribute to innovation
- Leadership and Innovation
- Innovative teams
- Unlocking the innovation potential within people and teams
- Decision making, unconscious bias
- Managing failure and constraints
- Design Thinking
Accredited Partner
Collaborating since 2008 to deliver pragmatic education to support careers and organisational development

Programme Facilitator
Laurence Knell
Laurence Knell is an Ibec associate trainer skilled in designing and facilitating training and development courses. Laurence is an Associate Lecturer on the Open University Business School’s MBA program, teaching in the areas creativity, innovation and management. He also works closely with the OU’s Executive Education team and Centre for Police Research and Learning.
Laurence has worked internationally with leaders and executives in a wide-range of sectors including technology, transportation, finance, pharmaceutical, FMCG, and agri-business, and is a member of the NSAI Innovation Standards panel.
