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2012/2013  BA-HA_E174  Innovation Management

English Title
Innovation Management

Course information

Language English
Exam ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course period Autumn, Spring, Third Quarter
Monday teaching: 11.40-14.15, week 5-12.
Thursday teaching: 11:40-14:15, week 5,12.

changes may occur.
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Anders Paarup Nielsen - Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy
Administrative contact: Karina Ravn Nielsen - electives.lpf@cbs.dk or tel.: 38153782
Main Category of the Course
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Management
Last updated on 26-10-2012
Learning objectives
During the course students are expected to develop the ability to critically analyze and discuss different theoretical models, approaches and concepts in connection with innovation management within established firms. Students should also know how to apply models, approaches and concepts when analyzing problems and challenges involved in managing the innovation process within established companies. Students should furthermore develop an ability to reflect on the theoretical and methodological challenges associated with a multi-disciplinary field such as innovation management.

Furthermore, the aim of the course is to enable the students to understand, analyze and improve innovation management processes and innovation management in established companies. The students should also be able to discuss and reflect on the theories, models and concepts from the course. This reflection should focus on two different issues. Firstly the students should be able to reflect on the applicability and practical value of the concepts, theories and models. Secondly, the students should also be able to identify and discuss the possible connections and synergies between the different theories, models, and concepts.

The high grade (12) in the exam will be characterized by fulfilment of the following criteria:
  • The student demonstrates a high level of command of the syllabus
  • The student Is able to apply theories, models, and concepts from the syllabus in a systematic and thorough manner when analyzing and discussing problems and cases within innovation management
  • The student is able to analyze a problem or case from the field of innovation management using multiple perspectives and theoretical contributions
  • The student is able to analyze a case or problem in a comprehensive manner by combining different theories, concepts and model from syllabus
  • The student is able to discuss and reflect on the applicability and practical value of innovation management theories, models, and concepts in a structured and comprehensive manner
Prerequisite
No specific requirements – however the students are required to have basic knowledge of organizational theory
Examination
4 hour open book exam
4 hour open book exam:
Type of test Written Exam
Marking scale 7-step scale
Second examiner No second examiner
Exam period Autumn Term and Spring Term
Aids Open Book, Written and Electronic Aid is permitted
Duration 4 Hours
Examination
The exam is a 4 hour written, open book exam. The exam is PC-based with no internet access. It is also possible to write in hand.

The re-take exam will take place using the exact same conditions as for the ordinary exam, unless the number of students for the re-take is such that it can be held as an oral exam. The exam would then be a 20 minute oral exam without preparation time. The different exam forms for the re-takes will be uploaded to the exam plan on e-campus.
Course content

During the course students will be introduced to a number of models and approaches to innovation management within established companies. The course will also focus on key challenges involved in managing innovation within established firms ( Intrapreneurship or Corporate Entrepreneurship). Throughout the course special emphasis will be given to two specific challenges in innovation management. First, the managerial challenges involved in applying the contingency perspective when practicing innovation management. The contingency perspective implies that there is no one best way to manage innovation as the optimal management approach will depend particular situation faced by the firm. Second, the managerial challenges of handling key dilemmas in innovation management, e.g., balancing the organizational processes of exploration and exploitation within the company.

The course will include topics such as:

o Managing the innovation process

o Different types of innovation and their implications for businesses

o Strategic management of innovation

o Business model innovation
o Technologies for innovation

o Innovation in a globalized and networked world
o Innovation for the "Bottom of the Pyramid" markets

o Innovation in Services

 

Each of these topics will shed light on different aspects of and challenges involved in managing innovation.

This course will complement the mandatory BSc courses by addressing two different issues.

Firstly, the course will focus on the concrete managerial tasks, processes, and challenges in connection with the management of innovation within the established firm – adopting a firm level perspective on the management of innovation.

Secondly, the course will in some situations seek to challenge and discuss the dominant rational and analytical management models being taught in many mandatory BSc courses. The management of innovation will in some situations require that the rational methods for analysis are supplemented by other means in order to deal with the high levels of uncertainty characterising the earliest phases in the life-cycle of an innovation.

Finally, the course will also incorporate discussions and reflections on the methodological challenges and problems involved in studying innovation management. During the course it will be attempted to encourage discussion of the foundations of innovation management as a scientific discipline which draw on and combine insights from many different scientific disciplines.

Teaching methods
The primary teaching method is based on lectures combined with and followed by guided classroom discussions, group and case discussions. Cases will be used throughout the course. Furthermore, the course will, if possible, include a few guest speakers with practical experiences in managing innovation.
Expected literature

The literature-base of the course will consist of a mix between selected chapters from books and textbooks on innovation management as well as scientific papers.
 

Examples of texts in the curriculum can be found the list below. The list does not represent the complete curriculum for the course:

 

Selected chapters from:

Christensen, C.M., Anthony, S.D. & Roth, E.A (2004). Seeing What’s Next – Using the Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change, Harvard Business School Press.

Dodgson, M., Gann, D. & Salter, A. (2005). Think, Play, Do; Technology, Innovation, and Organization, Oxford University Press.

Hargadon, A. (2003): How Breakthroughs Happen; The Surprising Truth About How Companies Innovate, Harvard Business School Press

Tidd, Joe, John Bessant and Keith Pavitt (2009): Managing innovation, integrating technological, market and organizational change, 4. ed. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Chichester

Van de Ven. A.H., Polley, D.E., Garud, R. & Venkataraman, S. (1999): The Innovation Journey, Oxford University Press

Examples of Scientific papers:

Christensen, C.M.; Kaufman, S.P. & Shih, W.C. (2008): Innovation Killers: How Financial Tools Destroy Your Capacity to Do New Things, Harvard Business Review, January 2008, pp. 98-105

Day, G.S. & Schoemaker P.J.H. (2008): Are You a “Vigilant Leader”, MIT Sloan Management Review, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 43-51

Kim, W.C. & Mauborgne, R. (2005); Blue Ocean Strategy: From Theory to Practice, California Management Review, Spring 2005, Vol. 47.No.3. pp 105-121.

Von Zedtwitz, M., Gassmann, O. & Boutellier, R. (2004); Organizing Global R&D: Challenges and Dilemmas, Journal of International Management, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp.: 21-49

Last updated on 26-10-2012