Module: Innovation Strategy

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Innovation Strategy
Module Code	MT5158 (ITS) / BAA1032 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinator	Peter Robbins
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

Once organisations move from marketing a single product to having multiple brands, then a strategy is required to manage the portfolio. In Ireland, according to recent OECD Research (2019), SME Innovation Intensity (how much our companies spend on innovation) and our Innovation Productivity (what we get for that spend) are both comparatively low. Many SMEs approach innovation without a strategy or process. This module will address that gap and will cover all the elements required to deliver a successful innovation programme. Areas covered will be: Innovation Strategy; Innovation Structures; Innovation Processes including Stage Gate and Design Thinking. It will include Open Innovation ; strategic partnerships and Crowdsourcing and Crowdfunding. Also included will be techniques for integrating voice of the customer in the innovation process. Innovation leadership will also be a theme: commitment, vision, strategy and policy. Innovation culture will be studied and an audit tool provided. Some content will be drawn from the 2019 international ISO Innovation Management Standard which was developed exclusively to remedy this deficit in Irish SMEs.

Learning Outcomes

1. Mastery in critical thinking, analysis, problem diagnosis, and the evaluation of options, as well as the communication, and implementation of solutions, guided by theoretical and empirical research in innovation management and the functional aspects of business, especially new product development.
2. A systematic understanding of the theory, mindsets,concepts, frameworks, rules and methods at the forefront of knowledge pertaining to innovation management, which includes, for example, knowledge relating to the determinants of effective innovation management of internal (strategic management, finance, technology management, information, operations management, organizational behavior, corporate culture, human resource management, analysis and conversion of data to insight – and its communication), as well as knowledge relating to the external environment (economics, marketing, and strategic management) that impact the firm’s innovation performance and management; knowledge of the concepts,
3. A systematic, integrated and critical awareness of knowledge and practices relevant to innovation management, including the theories, frameworks, models, concepts, ideas, and paradigms that form the body of knowledge in the domain of innovation management and which will enable learners to diagnose and resolve operational and strategic management problems and/or exploit opportunities in the delivery of the mission, goals and objectives of the organisation.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Workshop	24	Workshops with interactive exploration of prescribed reading, case studies and ongoing assignments reviews and lectures.
Group work	50	Group Project Work
Independent Study	75	Independent Study
Total Workload: 149

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Innovation Ambition Matrix
Core, Adjacent and Disruptive Innovation

Doblin
Types of Innovation

Structure for innovation
Types of teams and hubs to drive innovation

Processes for Innovation
Stage-Gate

Sources of Innovation
Open innovation

Innovation in the market for food

Managing R&D in the Food sector

Building a culture of innovation in the organisation
aligning people, culture and structure

Optimising innovation decision making

Innovation performance measurement

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Group project	Group Assignment - Presentation and 2500 Words	50%	As required
Assignment	Individual Assignment - 4000 Words	50%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Trott, Paul: 2017, Innovation Management and New Product Development, 6th ed, Pearson Publishing, London,

Other Resources

None