INNOVENT 307 Ecosystems for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Introduces the eco-system concept to examine ways that innovating firms interact with various actors to build and sustain viable global enterprises. Actors include: suppliers, competitors, investors, users/customers, governments and universities. Develops the analytical skills needed to identify different actors for potential partnerships and strategies to engage with them.

Course Overview

A 2014 report concluded that our University is one of the world’s five best university-based entrepreneurial ecosystems operating outside the technology-driven innovation hubs of MIT, Stanford, and Cambridge. Yet, what does it mean to have an entrepreneurial ecosystem? Do they exist in universities or cities or countries? When and how can ecosystems support firms that are pursuing rapid growth in market penetration, revenue, and scaling their operations?

We explore the multi-level nature of ecosystems to explore these types of questions: how countries or cities create the conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship (macro level); what actions firms take to pursue high growth (meso level) and; what capabilities underpin those actions (micro level). Where INNOVENT 203 and INNOVENT 204 focus on individual-level entrepreneurial mindset and processes, and INNOVENT 306 focuses on pursuing firm-level opportunities, INNOVENT 307 addresses the interplay across the “system”.

Developing critical thinking skills to question the assumptions and evidence that underpin the models and initiatives that firms, universities, governments, and academics put forward to promote innovation and entrepreneurship are emphasised. Practicing your critical thinking is key so classes and assessments are dedicated to you presenting arguments to show your critical thinking and gaining feedback about how to advance them. Industry perspectives are a feature of the course, with speakers, panel discussions, living cases, and hands-on exercises.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from ENGGEN 302, 303, INNOVENT 201, 203, 204, MGMT 202, 211, SCIGEN 201

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Explain and communicate the key characteristics of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in different national contexts, including Aotearoa-New Zealand (Capability 1 and 4.1)
Examine and present the characteristics of growth-oriented firms, their role in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, and their importance for Aotearoa-New Zealand (Capability 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2 and 6)
Articulate and critique the elements of Aotearoa-NZ innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems concerning their support for growth-oriented firms (Capability 2, 3, 4.2 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Assignment	40%	Individual Coursework
Quizzes	30%	Individual Coursework
Presentation	10%	Group & Individual Coursework
Presentation	20%	Group & Individual Coursework
4 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3
Assignment
Quizzes
Presentation
Presentation

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of classes each week that are used for discussion, preparing and presenting team assignments, and workshops. Expect 2-3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2-3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected so you can participate in scheduled activities including; industry speaker sessions, class-level discussions, group activities to prepare for and deliver group presentations, and assignment workshop where you gain feedback on your work-in-progress.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, such as the one listed above, will be available when external speakers give their consent to be recorded and what the sound quality of the audience participation can be captured to a reasonable standard.
Attendance on campus is required for the group presentations.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Readings are available via the library databases and are listed in Canvas. There is no textbook. Links to media resources are listed in Canvas. Assessment instructions and all course policies are available in Canvas. There is no coursebook.

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.

Digital 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.

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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

INNOVENT 307 : Ecosystems for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business and Economics

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)