Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module BUSI2341: Innovation Management

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI2341: Innovation Management

Type Open Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2023/24 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • The module aims to:
  • To develop students knowledge and understanding of key issues relating to innovation management
  • To encourage students to think critically and strategically about innovation, competition and the impact of innovation on firms and the wider economy
  • To enable students to understand and apply different and diverging theoretical perspectives, concepts and debates arising in the management of innovation
  • To provide students with tools, knowledge and skills for managing innovation in future employment

Content

  • The module provides you with an understanding of the two contradictory natures of the innovation process – continuity with existing elements and radical change; the sources of innovation; and the processes of creativity and selecting ideas, transforming them into commercial products at the organisational level, and appropriating their benefits. Specifically, the following topics will be covered:
  • What is innovation?; Product and process innovation
  • Innovation and technology and their diffusion
  • Standards, dominant design and network effects
  • Intellectual property protection mechanisms
  • Innovation and strategy
  • Innovation and market structure
  • Innovation and firm performance
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Sustainable innovation
  • Innovation policy

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students will be able to:
  • Have acquired an advanced contextual knowledge of innovation as a key organisational process in modern companies, and of how innovation can shape and determine new industries and markets
  • Appreciate and explain the key drivers of innovation
  • Explain the processes of innovation and industry dynamics
  • Design innovation-based strategies and communicate how they work
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students will:
  • Be able to critically evaluate the impact of innovation on organisational strategy and the wider economy, with reference to both theoretical and empirical literature
  • Be able to communicate an understanding of innovation management convincingly and concisely both verbally and in writing
  • Be able to compare and contrast theories and models of innovation management with empirical evidence of management practice and firm performance, and form their own views
  • Be able to effectively evaluate and use the evidence base as part of a strategy formulation process
  • Be able to express critical awareness of policy issues relating to innovation, science and technology
Key Skills:
  • Have acquired an ability of critical thinking, analysis, evaluation and synthesis
  • Be able to identify and address a range of problems
  • Be able to develop cohesive and persuasive arguments

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module will be delivered through a series of lectures, seminars, case studies, and independent reading.
  • Formative assessment will be used as a key feedback mechanism, alongside in class feedback in seminars.
  • This will be used to support the development of the summative assessment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Weekly 2 hours 20
Workshops 4 Fortnightly 2 hours 8
Preparation, Reading, Data Collection and Independent Study 172
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written coursework assignment (individual essay) 3000 100% Improve failed assignment or write new assignment (same as original assignment)

Formative Assessment:

Positioning document consisting of an outline and plan of the summative assessment (up to a maximum of 1,000 words). Rationale: Students to receive feedback directly relevant for implementation into their summative assessment


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University