Module: Strategic Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Strategic Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Module Code	ENI1007 (ITS: EF5170)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time. -Bill Gates This module introduces students to the latest thinking and practices on innovation and entrepreneurship in multiple contexts including, new venture creation, high-tech, corporate, and social organisations. Students will learn and apply a variety of strategic innovation frameworks including Design Thinking and Business Model Innovation. This is an experiential module and student teams will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with instructors on a real-world innovation challenge.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain and critically evaluate the key frameworks in design thinking and innovation literatures, in the context of entrepreneurship
2. Identify and validate an innovative strategy for an emergent corporate, government, or social product or service.
3. Present, explain, and make recommendations on an innovative solution.
4. Identify and explain the key sources, enablers, and barriers to innovation in different contexts.
5. Build and maintain an effective entrepreneurial team and networks based on the needs of the project.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Group work	40	No Description
Class Presentation	6	No Description
Independent Study	25	No Description
Assignment Completion	30	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10083	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Peter Robbins	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group project	Students will form teams and will be tasked to assess and implement an innovation strategy for an emerging product or service.	70%	n/a
Group presentation	Innovation project presentation	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Introduction: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Business
Understanding the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation for both corporate and economic growth. The relationship between R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship. The role of champions and intrapreneurs.

Managing Innovation with Organizations
Approaches to corporate entrepreneurship and innovation - how companies drive innovation. Open innovation and network theories of innovation. Barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation.

Sources of Innovation
Types of innovation – incremental and radical: technological; platform; business model; customer experience. Assessment of different toolkits and practices.

Design Thinking and Innovation
The origins and uses of design thinking; Attributes and tools of Design Thinking; The Growth versus Fixed Mindset - Carol Dwedk; Team goal orientation; Customer journey mapping; Customer closeness and insights; Creating personas; Designing the user experience with and for customers

The Lean Start-up
Ries and the Lean Start-up, Osterwalder and the Business Model Canvas, Value Proposition Canvas, Maurya and the Lean Canvas, Prototyping, The MVP, Prototype testing and validation.

Understanding R&D and Intellectual property
The role and impact of R&D in an organisation. The link between R&D and Innovation. The knowledge transfer, absorptive capacity and commercialisation process. The value of innovation and IP.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Jeanne Liedtka and Tim Ogilvie: 2019, The Designing for Growth Field Book - A Step-by-Step Project Guide, 1st, Columbia University Press, New York Available online from DCU library,
Maurya, A: 2012, Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works, O'Reilly Media, USA,

Articles:

Bason, C. and Austin, R. D.: 2019, The Right Way to Lead Design Thinking, Harvard Business Review, 97(2), 82–9, 64769
2015: What Is Disruptive Innovation?, Harvard Business Review, 93 (12), 44–53, 64770, 1
Why Design Thinking Works: Harvard Business Review, 96(5), 72–79, 64771, 1, Christensen, Clayton M., Dilion, Karen, Hall, Taddy, Duncan, David
Harvard Business Review: 94 (9), 54-62, 64772, 1, Hansen, M. T. and Birkinshaw, J., 2007
85(6): 121-4,

Other Resources

None