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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

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Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Peter Robbins
Semester 2: Peter Robbins
Autumn: Peter Robbins
Module TeachersPeter Robbins
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

The launch of a new food product into the marketplace is not the endpoint of the innovation process. Successful innovation is not inventors innovating - it’s consumers adopting. Innovation adoption research has considered how and why consumers adopt an innovation. Research has also used social psychology theories such as the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior, which explain volitional choice more generally, to understand innovation adoption. So called ‘grand models’ of consumer decision making typically include the five steps of problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, choice and outcome evaluation. The process of adoption has five stages: a knowledge stage (i.e., awareness of the innovation), a persuasion stage (i.e., evaluation of the innovation), a decision stage (i.e., intention to adopt or not), an implementation stage (i.e., actual behavior) and finally, a confirmation stage. The Rogers diffusion curve has a number of stages to help an idea/product/brand to get from selling only to early adopters to managing to convert the majority of the market. A variety of factors influences the adoption process and the adoption decision in general. Existing research distinguishes three groups of factors: characteristics of the potential adopter, innovation characteristics and external variables. In this module, students will learn how to structure the innovation to give it the absolute maximum chance of crossing the chasm and going mainstream. They will learn about adoption triggers and how to create factors that motivate, support or enable an individual to overcome consumer resistance to adopt an innovation by inducing the transition between non-adoption and adoption.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be familiar with the various individual and social psychology theories and parameters at play in the diffusion and adoption of new markets for innovations
2. Design innovation developments and launches to optimize the likelihood of successful adoption for the user’s psychology perspective
3. Be aware of the phases of the diffusion and adoption of new products, services and ideas and understand the need to target each phase appropriately
4. Understand the steps firms can take to try to ensure the success of their new product launches.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Workshop24Workshops with interactive exploration of prescribed reading, case studies and ongoing assignments reviews and lectures.
Independent Study75Independent study
Group work50Group project work
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

The economics of innovation

The Innovation Diffusion Curve

How to cross the chasm

Strategies for Finding and using early adopters

Co-creation and lead user innovation

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Group assignmentFor the group element, students will be asked to investigate, research and identify critical factors in certain successful case histories where the diffusion of innovation has been successful, generally in the food, beverage and horticulture area. Students will be required to analyse the strategy and write a detailed critique30%As required
AssignmentIndividual Assignment - 4000 Words Crowdfunding is a significant feature of the contemporary funding landscape for start-ups. Websites like IndieGogo and KickStarter allow promoters of new ideas to showcase them and try to attract funding for them. Many ideas are from lone entrepreneurs who are trying to attract sufficient funding to develop their idea and some, by contrast, are fledgling ideas from well-known companies where the firm is trying to establish whether there might be any demand for a new idea. Your assignment is as follows: 1) Write about sources of venture finance and position crowdfunding on the continuum and write about its development; focusing on its advantages rel70%As required
Indicative Reading List

  • Christensen, Clayton: 2007, The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail,
Other Resources

None

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