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Innovation Management

  • Module code: BS4203
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 4
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

Organisations with a strong, consistent and successful focus on managing innovation outperform their competitors in terms of growth and financial performance. Innovation management requires special knowledge and skills, which are different to standard strategic management theories and practices. This module introduces you to the main concepts and management tools for innovation activities within organisations - from small to large. The module develops a deep understanding of the role and relevance of innovation within all kinds of organisations and you are asked to identify critical issues, skills and knowledge needed to implement innovation activities or projects.
The module will use a combination of learning and teaching strategies, such as case studies and practical examples of latest examples of innovations. Within this module you are required to carry out a practical innovation audit within an established organisation, actively engaged in innovation.

Aims

  • To develop an understanding of the role and relevance of innovation activities in an organisational context.
  • To develop students' awareness of the critical skills, knowledge and experience needed to successfully participate in and implement innovation.
  • To develop knowledge of the challenges involved in innovation management and appreciation of strategies which can address such challenges.
  • To enable students to reflect productively on their individual and team capabilities capacities to act as innovation managers in identifying and exploiting opportunities, developing entrepreneurial / intrapreneurial management behaviours and skills whilst coping with uncertainty, risks and complexity.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the issues and problems surrounding innovation management
  • Critically evaluate skills and knowledge needed for successful innovation activities and practices in organisations.
  • Analyse, integrate and adapt innovation management learning into an organisational context.
  • Operate in fast changing environments and cope with uncertainty and complexity.

Curriculum content

  • Definitions and types of innovation including an appreciation of the role of entrepreneurship / intrapreneurship and creativity for innovation within organisations
  • Innovation and its role in economic renewal of firm and nation
  • The innovation management process - managing product / service innovation as well as business model innovation
  • The entrepreneurial task and process: opportunity recognition; networking; decision-making; resource-leveraging, maintaining entrepreneurial capability during firm growth
  • Identification and differentiation of entrepreneurial / intrapreneurial management behaviour and skills from administrative management ones in order to understand successful implementation of innovation activities in organisations
  • Value creation for all stakeholders through innovation processes

Teaching and learning strategy

The teaching is based on lectures, interactive workshops, case-studies, and online course materials, which focus on particular aspects of the areas identified above in the curriculum. Specific workshop exercises form part of the assessment. Case studies, short presentations, action learning and role-plays will be used to stimulate debate, to gain understanding of key issues, and to encourage the development of innovation management behaviours and skills.

The learning and teaching strategy of the module is closely aligned with the assessments. Students learn how to identify good practice in innovation management through class exercises and case study analyses. Videos of pitches from previous students and also professional presentations are also part of the learning and teaching strategy.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Class lectures, guest speakers and also seminars where students will have the opportunity for greater interactions and participation via in-depth discussion 66
Guided independent study Independent study will include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks and revision. Independent study will be guided through Canvas 234
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Formative

Every session will provide ample opportunities for practice and formative feedback. The students will analyse case studies, film clips and innovation management issues within organisations, both individually and in groups, and will receive feedback from both their peers and the academic delivering the session.

Summative

The summative assessment consists of two elements:

Individual report, worth 80% of the module mark. Each student is required to produce an individual report to review, analyse and evaluate an innovation within an industry / organisation of their choice. Report length: approximately 3,000 words.

Individual presentation, worth 20% of the module mark: Students are required to make a verbal presentation of their findings in the written report.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1) Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the issues and problems surrounding innovation management Formative (see above) Summative: Individual report
2) Critically evaluate skills and knowledge needed for successful innovation activities and practices in organisations Formative (see above) Summative: Presentation
3) Analyse, integrate and adapt innovation management learning into an organisational context Formative (see above) Summative: Individual report
4) Operate in fast changing environments and cope with uncertainty and complexity Formative (see above) Summative: Individual report; Presentation

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Individual report Coursework 80%
Individual presentation Practical examination 20%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Tidd, J. and Bessant, J. (2013) Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 5th Edition

Available online (Shibboleth login with KU username and password required)

Bibliography recommended reading

Trott. P. (2017) Innovation Management and New Product Development, Pearson, Harlow. 6th Edition

Smith, D. (2010) Exploring innovation. Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill.

Drucker, P.R. (2002) The Discipline of Innovation, Harvard Business Review, 80(8), 95-103

Stevenson, H. H. and Gumpert, D. E. (1985)The Heart of Entrepreneurship, Harvard Business Review, 63, 85 - 94

Stevenson, H. H. and Jarillo, J. C. (1990) A Paradigm of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurial Management, Strategic Management Journal: Special Edition Corporate Entrepreneurship, Vol. 11, p. 17-27

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