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363-1056-00L 6 Credits MSC , NDS D-MTEC , D-ARCH

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Innovation Leadership

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Claude Patrick Siegenthaler, Prof. Dr. Daniella Laureiro Martinez, Dr. Zorica Zagorac-Uremovic

Up to four slots are available for students in architecture or civil engineering (Master level) or for D-MTEC MAS/MSc students with architecture or civil engineering background. If you are NOT a student in Integrated Building Systems, you need to apply with motivation letter (max. 1 page), CV and a transcript of records no later than 31 January 2020. Please send your application to Zorica Zagorac ( ).

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Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:42:29

Abstract

This course provides participants with the challenging opportunity of working on an innovation project of a leading company in the Swiss building industry.

Objective

Students work in teams, on a concrete innovation project that is currently affecting the strategic agenda of the top management team of a leading company in the Swiss building industry. Students conduct interviews with internal and external experts, as well as company clients. By doing so, students gain first-hand experience on the competitive dynamics of the construction industry and as a group, work on proposing a solution to the company’s innovation project. The course emphasizes the use and development of self-directedness and critical thinking abilities. In parallel to working on the innovation project, students work on their own learning goals. Students first define their very own learning goals and then are assessed and graded on whether they have progressed towards achieving such learning goals. Students learn to: • Reflect and explore personal learning goals and discover new aspects of their leadership abilities • Learn to work in an unknown direction with no certain outcome • Explore how a project with internal and external stakeholders works when people have conflicting interests, that might also vary according to the different time perspectives that are taken into account • Use design thinking and solution-oriented coaching techniques

Content

The course uses participant-centered tools that encourage students' reflection and boost their personal development, their creative output and help them to discover their own approach to leadership. The course offers multiple opportunities to learn about technical aspects in a real corporate environment. The setup is a social environment in which trial-and-error learning is encouraged. The course focuses on three areas of development: Project management, innovation and leadership. Project Management: Students learn to self-manage their project while being supported by numerous project management techniques, coaching exercises, and individual feedback through learning diaries. An additional focus is given to design thinking methods and prototyping tools. Innovation: Students learn about specific topics related to current innovation in the building sector in Switzerland. They learn to understand technology changes with an ecosystems view and think about the impact of new technologies in the building industry company (e.g. the commercialization of Building Information Modelling, BIM). Leadership: Students conduct a project with diverse stakeholders requiring them to take managerial, technical, and personal responsibility for the company case. This high-pressure environment leads to an intense self-reflection journey, team experience and fosters proactive behaviors towards the client. - On the individual level, students have to identify and achieve their very own authentic learning goals. Coaching tools involve a learning diary, which questions evolve during the semester, and a self-assessment of individual abilities and traits, which complements the reflective journey. - On the team level, students are teamed up to deliver a solution proposal to the company’s project. The teams are diverse and the students’ work focuses on cooperativeness and how to be effective team members. Teaching tools involve peer-to-peer feedback, coaching and open space workshops. - On the company level, students learn how to deal with different stakeholders and how to create impactful and sustainable solutions for their client.

General Information

Language: English
Levels: MSC , NDS
Frequency: Yearly recurring

Examination

Type: graded semester performance

Evaluation of student performance is based on two kinds of deliverables: a 50% weight is put on the team assignment consisting of written reports and presentations. An individual score is given for the completion of a prestructured learning diary, the pursuit of self-defined learning objectives and an active participation in class (50% weight). As the course follows an action learning approach the attendance of every student is required throughout the course, i.e. attending class is a must. Absence without permission can not be accepted.

Course Components