Session 3: Creativity and Innovation
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Summary
Every entrepreneur faces endless challenges along the way. These problems never have one right answer, and often they have never been solved before. The only way for an entrepreneur to succeed is to view each challenge as an opportunity for a creative solution. The best entrepreneurs seek out challenges. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity! In this class, we will focus on stirring up your creative juices so that you can tackle the challenges ahead. You will be given several interactive projects that have no right answer. You will be encouraged to work creatively with your classmates, to stretch your imagination, and to take some risks.
Quotes of the Day
“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”
Victor Kiam
“Creativity requires breaking established patterns in order to look at thinks in a different way.”
Edward de Bono
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.“
Scott Adams
Guest
Tina Seelig, Stanford University
Term Project
(Policy on Term Project Assignments)
Teams for the term project (OAP) and case study groups should be formed by today. Teams should consist of five students. These teams will then remain the same for the remainder of the quarter. As such, remember that the “best” teams (i.e.: the most creative, the most effective, and the most fun) have diverse members — different majors, genders, or work experiences. Do not just pick your current friends. You will learn more from working with people who are not exactly like you and/or who don’t agree with everything you say. We will devote as much time as possible in previous session to help you meet other students to form teams.
Required Readings
(Policy on Required Readings)
- Technology Ventures (Byers, Dorf, and Nelson): Chapters 2 through 5 (only the Textbook’s Section Highlights)
- Note: the course is based upon a required textbook by Byers, Dorf, & Nelson called Technology Ventures: From Idea to Enterprise (McGraw-Hill, 5th Edition, 2019). Visit this link for least expensive purchase options of a printed version or go directly to Amazon Prime with one-day shipping here. And try these links at Amazon and Chegg for affordable digital purchase and rental pricing. A copy of the 5th Edition will be on reserve at the Terman Library in Huang Engineering Center. Feel free to skim the first chapter of the textbook here.
- “Reclaim Your Creative Confidence” by David Kelley and Tom Kelley in Harvard Business Review
- “Your Story is Your Destiny – Tell It Well” by Tina Seelig in Medium
Study Questions
(Policy on Study Questions)
- When have you felt most creative?
- What are your obstacles to being creative?
