Learn how to apply “lean startup” principles to
tackling global challenges
At a time of significant global uncertainty, diplomats are grappling with transnational and cross-cutting challenges that defy easy solution including: the continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction by states and non-state groups, the outbreak of internal conflict across the Middle East and in parts of Africa, the most significant flow of refugees since World War II, and a changing climate that is beginning to have impacts on both developed and developing countries.
While the traditional tools of statecraft remain relevant, policymakers are looking to harness the power of new technologies to rethink how the U.S. government approaches and responds to these and other long-standing challenges. In this class, student teams will take actual foreign policy challenges and learn how to apply “lean startup” principles, ("mission model canvas," "customer development," and "agile engineering”) to discover and validate agency and user needs and to continually build iterative prototypes to test whether they understood the problem and solution.
Teams take a hands-on approach requiring close engagement with officials in the U.S. State Department and other civilian agencies. Team applications required at the end of shopping period. Limited enrollment.
While the traditional tools of statecraft remain relevant, policymakers are looking to harness the power of new technologies to rethink how the U.S. government approaches and responds to these and other long-standing challenges. In this class, student teams will take actual foreign policy challenges and learn how to apply “lean startup” principles, ("mission model canvas," "customer development," and "agile engineering”) to discover and validate agency and user needs and to continually build iterative prototypes to test whether they understood the problem and solution.
Teams take a hands-on approach requiring close engagement with officials in the U.S. State Department and other civilian agencies. Team applications required at the end of shopping period. Limited enrollment.
- If you are looking to create/join a team, sign up on this Google Doc and attend info sessions (see "Key Dates" below).
- To receive updates, please join this Facebook group or sign up to join our Email List
- Interested in providing technical advice to a team? Email Joe Felter ([email protected])
- Problems updated 8/12/2016
Key DatesInformational Webinar @
5:30pm Tuesday, 8/16/16. RSVP to attend Informational Webinar @ 5:30pm Wednesday, 9/14/16. Link TBD Info Session @ 6:30pm Tuesday, 9/27/16. Location TBD First Class @ 4:30pm Thursday, 9/29/16. Classroom 111, Y2E2 Applications Due @ 3:00pm Saturday 10/1/16. Team Interviews & Decisions @ Sunday 10/2/16. Time & Location of Interviews TBD. Pre-Course Instructor Office HoursWe will be holding pre-course office hours to provide an opportunity for a detailed Q&A with the teaching team.
Office Hours will be held on Friday 9/30/16. A sign-up sheet detailing the times and locations of office hours will be made available shortly. Click here for more information on applications. Deadline for applications - 3:00pm Saturday 10/1/16. |
GeneralCourse Title: IPS 232/MS&E 298 Hacking for Diplomacy: Solving International Policy problems with the Lean Launchpad
Instructors: Steve Blank, Jeremy Weinstein, Zvika Krieger, Joe Felter, Steve Weinstein TAs: Jared Dunnmon, Sam Gussman, Shazad Mohamed Class details:
Application: Admission is by teams of four Stanford students from any school or department. Course : |