BUSMAN 708 : Innovation in Practice

Business and Economics

2024 Quarter Three (1246) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines strategies for developing an innovation culture and capabilities that will enhance the agility of start-ups and small-to-medium-sized enterprises. Explores opportunity recognition, new product and venture development, risk management, venture financing, and the challenges of SME management.

Course Overview

In the face of crises like COVID-19, we are confronted with an opportunity to think differently and create rapid change that can have long-lasting impacts, according to a 2021 report published by global consultancy McKinsey & Company. In many ways, this is true. Yet, at the same time, over a century of research on innovation and entrepreneurship in small and large established firms and start-ups shows that only some will pursue the opportunities that such crises sparked. Many businesses only invest in innovation when they are performing well, most innovations fail (up to 80%), and managers often kill worthwhile opportunities because they perceive them as too risky. This situation presents a quandary for managers and entrepreneurs alike – innovation is needed, but it doesn’t always work. So, what research-informed knowledge and frameworks can help you understand innovation in your organisation and increase the odds that innovation will succeed?
This course will equip Master of Business Management students in the Strategic Management specialisation with high-level frameworks necessary to understand innovation and recognise how it is being supported and inhibited in established organisations. Learn by applying research-informed tools used to develop new products and new venture opportunities, which you can transfer immediately to enhance innovation in practice at your organisation.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain the nature, sources, and determinants of innovation (Capability 1)
  2. Critique the ways that strategy can enhance and constrain innovation in an established firm (Capability 1)
  3. Work in a group to devise a lean canvas that visualises the essential elements of a new product or venture opportunity, the key stakeholders and what they value (Capability 1, 3 and 6)
  4. Analyse the resourcing requirements and risks for a proposed new product or venture and communicate your independent judgments in a written format (Capability 1 and 2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Case analysis 30% Individual Coursework
Practical 40% Group & Individual Coursework
In-class Test 30% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Case analysis
Practical
In-class Test

The practical assignment is a mapping activity completed as a group exercise. Attendance at that session is required. Please contact the lecturer if health or wellbeing reasons prevent you from attending any of that session.

Workload Expectations

Innovation in Practice is a standard 15-point course. While people vary in their use of time, University guidelines are that a 15-point course should equate to about 150 hours of learning. The weekly workload can be broken down to approximately:

3 scheduled contact hours each week for 10 weeks

5 hours of reading and listening to podcasts/watching videos, and reflection on the content

7 hours for preparing for class activities and working on assignments

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

The activities for the course are scheduled as standard weekly timetable for quarter courses.

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including the ten three-hour classes. It is required for the practical assignment to complete components of the course. The dates for those weeks will be confirmed in Canvas closer to the start of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including in-class group-based activities that run in class will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

There is no prescribed textbook.
All readings (articles, book chapters, news stories), links to podcasts and videos will be available on Canvas via Reading Lists.
All learning materials will be available on Canvas.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course was launched in 2022; the 2023 version reflects feedback from students who completed it in 2023. This includes 

-additional structured support to understand the lean canvas elements 

-keeping applied activities in class, which provide ways to apply concepts from the readings and to discuss ideas with peers

2023 students will also benefit from new applied activities and sessions with several award-winning educators.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 25/10/2023 01:14 p.m.