On Strategy : What Managers Can Learn from Philosophy - PART 1

Instructor: Luc de Brabandere

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9 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

473 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

9 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

473 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

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Taught in English

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There are 9 modules in this course

In the expression “creative thinking”, the keyword is not creativity; the keyword is thinking. With the help of great philosophers, you will rediscover the art of thinking.

To help leaders to be rigorous even without figures, great philosophers have lots of ideas. Managers are invited to rediscover the art of thinking. They should understand the role of mental models, realize the importance of cognitive bias, agree on clear definitions and efficient criteria etc. Creativity demands the ability to unshackle ourselves from conventional ways of thinking, to "think outside the box". But we need to go a step further. Once outside the box, we need to construct a new box or boxes (that is, new intellectual frameworks or models) to help us structure our thinking. Only once we have done so can we generate truly game-changing ideas.

This lecture will discuss how strategy is mostly about leading change. New ideas are required because the world of tomorrow will be, again, different. And we need to remember change has two faces : perception and reality.

What's included

8 videos1 peer review

8 videos Total 47 minutes

Introduction 3 minutes
Change : Parmenides or Heraclites ? 3 minutes
Two Types of Change : Perception and Reality 5 minutes
To Change is to Change Twice 5 minutes
Innovation vs Creativity 5 minutes
Not a Single Idea is Born Good 10 minutes
"Yes and…" 8 minutes
Three kinds of new ideas 8 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

The Forgotten Half of Change: Peer Review 120 minutes

In the first lecture, we’ve seen that if we want to change the world, we have to act. And if we want to change our perception of the world, we have to think. So now… it is time to think about the way we think !

What's included

6 videos1 peer review

6 videos Total 47 minutes

You can not Think About your Clients ! 7 minutes
To Think is Like to Play : Playground, Rules,… 5 minutes
Concepts are Simplifications 6 minutes
Perfect Deduction, Possible. Perfect Induction, Impossible 9 minutes
The Power of Analogy and the Black Swan 11 minutes
Knowledge, Belief, Representation and Idea 9 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Peer Review: How do we Think? 120 minutes

For this third lecture, I invite you on a journey in the world of past ideas. Six guides will show us how they shaped this incredible world where everything is connected.

What's included

7 videos1 peer review

After a short recap, we will agree on four key definitions necessary to understand the rules of thinking. Thanks to a lot of examples, optical illusions and brain treasers, we will see how we build and how we use mental models.

What's included

6 videos1 peer review

Heraclites is definitely right, status quo is not an option, change is a must. The only alternative is either to lead the process, or to be a victim of the process. We will also understand why paradoxically creativity and rigor are good friends…

What's included

6 videos1 peer review

As I told you from the very first minute, philosophers don't claim to be right, they hope to be helpful. This sixth and last lecture is dedicated to you, strategists. We will see how to build the five "new boxes" we need to achieve the next big thing.

What's included

6 videos1 peer review

What's included

7 videos

What's included

6 videos

What's included

7 videos

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(34 ratings)

Luc de Brabandere

CentraleSupélec

1 Course 52,159 learners

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Reviewed on Apr 8, 2016

Loved this course. The great structured thinking and very enjoyable presentation of Mr. Brabandere really made me think - and think twice.

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2015

Great course, great ideas and creative course and great assignments, really makes you think about alot of things in a new perspective

Reviewed on Mar 8, 2017

Excellent course. Very instructive and passionated lessons. Transcripts should be proofread to help students that have difficulties to understand the accent.

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On Strategy : What Managers Can Learn from Philosophy - PART 1

On Strategy : What Managers Can Learn from Philosophy - PART 1

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 9 modules in this course

The Forgotten Half of Change

What's included

How do we Think ?

What's included

On the Shoulders of Giants

What's included

Mental Models and Perception

What's included

Eureka or Caramba ?

What's included

Thinking in New Boxes

What's included

The Essence of Change

What's included

Is technology making us stupid?

What's included

Become a corporate philosopher!

What's included

Instructor

Offered by

Explore more from Leadership and Management

Strategic management: Be competitive

Creative Thinking and Innovation

Foundations of Strategy

Introduction to Strategy

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Jennifer J.

Larry W.

Chaitanya A.

Learner reviews

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Advance your career with an online degree

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

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Is financial aid available?

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