How to tell the difference between a plan and a strategy, and what makes a good strategic plan.

Try IDEO U’s commonly used design thinking, strategy, and systems design frameworks.

Learn about our course Activating Strategy, get tips on how to activate your strategy, and understand what it’s like to take a course with IDEO U.

Learn about common strategy myths, why human centricity is critical, and how to make your strategy more actionable.

How to go from charts and numbers to a story that will move your stakeholders

Learn how to use a systems map to visualize complex systems.

Strategy advisor Roger Martin shares common mistakes people make in the early stages of strategic planning and how to avoid them. 

Hybrid is harder, but it holds the potential for increased creativity and innovation. And it’s what most companies will look like as we come out of the Covid-19 pandemic and begin transitioning from fully remote to hybrid structures. Learn three things companies and individuals can do to thrive in a hybrid work environment, tactics for combating remote fatigue, and how to build team culture—not just camaraderie—in a virtual setting.

Systems design challenges are the focus of Melanie Bell-Mayeda’s work at IDEO. As a partner and managing director, she has worked in systems design for 20+ years. In this conversation, she shares her approach to mapping complex systems, how to identify the layers of a system in order to spot opportunities for change, and ways to manage bias in systems design.

Taking action on a business strategy is something many people struggle with. Jennifer Riel, IDEO’s global director of strategy, shares how to know when you’re ready to put your strategy into action, three design tasks required to do so, and examples and tips to help you get started.

Social entrepreneur, artist, and author Chris Wilson worked hard to go from a life sentence to a life of purpose. He shares lessons on resilience, his principles for success against the odds, and tips for crafting your own master plan.

Testing might sound like a very analytical activity, but it’s actually one of the most creative things you can do when developing a strategy for your business or organization. In this conversation, Jennifer Riel, IDEO’s Global Director of Strategy, breaks down ways to test your assumptions, build confidence, and weed out poor choices before rolling out a new strategy.