Course 2023-2024 a.y.

30154 - TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31 - 32 - 33 - 34
BIEM (6 credits - I sem. - OBS  |  SECS-P/08)
Course Director:
SILVIA ZAMBONI

Classes: 31 (I sem.) - 32 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: STEFANO BRESCHI, Class 32: THORSTEN GROHSJEAN


Suggested background knowledge

No specific prior knowledge needed. A generic course in Management will be helpful (company organizational structure, different functions, competitive strategy)

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Innovation is the primary engine of economic growth, providing advances in endeavors such as medicine, agriculture, and education. The establishment of new industries, the transformation of current industries by new technologies, the relationships between value creation and technological advancement, and the success and failure of technological system implementation are some of the topics explored. At the same time, innovation is a powerful means of competitive differentiation, enabling firms to enter new markets and achieve higher margins. Scholars and managers are interested in how innovation affects the competitive dynamics of markets, how firms can strategically manage innovation, and how firms can implement their innovation strategies. The mission of this course is to equip students with the tools and the knowledge required to understand, analyze and manage the creation, development and exploitation of innovation within companies.

CONTENT SUMMARY

Industry Dynamics of Technological Innovation

  • Sources of innovation
  • Types and patterns of innovation
  • S-curves and diffusion of innovation
  • Network effects and platform markets
     

Technology commercialization strategy and protection

  • Profiting from innovation
  • Protecting innovation through Patents
  • Other intellectual property tools: trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets

 

Managing the innovation process

  • Organizing for innovation
  • Selecting innovation projects
  • Managing the R&D portfolio
  • Managing the new product development process
  • Managing new product development teams

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Master the core concepts and ideas concerning innovation strategy and management.
  • Learn about project selection, collaboration strategies, and strategies for protecting the firm’s intellectual property.
  • Understand the role of organizational structure and new product development teams.
  • Improve oral and written communication and decision making.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Interpret the technological environment and identify meaningful trends.
  • Make decisions about innovation and technology and communicate them effectively.
  • Craft a firm’s strategic direction and formulating its innovation strategy.
  • Understand how a firm’s organizational structure affects its ability to innovate and to profit from innovation.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
  • Group assignments
  • Interactive class activities on campus/online (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)

DETAILS

  • Group assignments: Students work in groups to resolve business problems relating to innovation and technology.
  • Idea development and presentation: Teams work together to create original ideas that they then present to the class.
  • Instant polls: these polls are used to collect responses on a variety of issues as well as for students to evaluate the ideas of other teams.
  • Online quizzes: these tests are designed to quickly evaluate the learning process.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
    x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    
  • Peer evaluation
x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on two components:

  • Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions (graded over 31). The open-ended questions aim to assess how well the students can apply the techniques discussed in the course to examine choices and situations where innovation is a key factor. The purpose of the multiple-choice questions is to test the student's proficiency with the course's fundamental concepts.
  • Group assignments  assess the students' ability to analyze complex situations where innovation plays a crucial role.

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on:

  • Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions (graded over 31). The open-ended questions aim to assess how well the students can apply the techniques discussed in the course to examine choices and situations where innovation is a key factor. The purpose of the multiple-choice questions is to test the student's proficiency with the course's fundamental concepts.

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

At the beginning of the semester, articles covering the subjects of each session will be posted on the course reserve.

Slide set from the instructors and the business cases for the assignments will be uploaded during the course on the blackboard e-learning platform.

Last change 19/09/2023 11:39
CLEF (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08) - BESS-CLES (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08) - WBB (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08) - BIEF (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08) - BIEM (6 credits - I sem. - OBS  |  SECS-P/08) - BIG (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08) - BEMACS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08) - BAI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08)
Course Director:
SILVIA ZAMBONI

Classes: 33 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 33: THORSTEN GROHSJEAN


Suggested background knowledge

No specific prior knowledge needed. A generic course in Management will be helpful (company organizational structure, different functions, competitive strategy)

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Innovation is the primary engine of economic growth, providing advances in endeavors such as medicine, agriculture, and education. The establishment of new industries, the transformation of current industries by new technologies, the relationships between value creation and technological advancement, and the success and failure of technological system implementation are some of the topics explored. At the same time, innovation is a powerful means of competitive differentiation, enabling firms to enter new markets and achieve higher margins. Scholars and managers are interested in how innovation affects the competitive dynamics of markets, how firms can strategically manage innovation, and how firms can implement their innovation strategies. The mission of this course is to equip students with the tools and the knowledge required to understand, analyze and manage the creation, development and exploitation of innovation within companies.

CONTENT SUMMARY

Industry Dynamics of Technological Innovation

  • Sources of innovation
  • Types and patterns of innovation
  • S-curves and diffusion of innovation
  • Network effects and platform markets
     

Technology commercialization strategy and protection

  • Profiting from innovation
  • Protecting innovation through Patents
  • Other intellectual property tools: trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets

 

Managing the innovation process

  • Organizing for innovation
  • Selecting innovation projects
  • Managing the R&D portfolio
  • Managing the new product development process
  • Managing new product development teams

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles related to innovation strategy and management.
  • Acquire knowledge about project selection, collaboration strategies, and methods for safeguarding the firm's intellectual property.
  • Gain insights into how organizational structure influences innovation management and the functioning of new product development teams.
  • Enhance oral and written communication skills and improve decision-making abilities.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Interpreting the technological environment and identifying meaningful trends for making informed decisions about innovation and technology.
  • Crafting a firm's strategic direction and innovation strategy, understanding its goals, capabilities, and competitive landscape.
  • Understangin how organizational structure impacts the organization's ability to innovate and profit from innovation.
  • Develop an effective communication of innovation and technology decisions, though clear and concise articulation of the rationale, impact, and addressing concerns.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
  • Group assignments
  • Interactive class activities on campus/online (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)

DETAILS

  • Group assignments: Students work in groups to resolve business problems relating to innovation and technology.
  • Idea development and presentation: Teams work together to create original ideas that they then present to the class.
  • Instant polls: these polls are used to collect responses on a variety of issues as well as for students to evaluate the ideas of other teams.
  • Online quizzes: these tests are designed to quickly evaluate the learning process.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
    x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    
  • Peer evaluation
x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on two components:

  • Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions (graded over 31). The open-ended questions aim to assess how well the students can apply the techniques discussed in the course to examine choices and situations where innovation is a key factor. The purpose of the multiple-choice questions is to test the student's proficiency with the course's fundamental concepts.
  • Group assignments  assess the students' ability to analyze complex situations where innovation plays a crucial role.

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on:

  • Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions (graded over 31). The open-ended questions aim to assess how well the students can apply the techniques discussed in the course to examine choices and situations where innovation is a key factor. The purpose of the multiple-choice questions is to test the student's proficiency with the course's fundamental concepts.

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

At the beginning of the semester, articles covering the subjects of each session will be posted on the course reserve.

Slide set from the instructors and the business cases for the assignments will be uploaded during the course on the blackboard e-learning platform.

Last change 31/05/2023 18:22
BIEM (6 credits - II sem. - OBS  |  SECS-P/08)
Course Director:
SILVIA ZAMBONI

Classes: 34 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 34: SILVIA ZAMBONI


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Innovation is the primary engine of economic growth, providing advances in endeavors such as medicine, agriculture, and education. At the same time, innovation is a powerful means of competitive differentiation, enabling firms to enter new markets and achieve higher margins. Scholars and managers are interested in how innovation affects the competitive dynamics of markets, how firms can strategically manage innovation, and how firms can implement their innovation strategies. The mission of this course is to equip students with the tools and the knowledge required to understand, analyze and manage the creation, development and exploitation of innovation within companies.

CONTENT SUMMARY

Industry Dynamics of Technological Innovation:

  • Sources of innovation
  • Types and patterns of innovation.
  • S-curves and diffusion of innovation.
  • Standards battles.

Technology Commercialization Strategy and Protection:

  • Profiting from innovation.
  • Protecting innovation through Patents.
  • Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets.

Managing the Innovation Process:

  • Selecting Innovation Projects.
  • Managing the R&D portfolio.
  • Organizing for innovation.
  • Managing new product development teams.
  • Managing the new product development process.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles related to innovation strategy and management.
  • Acquire knowledge about project selection, collaboration strategies, and methods for safeguarding the firm's intellectual property.
  • Gain insights into how organizational structure influences innovation management and the functioning of new product development teams.
  • Enhance oral and written communication skills and improve decision-making abilities.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Interpreting the technological environment and identifying meaningful trends for making informed decisions about innovation and technology.
  • Crafting a firm's strategic direction and innovation strategy, understanding its goals, capabilities, and competitive landscape.
  • Understangin how organizational structure impacts the organization's ability to innovate and profit from innovation.
  • Develop an effective communication of innovation and technology decisions, though clear and concise articulation of the rationale, impact, and addressing concerns.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
  • Group assignments
  • Interactive class activities on campus/online (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)

DETAILS

  • Group assignments: Students work in groups to resolve business problems relating to innovation and technology.
  • Idea development and presentation: Teams work together to create original ideas that they then present to the class.
  • Instant polls: these polls are used to collect responses on a variety of issues as well as for students to evaluate the ideas of other teams.
  • Online quizzes: these tests are designed to quickly evaluate the learning process.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
    x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on two components:

  • Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions (graded over 31). The open-ended questions aim to assess how well the students can apply the techniques discussed in the course to examine choices and situations where innovation is a key factor. The purpose of the multiple-choice questions is to test the student's proficiency with the course's fundamental concepts.
  • Group assignments  assess the students' ability to analyze complex situations where innovation plays a crucial role.

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The students' assessment is based on:

  • Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions (graded over 31). The open-ended questions aim to assess how well the students can apply the techniques discussed in the course to examine choices and situations where innovation is a key factor. The purpose of the multiple-choice questions is to test the student's proficiency with the course's fundamental concepts.

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

TEXTBOOK: Melissa Schilling. Strategic Management of Technological Innovation. 6th Edition. McGraw Hill. 2020. This textbook covers the background material. Acquiring the textbook is NOT required. There is an e-book version accesible from the library.

 

SLIDES, CASES, READINGS, ARTICLES are crucial for preparing for the final exam. This material will be available on B-B.

Last change 06/12/2023 14:55