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2026/2027  KAN-CSIEO2006U  The Art of Innovation

English Title
The Art of Innovation

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Third Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Markets & Innovation
Programme Master of Social Sciences in Organisational Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Course coordinator
  • Marta Gasparin - Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL)
Main academic disciplines
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Organisation
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 02/02/2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of practices and principles common to innovation processes.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of leadership decisions of strategic importance regarding the application of methods and processes to achieve innovation objectives.
  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of principles for how organisational conditions innovation and creativity can be provided.
  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of how the dynamics between management, leadership and organisational processes matters for the art of organisational innovation.
  • Demonstrate collaborative, team-based creativity through sustained group work directed at real life challenges and opportunities
Course prerequisites
Only for students of the Master of Social Sciences in Organisational Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Examination
The Art of Innovation:
Exam ECTS 7.5
Examination form Active participation

The completion of this course is based on active student participation in class. The course will be considered as passed if the students participation - based on an overall assessment - in the class activities fulfill the learning objectives of the course. The individual student’s participation is assessed by the teacher.
The student must participate in A combination of assignment and presentation
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Grading scale Pass / Fail
Examiner(s) Assessed solely by the teacher
Exam period Spring
Make-up exam/re-exam Oral exam based on written product
In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Size of written product: Max. 15 pages
Assignment type: Written assignment
Duration: 20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Examiner(s): If it is an internal examination, there will be a second internal examiner at the re-exam. If it is an external examination, there will be an external examiner.
Description of activities
A combination of assignment and presentation: Assessment in The Art of Innovation is designed to evaluate students’ ability to apply theoretical and practical insights related to innovation processes, organisational conditions for creativity, and leadership decisions that shape innovation outcomes. Students will be assessed through a combination of active participation: an individual written assignment and a group presentation, all of which reflect the course’s interactive, problem-driven pedagogical approach. Active participation is an integral component of the learning process in this course. Students are expected to contribute meaningfully to discussions, case analyses, and group exercises throughout the quarter. Participation is evaluated based on preparedness, engagement with course literature, and the ability to apply concepts to real-world innovation challenges. Active participation enables students to develop collaborative creativity and supports the dynamic, research-informed learning environment of the course. The active participation consists of a combination of an individual assignment and a group presentation.
- Individual Written Assignment: Students will submit an individual written assignment that demonstrates their ability to critically analyse an innovation-related challenge using theories, models, and concepts from the course. The written assignment encourages independent analytical work consistent with the research-based foundations of the programme and prepares students for applying these insights beyond the classroom.
-Group Presentation: Students will work in groups to prepare and deliver a presentation addressing a real-life innovation challenge introduced at the start of the course. The presentation should demonstrate collaborative creativity, the application of innovation frameworks, and an understanding of organisational strategies for enabling innovation. This component reflects the course’s emphasis on team-based problem solving and mirrors real-world innovation practices where collective decision-making is central.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Managing innovative business and business processes have become increasingly relevant in the current competitive business environment that favours novelty, innovation and originality as sources of value. Innovative practices provide organizations with powerful methods for innovating products, services, systems and experiences. In this course, we investigate these practices in order to learn how to provide organisational conditions for innovative processes that lead to competitive advantage. We build our knowledge dynamically in class through course literature-based analyses of a set of challenges, in order to develop a more precise understanding of the organisational conditions for creativity/entrepreneurship and innovation processes. This includes an emphasis on understanding innovation capabilities, culture, processes, strategies that enable groups to engage in collaborative creativity and innovation, as well as what leadership is required.
 
The pedagogical approach is highly interactive and group-work based, driven by solving a problem set at the beginning of the course. By engaging in class and group discussions, students will learn how to make decisions regarding the organisational conditions for innovation practices.
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
  • Models
Research-like activities
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
  • Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision
Description of the teaching methods
As stated in the course description, the pedagogical approach is highly interactive and discussion based, driven by problem-solving dealing with innovation processes and strategies. By engaging in group discussions, students will learn how to make decisions regarding innovation practices. Drawing on the instructors' experiences from researching and engaging with innovation processes, practices and strategies, the groups will discuss problems and cases using course literature, in class. This allows for knowledge being created in class. It is therefore crucial that students come well prepared for discussion—having completed the reading—and willing to participate. Participating in the exercise of case analysis and debate in the classroom directly prepares the student for the exam. During the course and in the final report, GenAI will be permitted as per CBS’s general guidelines. However, students must declare their use where required, and improper use (e.g., inserting AI-generated content without citation) will be considered an academic integrity violation.
Feedback during the teaching period
Students receive feedback from the instructor and peers during the course of highly interactive discussions, in small groups and in plenary. By participating in discussions, students practice the skill of making arguments based on course literature and case analysis. Feedback will also be offered on the basis of group exercises, where we reflect together on learning experiences.
Student workload
Participation in case-discussions and lectures 33 hours
Preparation for case-discussion and lectures, e.g. reading and reflection 132 hours
Exam (including exam preparation) 41 hours
Further Information

Minor changes may occur to this course description until 30 June.
Expected literature

Indicative literature 

 

Literature will be posted on Canvas

 
Last updated on 02/02/2026