Entrepreneurship and innovation play a vital role in a country's economic development and growth. Several countries (e.g. Japan, Singapore and Israel) and cities (e.g. Dubai) have experienced dramatic growth as a result of their sustained efforts to promote entrepreneurship and innovation via value-creating industries, products, services and jobs. However, increased innovation performance of a country or a region does not happen in a vacuum. Multilateral organisations (such as the European Union and the World Bank) and governments from around the world have been increasingly exploring ways of increasing entrepreneurship and innovation levels through policy measures and programmes. The module will examine the fiscal and non-fiscal policy measures employed by countries and regions to stimulate innovation such as tax incentives, regulation, financial incentives for investments in start-ups and R&D, and programs such as innovation vouchers, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program in the United States and the SMEs Financial Instrument in the European Union. Particular emphasis will be placed on the important role of the traditional players of the innovation system such as firms and universities but the module will also introduce students to the state of the art developments in the field such as the application of new technologies in the public sector. Public or private organisations with a strong, consistent and successful focus on managing innovation outperform their competitors in terms of growth and performance. Innovation management requires special knowledge and skills, which are different to standard strategic management theories and practices. This module therefore will also introduce students to the main concepts and management tools for innovation activities within firms and public organisations. Students will develop a deep understanding of the role and relevance of innovation within all kinds of organisations and will be asked to identify critical issues, skills and knowledge needed to implement innovation activities or projects. Students will learn about wider framework conditions that have a bearing on business innovation, including availability of entrepreneurial finance, public policies and agencies promoting innovation. Issues related to sustainable development and business ethics, particularly in the areas of innovation and technological change will be examined. The module covers innovation and entrepreneurship policy in both advanced and emerging economies. Therefore, case studies, videos and examples will be drawn from innovative organisations and nations in different parts of the world.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and contributions to innovation of a range of different actors of the national and regional innovation ecosystem and how policy responses are developed and structured
2. Critically appraise the concept of decision-making process and the techniques with respect to promoting innovation performance of a country or a region and selecting or designing policy interventions in support of innovation
3. Understand the role of government in supporting innovation and economic growth and critically assess and evaluate the challenges faced by policy makers in different environments
4. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of an organisations's innovation strategy, issues and problems surrounding innovation management and critically evaluate skills and knowledge needed for successful innovation activities and practices in organisations
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.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 66 | |
| Guided independent study | 234 | |
| Study abroad / placement | ||
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Formative assessments will be achieved through in-class critical analysis of various case studies on innovation policies and strategies and challenges faced by both governments and firms in promoting innovation.
Individual Coursework, (50%): Students will be asked to identify the best suitable policy measure or program in support of innovation for a country or a region of their choice. The students will first need to diagnose the need and justify the design of a policy intervention using existing performance indicators of the country or region in question, describe the design of the public intervention and identify potential challenges of implementation. Report length: approximately 2,500 words.
Individual Portfolio, (50%): Students will be given a series of tasks to complete at intervals throughout the module including individual reflective written pieces, in class quizzes, on line discussions, data analysis exercises, exercises using diagnostic tools, presentations etc. Feedback will be provided in stages throughout the module.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and contributions to innovation of a range of different actors of the national and regional innovation ecosystem and how policy responses are developed and structured | Formative Summative: coursework, portfolio |
| Critically appraise the concept of decision-making processand the techniques with respect to promoting innovation performance of a country or a region and selecting or designing policy interventions in support of innovation | Formative Summative: coursework, portfolio |
| Understand the role of government in supporting innovation and economic growth and critically assess and evaluate the challenges faced by policy makers in different environments | Formative Summative: coursework, portfolio |
| Demonstrate a detailed understanding of an organisations's innovation strategy, issues and problems surrounding innovation management and critically evaluate skills and knowledge needed for successful innovation activities and practices in organisations | Formative Summative: coursework, portfolio |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Individual report | Coursework | 50 |
| Individual Portfolio | Portfolio | 50 |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
Vonortas, N.S. and Aridi, A., 2012. Innovation policy handbook. Center for International Science and Technology Policy, George Washington University, 2.
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): https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780470093276
Porter, M.E., 1998. Clusters and the new economics of competition (Vol. 76, No. 6, pp. 77-90). Boston: Harvard Business Review.
Lundvall, B.Å. and Borrás, S., 2005. Science, technology, and innovation policy. In Oxford handbook of innovation (pp. 599-631). Oxford University Press.
Edquist, C., Vonortas, N.S., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M. and Edler, J. eds., 2015. Public procurement for innovation. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Lundvall, B.Å., Joseph, K.J., Chaminade, C. and Vang, J. eds., 2011. Handbook of innovation systems and developing countries: building domestic capabilities in a global setting. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Etzkowitz, H. and Ranga, M., 2015. Triple Helix systems: an analytical framework for innovation policy and practice in the Knowledge Society. In Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Exchange (pp. 117-158). Routledge. Smith, D. (2010) Exploring innovation. Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill.
Drucker, P.R. (2002) The Discipline of Innovation, Harvard Business Review, 80(8), 95-103
Edquist, C., Hommen, L. and Tsipouri, L., 2000. Introduction. In Public Technology Procurement and Innovation (pp. 1-4). Springer, Boston, MA.