Columbia Business School

Think Bigger: Start Choosing Innovative Solutions

Columbia Business School

Strategy & Innovation

About Programme

Innovation fuels business growth. But innovation alone isn’t enough—companies must be able to identify the right problems, break them down effectively, and make smarter strategic decisions to stay competitive. Many organizations have access to countless tools, frameworks, and experts, yet they continue to struggle with turning ideas into practical, high-impact solutions.

Eighty-eight percent of Fortune 500 companies from five decades ago no longer exist. Despite investing in innovation, many businesses fail—not because they lack ideas, but because they lack a structured approach to solving complex challenges. Traditional brainstorming and surface-level problem-solving methods often reinforce biases rather than lead to meaningful breakthroughs.

“Think Bigger” equips executives and teams with a proven, research-backed methodology designed to tackle today’s most pressing business challenges. Participants will develop the skills to reframe problems, analyze strategic choices, and create solutions that drive measurable impact. They will also gain access to a powerful AI-enhanced tool that helps structure decision-making, compare strategies across industries, and refine innovative solutions. This immersive experience goes beyond generating ideas—it provides a structured framework for making better decisions and solving real-world problems with confidence.

Think Bigger: Start Choosing Innovative Solutions program introduces a unique method for innovation based on recent neuro- and cognitive science. Its six-step methodology helps users avoid the common trap of solving the wrong problem—a mistake 72% of companies often make. This program empowers you to create impactful and novel solutions.

Sheena Iyengar

Programme Content

This is a highly immersive corporate innovation program in which participants learn by doing through exercises and applying the “Think Bigger” method to a real-world business challenge they face in their organizations. With active coaching support from “Think Bigger” experts, participants internalize and apply a structured problem-solving approach, ensuring they can confidently tackle complex challenges.

"Think Bigger" Method and The Creative Brain: Discover the science and practice of generating big ideas when and where you need them most
Problem Framing, Breakdown, and Scoring: Learn the first three steps of the "Think Bigger" method – defining the problem and its key elements and assessing your framing and breakdown
Search for Inspiration: Explore the fourth step of the "Think Bigger" method – how to look in other boxes to inspire outside-the-box, big-idea solutions that will work
Building Your Choice Map: Dive into the fifth step of the "Think Bigger" method – how to create multiple, big-idea solutions to your problem
The Third Eye: Get the final step of the "Think Bigger" method – how to present big-idea solutions for constructive feedback and to set the stage for leadership’s buy-in
Building Your Impact Game Plan: Explore what happens after "Think Bigger," including how to ensure your big-idea solutions gain traction with corporate leadership
Presenting Your Big-Idea Solution(s) and Game Plan: Practice gaining and giving feedback on big-idea solutions and impact game plans
Choice Mapper: Learn how to use this cutting-edge problem-solving AI-powered tool to structure decision-making, analyze solutions across industries, and refine strategic choices

Programme Audience

Emerging Leaders and High-Potential Executives: Individuals identified within their organization as future C-suite leaders due to their potential, performance, and capability to drive transformative change. This includes but is not limited to:

Vice Presidents of Strategy
Directors of Business Development
Senior Managers with a clear trajectory towards executive leadership roles

Functional Leaders Across Domains: Executives leading critical functional areas who are key to embedding innovation within the fabric of the organization. Their roles influence operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and market competitiveness, including:

Chief Marketing Officers (CMO)
Heads of Product Development
Directors of Customer Experience
Senior HR leaders focusing on organizational development
Sales Directors driving innovative sales strategies
Heads of Manufacturing implementing cutting-edge production techniques
Chief Innovation Officers (CIOs) or equivalent roles specifically tasked with spearheading corporate innovation strategies and initiatives
Product Developers
Engineers

Senior-Level Executives Seeking to Enhance Innovation Skills: Upper to senior-level executives who recognize the imperative of leading innovation not just within their teams or departments but as a strategic necessity across the organization. This group is keen on sharpening their skills to better navigate and lead in an ever-evolving business landscape, including:

General Managers
Regional Directors with multi-country oversight
Heads of Operations looking to innovate logistical and operational processes
Financial Directors aiming to incorporate innovative financial models and strategies
IT Directors exploring emerging technologies for business transformation

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Prashansa Uttam

Programme Advisor

+91 9403890085[email protected]Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm IST

Columbia Business School

Executive Education Office

Cristina Ordonez
+1 212-853-4823
https://academics.gsb.columbia.edu
New York, USA

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Think Bigger: Start Choosing Innovative Solutions | Columbia CBS