Cornell's distance-learning subsidiary eCornell will launch a new online certificate program in systems design called "A Systems Approach to Product and Service Design."

Nearly every product or service today -- from a car to a computer program to a hotel -- is a "system" made up of many parts, often designed, built or operated by different people or even different organizations. The job of a system designer is to ensure that all the parts work together smoothly.

The new course was developed by Peter Jackson, Cornell professor of operations research and information engineering and director of the Systems Engineering Program in the College of Engineering, based on his years of teaching the concepts to freshmen, graduate students and industry professionals and on his book "Getting Design Right." Jackson's approach combines systems engineering with the best of the popular "Six Sigma" management technique, and focuses on the end users and what the product or service will do for them.

"A manager completing this course will have an integrated overview of the whole design process [and] will clearly see what is missing from his/her current approach," Jackson said. "[The program] explains how you chunk a design into pieces so that you can hand off the pieces to separate teams to design and build, and what you must do to be confident it will work when you put it all together."

No special expertise in math or engineering is needed. The program is recommended for engineers, project managers, marketing and product line managers, design managers and others who come into contact with system design processes, including hands-on executives. It includes case studies with "what went wrong" examples and a demonstration project.

The course is delivered by eCornell using its instructor-led Structured Flexibility model that combines a well-defined course schedule, the flexibility of online learning and access to subject-matter expert instructors. Students who successfully complete all six two-week courses in the series earn a certificate from the Systems Engineering Program in the College of Engineering.

eCornell is a Registered Education Provider with the Project Management Institute (PMI). Each of the six courses in the new online series has been approved by PMI for six professional development units toward the Project Management Professional credential.

Registrations are being accepted for the program; courses will be available starting in early September with certificate completion possible by as early as December 2009. The courses and certificate are available to individuals and as part of an eCornell corporate training solution. Cornell alumni qualify for a 25 percent discount off regular retail prices. For more information visit http://www.ecornell.com/certificate-programs/?crt=cesc1.