MSc Management / Course details

Year of entry: 2025

Course unit details:
Innovation Management

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN73112
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Pre/co-requisites

BMAN73112 Programme Req: BMAN73112 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc Management

BMAN73112 Programme Req: BMAN73112 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc Management

Aims

The aim of the course is to expose students to practical issues and some theoretical frameworks relating to the management of innovation and development of entrepreneurial capacity.

This course is concerned with understanding how incumbent and entrepreneurial firms innovate and develop, acquire and exploit technologies. It deals with: (1) the issues involved in managing innovation and managing the medium-term and long-term development of technologies in firms; and (2) the ways in which business strategies and innovation competencies interact in the firm.

Learning outcomes

• Knowledge of the innovation system and the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in promoting technical advance and the types of theory that underpin this knowledge.
• Putting theory into practice through case studies
• Skills in analysing uncertain commercial opportunities and responding using appropriate managerial insights drawn from theory and evidence.
• Experience of working in groups to develop team answers to problems.

 

Syllabus

Introduction: What is innovation and entrepreneurship, and why does it matter, e. g., Why do Firms Innovate

The business context for the management of innovation and entrepreneurship, e. g. Intellectual Property Rights; Systems of Innovation;

R&D and the Organisation of Innovation within Firms; Variety within and between Industries, e.g. manufacturing and service-based sectors including Knowledge Intensive Business Services; external knowledge sources for innovation.

Formulating an Innovation Strategy: understanding different types of innovation strategy options available to firms; how Product Life Cycle theory can help strategic decision-making.

How can SMEs exploit entrepreneurship opportunities and become more innovative and competitive Includes theoretical and practical consideration of entrepreneurship and New Venture formations.

Innovation through Collaborative Networks, including the rise of university- industry collaborations and the increasing openness of innovation.

Conclusions - Applying what you have learnt.

Teaching and learning methods

Lecture Hours: 2 hrs/week x 11 weeks (1h in-person and 1h online)

Seminar Hours: 1 hrs/week x 10 weeks (in-person)

Private Study: 116 hours

Knowledge and understanding

  • Knowledge of the innovation system and the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in promoting technical advance
  • Knowledge of the types of innovation theory and frameworks that underpin innovation as a process
  • Understand key concepts and tools needed to analyse firms’ innovation and technology strategies

Intellectual skills

  • Skills in analysing uncertain commercial opportunities and responding using appropriate managerial insights drawn from theory and evidence.
  • To be able to cross-link knowledge about firms’ management of innovation to broader issues such as government regulation, entrepreneurship policies, and competitiveness.

Practical skills

  • Putting theory into practice through case studies
  • Critically analyse the nature of innovation processes in firms
  • Develop their critical reasoning ability in order to appreciate a range of conceptual frameworks

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Experience of working in groups to develop team answers to problems.
  • To be able to communicate and present accurate information to a specific audience
  • Employ critical thinking skills for the analysis of information, weighting up evidence and arguments and drawing and justifying conclusions
  • Self-assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses in knowledge acquisition as well as to adjust study habits based on performance feedback.

Assessment methods

Coursework 25%
Exam 65%
Weekly quiz 10%
 

Feedback methods

Written and in class including formative feedback on coursework before submission.

Recommended reading

Tidd, J., and Bessant, J., 2020. Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organisational Change, Wiley, 7th edition.
Dodgson M, Gann D, Salter A, 2008. The Management of Technological Innovation, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (ISBN: 9780199208531).
 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Lectures 22
Seminars 10
Independent study hours
Independent study 116

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Mabel Sanchez Barrioluengo Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Informal Contact Method

Pre-arranged individual or group meetings
Answering any queries by meeting students informally after lectures