In the fast-paced, buzzword-buzzing world of business strategy, one course at the University of South Carolina (USC) is reexamining long-time problems with a modern-day twist. Welcome to MGMT 775: Strategic Analysis and Application of Innovation (SAAI).
This isn’t your average capstone class—it’s the grand finale of USC’s Strategic Innovation Certificate that was developed by Professor Laura B. Cardinal with Professor Kevin Diana and her SC Innovates® SmartState® Center at the Darla Moore School of Business. Designed to fuse business theory with real-world applications, this semester’s course took strategy to the next level through a powerful health-tech collaboration with another USC SmartState partner: Professor Shaun Owens, Associate Professor in the College of Social Work and Director for Strategy and Innovation for the SmartHOME® Center for Economic Excellence, led by Professor Sue Levkoff.
“One of the most appealing aspects of the course was having the opportunity to work with professionals from various industry sectors from banking to healthcare,” explained Professor Owens. “The diversity in thought and approach led to wildly creative solutions with each team tackling the same challenge from a different angle. I really appreciated the students’ thorough attention to the research that informed iDecide, their identification of competing products, and clear communication about how to advance my product in the healthcare marketplace. Going forward, we’ll be able to form a rich, complementary roadmap that could truly drive change.”
Facilitated by Professor Kevin Diana, the heart of SAAI is a team-based semester-long project centered on real-world technology. Over 10 weeks, three teams of students worked with Professor Owens and his prototype, iDecide – a virtual tool with an interactive avatar he created to help African American men make more informed, engaged choices about prostate cancer screening through education and role-playing exercises.
“I used to think innovation was just for techies and product people—but SAAI proved me wrong fast. As an HR manager in healthcare, I’ve applied what I’ve learned to rethink how we onboard, engage, and retain staff in one of the most demanding environments out there,” remarked student Nicole Adams. This course stretched my thinking in the best way, challenging me to spot not just the gaps in strategy, but the hidden opportunities to lead real change. If you care about people, process, and progress—and don’t mind being pushed (lovingly) out of your comfort zone—this is the class for you.”
SAAI culminated after a series of in-person and virtual Saturday sessions over the summer. “The way the students formed their teams contributed to unique and creative solutions across the teams. One team was composed of all women. Another was all men. And a third team was a mix,” observed Diana. “The teams collectively widened the lens to see iDecide as product not only for people with prostates but also for those who love them – their wives and partners in particular.” Research shows that this particular population (i.e., African American men) faces disproportionate risks and barriers in healthcare. This tool aims to close those gaps by not only making medical information more accessible to those that need it but also builds confidence when the time comes to navigate that potentially uncomfortable conversation with their clinician.
“This is applied learning at its best,” commented Diana. “Students in SAAI were acting as real-world consultants on the project. Their mission: to develop go-to-market strategies, explore adoption pathways, propose new upgrades and features for the prototype, and analyze the competitive landscape of decision-aid tools.”
“As an active-duty service member engaged in executive strategies and talent acquisition within the Army’s recruitment initiative, I found this SAAI to be both intellectually stimulating and professionally relevant. I was particularly struck by the diverse mix of professionals contributing to the dynamic learning environment, which highlighted the value of interdisciplinary collaboration,” explains student Natasha Abramson. “SAAI has significantly enhanced my creative thinking and provided meaningful insights into the evolving landscape of analytical innovation. The collaborative framework fostered throughout the course has proven invaluable, offering practical tools and strategic perspectives that I can apply directly within my organizational role.”
Ultimately, students experienced first-hand that business strategy is more than just theory and studies from old rulebooks—it’s action, empathy, reinvention, innovation of modern technology, and insight all combined to make a tremendously positive impact.