MSc International Fashion Retailing (Entrepreneurship and Innovation) / Course details

Innovation is a key part of maintaining and building success in retail organisations. The unit considers the links between business strategy, the external environment, and innovation which are important for both established and start-up fashion retail businesses. The unit uses theoretical frameworks and real-world examples to evaluate how successful fashion retail companies stay relevant, and how nascent entrepreneurial new ventures can increase their chance of success in a fast moving business environment through being innovative.

Upon successful completion of the unit students will understand key factors that shape innovation in fashion retailing companies and will therefore be equipped to use learning from the unit in other contexts outside of the academic setting. The unit aims therefore to develop students’ awareness of what it means to be a ‘professional person’ in a fashion retailing setting through a study of innovation methods.

Knowledge and understanding
A1. Define innovation in the context of fashion retailing.
A2 Explain why innovation is important for new and existing fashion retail businesses. 

Intellectual skills
B1. Examine how retail fashion organisations audit the external environment, and their internal competencies and resources in order to facilitate innovation.
B2. Critically evaluate the importance of Intellectual Property for innovative fashion retail firms. 

Practical skills
C1. Plan and undertake research into innovation appropriate to fashion retailing
C2.  Find, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically  from a variety of sources in order to produce high quality business presentations and reports

Transferable skills and personal qualities
D1. Develop capability in the process and techniques of student-directed learning
D2. Demonstrate an ability to solve problems
D3. Create and present findings to a professional standard. 

Defining innovation appropriate to fashion retailers
Business strategy 
Use and protection of intellectual property
New product, process and business model innovation 

Lectures and seminars.  Supported by Blackboard.

Attending lectures, participating in discussions about case studies and doing short practical tasks set within the lecture session.
Undertaking work in groups and presenting to the whole class with follow-up feedback.
Replying to individual questions at the end of each lecture session and providing brief replies to e-mails.
Messages may be sent to the whole class via Blackboard if the point raised could be of benefit to the whole class.

• Main texts:
Trott, P., Innovation Management and New Product Development, (6th edition) Pearson.

• Additional references:

Doyle P. & and Stern , P. (2006). Marketing Management and Strategy, Prentice Hall, 4th edition
Gerry, J., Whittington, R., & Scholes, K. (2017). Exploring Strategy. Pearson
Tidd, J. and Bessant J. (2018)  Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change. Wiley. 

Students will be encouraged and expected to use on-line resources and library facilities. Additional references to support each topic are provided during lecture sessions.