KFAS Participants

KFAS Innovation Challenge

Disruptive innovations in business are not random acts of nature — there is a pattern to the phenomena. From the radical innovations that shake up entire industries to the many small innovations that perfect the execution of already successful organizations, innovation can be treated as a process, one that can be managed and turned into a driver of profits and growth.

The KFAS Innovation Challenge is a new executive education programme from one of the world’s top business schools — Wharton. This programme demystifies the complex process of innovation. It shows you how to solve your existing business challenges by taking you inside the structured process of innovation. Learn how to transform ideas into impact, while leading others to creativity.

Who Should Attend

The KFAS Innovation Challenge is open to all Kuwaiti private sector companies. Young talents and promising leaders who are Kuwaiti nationals with at least five years of professional experience in the Kuwaiti private sector. Executive teams of three to five employees are encouraged to apply for the programme. Excellent team dynamics are essential for successful participation in the programme.

To apply for this programme, please ensure that you complete the following steps and adhere to the requirements listed below:

  • Confirm that you are employed by a private Kuwaiti shareholding company
  • Provide an updated C.V. reflecting current role and responsibilities
  • Sign the Terms & Conditions document

Programme Objectives

The KFAS Innovation Challenge will bring the combined resources of the Wharton School’s Mack Institute of Innovation Management and the Penn Center for Innovation to the programme. Leveraging these outside resources brings a considerable cross-disciplinary approach to the programme that combines research and industry insight and enables participants to explore the themes of managing innovation and changing ideas into innovation. Participants will work in teams on selected innovation projects and at the end of the programme, each of the teams will come up with an innovative project to present to their companies. Teams will be coached by Wharton-trained executive coaches and faculty.

By attending this programme, participants will learn that innovation is a process that can be managed and perfected, just as corporations manage their processes for customer service or employee recruitment. Highlights of the programme include executive coaching and visits to Silicon Valley companies in the United States.

Innovation Projects

Participants will work in teams on self-generated innovation projects, resulting in initiatives that can directly impact their company. Projects steps include ideation and concept formulation; innovation planning and execution; product and service prototyping; testing and validation; and measuring impact.

KFAS Innovation Projects

Team Coaching

Teams will be coached by Wharton-faculty and trained executive coaches. Through highly personalized in-person, virtual, and assessments-based coaching, the coaches will ensure each team stays focused on delivering their innovation project objectives. Teams will be coached by Wharton-faculty and trained executive coaches. It will consist of four in-person coaching sessions and three online sessions.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITHKuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences

UPCOMING MODULES

TBD

To secure your place in the programme, please contact:

Enterprise Learning & Human Development
Innovation & Enterprise Directorate
KUWAIT FOUNDATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

+965 22278185 or
+965 22278100 Ext. 1879/1881

KFAS Innovation Challenge Brochure

Programme Timeline

KFAS Timeline

Faculty


Christian Terwiesch

Christian Terwiesch, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Andrew M. Heller Professor; Department Chairperson and Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Co-Director, Mack Institute of Innovation Management, The Wharton School; Professor of Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests: Analyzing operational performance, innovation management, R&D management


Karl Ulrich

Karl Ulrich, ScDSee Faculty Bio

CIBC Endowed Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Management; Dean’s Office Advisor on Asia Strategy, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Environmental issues, product design and development, innovation


Nicolaj Siggelkow

Nicolaj Siggelkow, PhDSee Faculty Bio

David M. Knott Professor; Professor of Management; Co-Director, Mack Institute for Innovation Management, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Competitive strategy, firms as systems of interconnected choices


David Wessels

David Wessels, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Adjunct Professor of Finance, The Wharton School


Amrita Subramanian

Amrita V. Subramanian, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Faculty, Organizational Dynamics, University of Pennsylvania

Application Deadlines & Selection Process

All applicants will undergo a blind review process by a selection committee. Applicants will be assessed based on experience (minimum five years of experience), area of expertise, and comparative merit. Any late or incomplete submissions will be automatically rejected.

Application Deadline: November 7, 2019

All applicants will be notified of their application status two weeks after the application deadline. The programme orientation will be December 16, 2019.