What do you do when your organisation can't crack a problem on its own? Open Innovation makes the case that the best ideas, solutions and people you need may sit entirely outside your company. The course gives you practical strategies for tapping global talent and breakthrough thinking — whether you're developing a new product, responding to a changing workforce or simply looking for fresh answers in places you didn't expect.
This is an official Harvard Online course, featuring faculty from Harvard Business School and delivered on Harvard Online's learning platform. IPMC International handles your registration, payment and local support, then enrols you on the course. The format is self-guided within a scheduled cohort, and the Certificate of Completion is issued by Harvard Online.
The course builds three connected capabilities:
The programme runs across six modules taught through real case studies. There are no prerequisites. To earn the Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online, participants complete modules 1–6 by the stated deadlines.
Study the NASA case on building a culture of open innovation. Identify the benefits of open innovation, how it can be applied, and how it compares with traditional problem-solving methods.
Use the HYVE case to understand problem formulation and iterative design. Learn why clearly framing a problem is critical to finding the best solution, and how to overcome the barriers to good problem formulation.
Explore the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute case on running contests for medical-imaging AI. Understand how and why contests work, their benefits and challenges, and develop a plan for a contest in your own organisation.
Study the Tidelift case on open-source software and community-led innovation. Explore the potential of collaborating with or building a community, and the management challenges that come with it.
Use the Freelancer case to unlock the potential of online labour markets. Examine both the supply and demand sides, and identify how to overcome barriers to adoption in your organisation.
Revisit the NASA case to see how open innovation was scaled. Understand how to overcome barriers to adoption and prepare a plan to pilot and scale an open-innovation solution.
Karim R. Lakhani — Your instructor. A Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and a Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH). He specialises in the management of technological innovation, distributed innovation systems and open-source software communities.
Learners also hear from industry experts who bring the cases to life, including Jin Paik (Senior Director, Lab Operations at the Digital, Data & Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard), Luis Villa (Co-Founder and General Counsel of Tidelift) and Lynn E. Buquo (former Senior Advisor at the NASA Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation). Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.
The course suits professionals from a wide range of industries — including technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and consulting — who want to solve difficult problems by reaching beyond their organisation's walls. It's ideal for professionals, graduates and organisations who want a globally recognised Harvard Online credential to advance their careers or capabilities.
On successful completion you receive a digital Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online. No letter grades are assigned; participation is evaluated on a complete/incomplete basis. Once earned, you can add it to your CV and LinkedIn.
The course fee is confirmed on enquiry and put in writing before payment.
Pay IPMC securely by debit/credit card in UAE Dirhams (UAE) or by UPI, card or net banking in Indian Rupees (India).
Yes. The course is delivered by Harvard Online and the Certificate of Completion is issued by Harvard Online.
No. There are no required prerequisites, and the course is designed for learners across many industries who want to apply open-innovation strategies at work. You need only be at least 18 and comfortable learning in English.
You complete all six modules thoughtfully by the stated deadlines and contribute to discussions on the platform. You can set your own daily or weekly pace within the cohort. No letter grades are given — your work is assessed on a complete or incomplete basis.
After the final deadline, coursework is reviewed and, once eligibility is confirmed, your certificate is delivered by email. You keep access to the course materials for 60 days after the final deadline.
This course runs in regular Harvard Online cohorts. Enquire and we'll tell you the next available start date.
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