Strategic Innovation and Change (Certificate)
The Strategic Innovation and Change graduate certificate is offered online or on campus at the University of Denver in the evenings, or in a combination of both, to meet the needs of busy adults. Change is inevitable, but dynamic transformation? That’s a choice. Earn a leadership certificate in Strategic Innovation and Change at University College and learn what it takes to thrive in an age of continual change, innovation, and strategy. Students will learn tactical innovation and change management using vision, values, and mission as an overall guide. Gain personal effectiveness for your career and within your community with a strategy degree. Led by professional practitioners who work in the fields they teach, leadership classes provide professionals the skills to manage change, encourage innovation, and develop effective strategic initiatives while fulfilling an organization's mission.
Explore the change theories and concepts required for effective and ethical change leadership while understanding how the relationships within an organization are affected. Certificate students can expect to develop environmental scanning skills to identify and evaluate external factors that affect an organization on a micro or macro level and prepare them to be solution−oriented leaders. Organizations are analyzed from the viewpoint of strategic alignment of their critical frameworks of operation including financial management, budget, and planning. The concept of innovation not being a one−time event, but instead an organizational view and structure as part of an organizational strategy, will be explored. Credits earned through this graduate certificate may apply toward a master's degree in Leadership and Organizations.
This certificate prepares students to:
- Define the role of mission, vision, values, and goals as a start of strategic planning
- Articulate and discuss the advantages and limitations of the strategic planning process
- Identify the areas to be addressed in implementing innovation and change; customers, competitors, suppliers, technology
- Explore the change theories and concepts and skills required for effective and ethical change leadership and how the relationships within an organization are affected
- Discuss how financial management and budget and planning need to align with the vision, values, and goals of an organization
Leadership and Organizations Outcomes
This program prepares students to:
- Identify a clear mission and lead the dynamic process of translating a mission in to a series of goals and outcomes
- Utilize the knowledge of an organization's most important resource, people, in the creation and transmission of knowledge and economic, cultural, and technological change
- Align mission, vision, people, resources, and goals to maximize success and value over time for an organization
- Design and implement processes and content in organizations to meet the description of organizational excellence, which includes strong leadership and relationships
In coordination with Title IV and the Gainful Employment Rule, certificate program data is provided for your convenience.
Required Courses
The Graduate Certificate in Certificate of Advanced Study in Strategic Innovation and Change requires completion of 24 credit hours (6 courses).
Concentration Courses - 16 qtr. hrs (Choose 4)Professional Concentration courses allow students to focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector in which they are working or wish to work, and master the skills needed to excel in that area.
Further Study - 8 qtr. hrs (Choose 2)
Further Studies Options allow students to customize their degrees to match their career needs by either choosing in-depth study in their concentration by selecting three of the following courses, or exploring other options by using our Degree Builder tool.
Customize your degree or certificate using our convenient online degree builder tool, which allows you to select courses that cater to your specific career needs.
Design Your Custom Plan
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Use the online degree builder tool to customize your degree or certificate. Through the Professional Options Curriculum, you´re able to create your own degree or certificate plan by selecting courses that cater specifically to your career needs. Using the online degree builder, you´ll select the program and courses necessary to graduate from University College. |
Start Customizing Your DegreeView the tutorial or start building your plan now. |
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Careers in Strategic Innovation and Change Certficate
Titles
Strategy Manager, Product Management Director, Business Development Analyst, Project Manager, Director of Strategy and Innovation, Marketing Manager, Key Leader, Human Resources Manager, Consultant, Strategic Innovation Officer.
Duties
Innovative ideas generation, strategic thought and alliance, organizational alignment, collaboration, research, problem-solving, troubleshooting, idea generation, development, training, review and evaluation, management.
Outlook
Individuals who know how to effect change are essential in a recovering economy, as companies seek to make the most out of budgets, labor, and strategy. Chief Strategy Officer, a new role that has been popularized in several organizations, seeks to capitalize on innovation and push out the competition, according to Accenture. "Strategy development has become a continuous process, and successful execution therefore depends more than ever on rapid and effective decision making,” Accenture reports.
Careers In Leadership and Organizations
Raising the bar.
Whether you're raising money or developing fundraisers for the arts, education, or another worthwhile cause, quality fundraisers are in short supply, according to Philanthropy.com. A National Study of Challenges Facing Non-profit Fundraising has found a significant lack of qualified development directors, and several non-profits seek candidates to successfully fill these positions in addition to positions requirement basic fundraising skills. Take note of the rise in online fundraising success, particularly with social media revolutionizing the way we interact. Brush up on email outreach skills, social media savvy, and internet marketing knowledge.
Lean, green, and keen!
As companies look for improving efficiency and technology processes during hard economic times, directors, analysts, and managers are expected to think lean and be innovative in the workplace. There is a growing need for resourceful project managers in financial, technology, and legal sectors, as well as in energy and healthcare. Bonus! Project managers enjoyed earning more during the recession compared to the past two years, according to the PMI® Project Management Salary Survey. Independent consultants are also in high in demand, as companies try to save money by hiring one-off consultants for large-scale projects in need of management. Going green with virtual meetings and teams will easily play into this need for independent consultants.
Where are they now?
Graduates have job titles that include Chief Sales Officer, Advisory Project Manager, Branch Manager, Professional Sales Representative, Director of HR, Independent Consultant, Vice President, Director of Communications, Human Resources Associate, and Director of Development for companies or organizations such as Halliburton, Johnson & Johnson, Home State Bank, Info Solutions Company, PMSI, and independent small businesses.
Ready to Apply
It's time to gather your materials and apply to your program of choice. Remember to include:
Need More Information
Interested in attending University College, but need additional information before you make a decision? No problem−we're here to help. You may request additional information about a specific program and specialty, review and ask questions in our Frequently Asked Questions section, or contact University College directly.
- Request additional information
- Ask a question
- Email University College or call 303-871-2291 or 800-347-2042
Want to Take a Class
Even if you missed the application deadline, you can start taking courses for one quarter before you have to submit a completed application. We know how important it is to get started when you're ready, so review the class schedule or start the registration process now.
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