Prof. Peter McGrory
The purpose of the IDBM programme is to develop world-class expertise in global design business management through multidisciplinary research and learning that cuts across the areas of business, design and technology. The programme trains skilled professionals for key roles in global design business. The program emphasizes the importance of design as a competitive factor, linked with state-of-the-art technology and business models.
The overarching learning outcome is seen to be achievable through developing systemic and integrative competences within the two-year programme. The objective is for learners to gain competence in multiple dimensions on both strategic and operational levels; also to develop and enhance individual abilities to recognize and acknowledge the value in tools, practices and mental models of other professions. This is seen to be needed in complex development projects and turbulent operational environments. Achieving systemic competence is seen to require a deep understanding of multidisciplinary aptitudes in the globalised context, in addition to well developed abilities in strategic foresight and agile working methods.
In terms of knowledge:
In terms of skills:
The learning outcomes are achieved through compulsory and elective studies. In the three compulsory core IDBM modules, the objective is to build up the systemic knowledge and skill-sets of the students, through intensive courses that are linked to an academic year-long joint industry project and linked teamwork. The Business component of the joint IDBM project ensures that the students gain the necessary business perspective within the joint project, through extensive senior faculty supervision, business modeling and incorporating best business practices. The Design component of the joint IDBM project ensures that the students gain the necessary design thinking perspective within the joint project, through extensive senior faculty supervision and incorporating best design management practices. The Technology component of the joint IDBM project ensures that the students gain the necessary engineering and innovation management perspectives within the joint project, through extensive senior faculty supervision and incorporating best business practices within the project scope.
Studying consists of the three compulsory modules (Business, Design and Technology) and a joint Business/ Design/Technology 5+5+5 ECTS industry project. Parallel to lecture courses, the IDBM industry project deepens the understanding of the participants of the real-life processes of firms that are engaged in global design intensive businesses. Developing new business, product, and service concepts with the firms enables a deep understanding of the business enterprise context, and allows the students to develop their multidisciplinary skills and abilities. Skills in project management and business planning are also developed through the projects.
Course code |
Name |
ECTS Credits |
Compulsory studies in Department of Design |
20 |
|
INTRO |
2 |
|
Design and Culture |
4-6 |
|
Design research |
4 |
|
Thesis seminar |
2 |
|
Personal project / project |
6 |
|
Personal project / seminar |
2 |
|
Compulsory Business Module |
15 |
|
Creative Teamwork |
5 |
|
Design Business Management |
5 |
|
IDBM Industry Project (Business) |
5 |
|
Compulsory Design Module |
15 |
|
Creative Leadership |
5 |
|
Integrated Design Management |
5 |
|
IDBM Industry Project (Design) |
5 |
|
Compulsory Technology Module |
10 |
|
Innovation Management |
5 |
|
IDBM Industry Project (Technology) |
5 |
|
Master's Thesis |
30 |
|
Master's Thesis |
30 |
Course code |
Name |
ECTS Credits |
Alternative Courses, Choose |
10 |
|
Business Modelling Design |
5 |
|
Interdisciplinary Product Development |
5 |
|
|
Any master level course from Department of Design |
5 |
Project Module |
2-10 |
|
Systemic Innovation and Design |
5 |
|
Elective Studies |
20 |
|
Students choose 20 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete minor studies and/or take individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University or other Finnish universities, participate in an international student exchange programme, do an internship in Finland or abroad. |