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2025/2026  BA-BHAAV5009U  Strategic Management of Innovation and Technology

English Title
Strategic Management of Innovation and Technology

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board of General Management
Course coordinator
  • Markus Simeth - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
Administrative contact information: student-hub.
Main academic disciplines
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Strategy
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 30-01-2025

Relevant links
Learning objectives
The course has multiple learning objectives. The highest grade 12 is given to students if they comply with the following learning outcomes:
  • Understand fundamental concepts of innovation, and the role of innovating as a firm strategy to generate sustained competitive advantage
  • Ability to identify the optimal sources of innovative ideas for companies, and to compare alternative sourcing modes, such as when leveraging internal channels (R&D) and external channels (open innovation, strategic alliances and M&A)
  • Knowledge to evaluate the trade-offs when it comes to organizing for innovation (structural organization, geographic considerations, and teams of inventors)
  • Understanding of the options that firms can use to secure financial resources for their innovation activities (e.g., Venture Capital), and appreciate how financial markets can impact firm innovation beyond the provision of capital
  • Appreciate the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) for firm innovation, and the transformative impact of digital platforms
  • Familiarity with the intellectual property rights toolbox to protect innovation, such as patents and trademarks
  • Ability to apply the theoretical knowledge to specific problem situations, business challenges, and cases.
Examination
Strategic Management of Innovation and Technology:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter, The exam is held as a 4-hour written sit-in exam (closed book).
Aids Closed book: no aids
However, at all written sit-in exams the student has access to the basic IT application package (Microsoft Office365 (minus Excel), document camera and paper, 7-zip file manager, Adobe Reader DC, PDF24, Texlive, VLC player, Windows Media Player – ATTENTION no sound allowed), and the student is allowed to bring simple writing and drawing utensils (non-digital). PLEASE NOTE: Students are not allowed to communicate with others during the exam.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination may warrant that it most appropriately be held as an oral examination. The programme office will inform the students if the make-up examination/re-take examination instead is held as an oral examination including a second examiner or external examiner.
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Content

Innovation is a critical activity for firms to achieve a competitive advantage. The course places special emphasis on technological innovation, which lies at the core of successful companies such as Novo Nordisk, Alphabet (Google), and Nvidia. The course provides students with a comprehensive overview of innovation management, broadly structured around the innovation value chain, which spans from generating new scientific knowledge to the life-cycle management of established products.

 

We will discuss topics such as how ideas for innovative projects can be sourced through internal R&D activities and external collaborations (eg, strategic alliances, M&As), the protection of innovation using intellectual property rights, and the trade-offs involved in organizing a firm's R&D operations and securing funding for innovation. We will also explore the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance firm innovation. The course combines theoretical perspectives with numerous cases and examples and equips students with analytical tools that are valuable for managing innovation in companies. 

 

Structure

The course follows a three-hour-per-week format and spans the duration of a semester. Broadly, the lectures will focus on the following themes:

1) Innovation fundamentals

2) Sourcing internal and external ideas for innovation

3) Orchestrating organizational and financial resources for innovation

4) Protecting innovation

5) Special topics (such as artificial intelligence and digital platforms)
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
Research-like activities
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
Description of the teaching methods
The course is lecture-based while also designed to be highly interactive, with students being encouraged to provide own reflections and insights. Case studies are an integral part of the classes and will typically include group work and student presentations. Moreover, to ensure continuous feedback, the course includes elements of blended learning, such as online quizzes.

The course is developed in accordance with the Nordic-9 teaching principles. In particular, the course relates to items N1 ("deep business knowledge"), N2 ("analytical with data"), N3 ("humanity's challenges"), N5 ("ethical dilemmas"), N6 ("critical thinking & constructive collaborating"), and N7 ("prosperity & future generations").

The course strongly embraces the idea of research-based teaching.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be given in the context of group work, exercises and case discussions performed during class. Moreover, students will be offered multiple-choice quizzes on Canvas.
Student workload
Preparation 102 hours
Exam 66 hours
Teaching 38 hours
Expected literature

Core reading:

 

Schilling, Melissa A. (2023). Strategic Management of technological innovation (7th edition), McGraw-Hill, New York.

 

Additional literature:

  • Chesbrough, Henry W. (2003). The era of open innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review: 44 (3), 35-41.
  • Gans, J., Stern, S., 2003. The product market and the market for ideas: commercialization strategies for technology entrepreneurs. Research Policy 32, pp. 333-350.
  • Kerr, WR, Nanda, R., (2014). Financing innovation. NBER Working Paper

 

More literature to be announced in the syllabus
Last updated on 30-01-2025