Code: UMSCLF-10-M

Title: Innovation and Technology Management

Version: 1

Level: M

UWE credit rating: 10

ECTS credit rating:

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: BBS

Field: Strategy and International Business

Valid from: 1 September 1999

Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: MSc Technology Management, IGDS

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Aims:

• provide an understanding of innovation in its societal context

• examine perspectives on the innovation process and organisational implications of that process

• explore the links between technology management, strategic management and the management of change

• provide the necessary context for understanding contemporary problems and public policy debates relating to science and technology

Learning outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to:

• appreciate the complex and diverse nature of innovation and the contextual factors influencing the innovation process

• be able to identify the organisational factors stimulating and inhibiting innovation and the management issues these raise

• be able to synthesise and critically evaluate different theoretical perspectives on innovation

• be able to apply models and theories to problem solving for innovating organisations

• be aware of current public policy debates in the area of science and technology

Syllabus outline:

Basic models and types of innovation:

Technology push and market pull, interactive models, fifth generation models, incremental, radical, architectural, component, product and process innovation.

Alternative theoretical perspectives:

Schumpeter, Veblen and others, Kondratieff - long waves and cumulative causation; social constructivism and technological determinism; evolutionary approaches - path dependency, technological chreods and lock-ins.

Innovation strategy and technology management:

The innovation process - success and failure; modelling and forecasting technologies and markets; linking research, production and marketing; managing technical experts; collaboration for development and commercialisation.

Innovation and Competitive Advantage:

First mover advantages; intellectual property rights; patent races and rival’s reactions; product life cycles and technological discontinuities; dominant designs and product standards.

National Innovation Policies:

Technology and economic competitiveness; cores and peripherals; national systems of innovation; government technology policy; technology transfer

Teaching and learning methods:

This module utilises participative learning strategies and a variety of teaching methods will be employed. The sessions use individual or group activity exercises including mini-lecture input, written and video case study analysis, presentations, demonstrations, problem solving activities and group discussion . Use is also made of external speakers.

Central to teaching and learning at M level is the high level of critical discourse in contact sessions and assessed work. A participative ethos allows the contribution of both staff and students to be equally valued in the exploration, evaluation and creation of theory and its application to problem solving in both case and real organisational contexts. This approach requires the ability to define, obtain, rigorously analyse and evaluate information quickly and communicate relevant conclusions and recommendations to team colleagues and professional and academic audiences in a range of formats.

Indicative sources:

Tidd, J., Bessant, J., and Pavitt, K. (1997) Managing Innovation - Integrating Technological, Market and Organisational Change, Wiley.

Trott, P. (1998) Innovation Management & New product Development, FT Pitman Publishing.

Ford, D., and Saren, M. (1996) Technology Strategy for Business, International Thomson Business Press.

Vesper, K.H. (1990) New Venture Strategies, Prentice Hall.

Nadler, D.A. and Tushman, M.L. (1997) Competing By Design, Oxford University Press.

Oden, H. W. (1997) Managing Corporate Culture, Innovation and Intrapreneurship, Quorum.

Hussey, D. (ed.) (1997) The Innovation Challenge, Wiley.

Dyson, D. (1998) Against the Odds, Orion Business Books.

Quinn, J. B., Baruch, J.J., and Zien, K.A. (1997) Innovation Explosion - Using Intellect and Software to Revolutionise Growth Strategies, The Free Press.

McLoughlin, I. and Harris, M. (eds.) (1997) Innovation, Organisation Change and Technology, International Thomson Business Press.

Dosi, G., Teece, D.J. and Chytry, J. (eds.) (1998) Technology, Organisation and Competitiveness - Perspectives on Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press.

Malecki, E.J. (1997) Technology and Economic Development - The Dynamics of Local, Regional and National Competitiveness, Addison Wesley Longman Limited.

Bacon, F.R. and Butler, T. W. (1998) Achieving Planned Innovation, The Free Press.

Clarke, T. and Clegg, S. (1998) Changing Paradigms - The Transformation of Management Knowledge for the 21st Century, Harper Collins Business.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only)

n/a

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element

1 Supervised Mini Project

Element weighting

1

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Description of each element

1 Supervised Mini Project

Element weighting

1

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)