New Course on OpenSAP Platform Featuring Former Heavyweight Champion Dr. Wladimir Klitschko Combines Design Thinking and Challenge Management

WALLDORF, Germany, May 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced "Design Thinking and Challenge Management," a new course on the openSAP platform to introduce learners to two methodologies, which together foster innovation on an enterprise and personal level. This is the first step in a new collaboration between SAP and former world boxing champion Dr. Wladimir Klitschko and his company, Klitschko Ventures GmbH.

The SAP® Design Thinking methodology promotes out-of-the-box thinking and the development of new approaches in an agile, fast and structured way. SAP uses design thinking to build creative and innovative solutions for the highly complex, interconnected, global world we live in today. The collaboration combines design thinking with Challenge Management – a new method that deals with corporate and personal challenges by making proactive, permanent changes to one's behavior. The method was developed by Dr. Klitschko and his team based on the success of his professional boxing career. The combination of these methodologies strengthens a culture of sustainable innovation.

"Innovation can deliver exponential value and transformative change. Encouraging and enabling innovation is what separates exceptional and sustainable brands from average companies," said Juergen Mueller, chief technology officer and member of the Executive Board of SAP SE. "The keys to creating a culture of innovation within an organization are people and their curiosity. Empowering professionals to apply their skill sets and knowledge while offering life-long learning to foster curiosity will help advance personal and professional goals."

To achieve success, companies must not only innovate continuously, they must also identify causes for failure to avoid repeating mistakes. By employing design thinking together with Challenge Management, companies can define the winning formula both for business and personal achievements.

"When it comes to business, globalization and digitalization have significantly increased the pressure on companies and individuals to produce innovative results quickly," Dr. Klitschko said. "With the combination of the SAP Design Thinking methodology and Challenge Management, I am convinced we can give professionals the tools necessary to embrace internal and external change and face their challenges in a way that's positive and goal-oriented."

The course introduces the methodologies and discusses the opportunities that are created when they are united in five topics:

• Changing Paradigms of Success in the Digital Era: Innovation culture with a human-centric approach is discussed.
• Design Thinking – De-Facto Standard to Drive Innovation: Learners are introduced to the SAP Design Thinking approach and how its processes can help them meet business goals. 
• The Challenge Management Philosophy and Capabilities for the "New" Change: Participants learn how to face hyperspeed change in today's digital world.
• Challenge Management: Learners receive an introduction by Dr. Wladimir Klitschko on how to deal with their individual challenges.
• Design Thinking and Challenge Management: Dream Team to Succeed: Learners gain insight into how the meaningful combination of design thinking and Challenge Management can foster an innovation culture within enterprises that has a strong human-centric approach.

Dr. Klitschko's boxing career spanned more than 27 years. His international career started in 1996 when he won the Olympic Gold medal in the super-heavyweight division. Between 1996 and 2017 he won 64 of 69 fights as a professional boxer. He held the world heavyweight championship twice, including titles from the International Boxing Federation (IBF), the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the International Boxing Organization (IBO). He also held the Super Champion title from the World Boxing Association (WBA).

To find out more, sign up for the free course Design Thinking and Challenge Management on the openSAP platform.

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