English   Danish

2010/2011  KAN-CMIT_VISS  Innovation for sustainability – Solving real-world problems in the Øresund Region

English Title
Innovation for sustainability – Solving real-world problems in the Øresund Region

Course Information

Language English
Point 15 ECTS (450 SAT)
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Course Period Autumn . First Quarter
Week 35: Friday 08.00 - 09.40 week:36-42 Friday 08.00 - 11.30
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Max. participants 50
Study Board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems
Course Coordinator
Helle Zinner Henriksen
Main Category of the Course
  • Marketing
  • Information Systems
  • Corporate and Business Strategy
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship

Taught under Open University-Taught under open university.
Last updated on 29 maj 2012
Learning Objectives
The course’s development of personal competences:
This course aims to provide students with an opportunity to gain insights based on models, concepts and theories as well as practical hands-on experience with real-world ‘innovation for sustainability’ projects formulated by municipalities in the Øresund Region. In addition, the course emphasizes the role of information technology (IT) as a component of solutions to environmental challenges. Furthermore, IT will also be used as a pedagogical tool to enhance learning and communication, as well as to facilitate stakeholder involvement.
Objectives:
At the end of the course the student should be able to manage competently the following objectives:
• To demonstrate an understanding of how and when to apply relevant models, concepts and theories from the curriculum to ‘innovation for sustainability‘ projects.
• To identify and analyze the relationships between these models, concepts and theories for sustainability issues.
• To assess critically the value of these models, concepts and theories for developing valuable solutions to sustainability challenges.
Type of examination, exam aids, and assessment:
Individual oral exam based on group projects (groups of 5 students) that requires students to reflect deeply on the theoretical aspects underpinning the solution that they have produced to a specific ‘innovation for sustainability’ problem and also the process of interfacing with stakeholders.
Prerequisite
Completion of undergraduate studies and a strong interest in innovation and sustainability as well as cross-curricular project work to be outlined in a letter of application because of the limitation of class size to 50 students from the participating Øresund Region universities, leaving only 15 seats for CBS students. Since this course involves additional coaching and intensive group work, students should be highly motivated for participation and should be prepared for an additional workload commensurate with 15 ECTS credits.
Examination
Individual oral examination based on group project
Exam Period Autumn Term
Examination
Individual oral exam based on group projects (groups of 5 students) that requires students to reflect deeply on the theoretical aspects underpinning the solution that they have produced to a specific ‘innovation for sustainability’ problem and also the process of interfacing with stakeholders.
Course Content

An increasing number of municipalities in the Øresund Region are focusing their attention on sharing knowledge and best practices in order to address the challenges posed by climate change. However, universities are often failing to teach leadership and cross-curricular problem solving in a manner that provides students with the insights and skill sets necessary to meet these challenges effectively. The goal of this course is to adapt a highly successful internship teaching model developed by 370-degrees (www.370-degrees.com), previously tested with success over a period of three years in the Netherlands through the Rijkswaterstaat Xperiment, into a masters level university course on practical innovation. The “Innovation for Sustainability - Øresund” is a cross-curricular practice-based learning course in which 50 students from the Øresund Region will work in multidisciplinary teams on climate and energy challenges faced by cities and municipalities in the Øresund Region. In addition to lectures there will be mentoring/coaching sessions aimed at creating valuable solutions to the identified challenges and at ensuring optimal functioning of the cross-curricular groups.

Teaching Methods
In addition to the academic evaluation, each group of students will be required to present its completed project results to the Øresund Region municipalities and other stakeholders as a central element of the course. The projects should be of a calibre suitable for further consideration and ideally direct implementation in the Øresund Region.
Literature

The literature covers three key subject areas – innovation, project management/team collaboration and consumer citizen involvement.

Rau, A., Toker, R. and Howard, J. (2010), “Can technology really save us from climate change?” Harvard Business Review, January/February, pp. 21-23.

Nidumolu, R., Prahalad, C.K. and Rangaswami, M.R. (2009), “Why sustainability is now the key driver of innovation,” Harvard Business Review, Vol. 87, No. 9, pp. 57-64.

Johnson, M. W. and Suskewicz, J. (2009), “How to jump start the cleantech economy,” Harvard Business Review, November, pp. 52-60.

Bonabeau, E., Bodick, N. and Armstrong, R.W. (2008), “A more rational approach to new-product development,” Harvard Business Review, Vol. 86, No. 3, pp. 96-102.

Fűller, Johann (2010), “Refining virtual co-creation from a consumer perspective,” California Management Review, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 98-122.

Henke, Jr., J.W. and Zhang, C. (2009), “Increasing supplier-driven innovation,” MIT Sloan Management Review, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 41-46.

Simanis, E. and Hart, S. (2009), “Innovation from the inside out,” MIT Sloan Management Review, Summer, pp. 77-86.

Ambec, S. and Lanoie, P. (2008), “Does it pay to be green? A systematic overview,”Academy of Management Perspectives, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 45-62.

Bengtsson, F. and Agerfalk, P.J. (2011), “Information technology as a change actant in sustainability innovation: Insights from Uppsala,” The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, In Press (corrected proof available online).

Caroll, A. (1999), “Corporate social responsibility: Evolution of a definitional construct,” Business Society, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 268-295.

Chen, A., Boudreau, M. and Watson, R. (2008), “Information systems and ecological sustainability," Journal of Systems and Information Technology, Vol. 10, pp. 186-201.

Hart, S.L. (1997). “Beyond greening: Strategies for a sustainable world,” Harvard Business Review, January/February, pp. 66-76.

Marshall, R.S. and Brown, D. (2003), "The strategy of sustainability: A systems perspective on environmental initiatives." California Management Review, Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 101-126.

Melville, N. (2010), “Information systems innovation for environmental sustainability,”Management Information Systems Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 1-2.

Ozaki, R. (2011), “Adopting sustainable innovation: What makes consumers sign up to green electricity? Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol. 20, pp.1–17.

Parker, B., Segev, S. and Pinto, J. (2010), “What it means to go green: Consumer perceptions of green brands and dimensions and "greenness," American Academy ofAdvertising Conference Proceedings, pp. 99-111.

Bagozzi, R.P. and Lee, K.H. (1999), “Consumer resistance to, and acceptance of, innovations,” Advances in Consumer Research, Vol. 26, pp. 218-225.

Braungart, M., McDonough, W. and Bollinger, A. (2007). “Cradle-to-cradle design: Creating healthy emissions – a strategy for eco-effective product and system design,” Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol.15, pp.1337-1348.

Denegri-Knott, J. (2006), “Consumers behaving badly: Deviation or innovation?” Journal ofConsumer Behaviour, Vol. 5, pp.82-94.

Janssen, K.L. and Dankbaar, B. (2008), “Proactive involvement of consumers in innovation,” International Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 511–541.

Jansson, J., Marell, A. and Nordlund, A. (2010), “Green consumer behavior: Determinants of curtailment and eco-innovation adoption,” Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 358–370.

Varey, R. J. (2010), “Marketing means and ends for a sustainable society: A welfare agenda for transformative change,” Journal of Macromarketing, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 112-126.