Management of Innovation
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
Although scientific and technological breakthroughs are offering unprecedented opportunities, innovation remains a tricky issue at global, industrial and firm level. At global level, firms in the markets and public institutions do often complement each other, so that the relative position of each nation in the innovation race can rapidly change, making specific settings more suitable for new ideas. At industrial level, innovations can be so disruptive to threaten large firms, not able to change their business models. At firm level, previous success and in-use technologies might limit the ability to adapt to changing environments. By using these three interconnected dimensions, the course offers student a broad and practical portfolio of concepts and tools to understand the innovation puzzle.Students will learn how to interpret the dynamic of innovative markets, the dilemmas incumbents and new companies face in making critical decisions, as well as the managerial challenges they both face.
Expected learning outcomes
Participants in this course will learn how to manage innovation challenges. They will know how to assess the impact of innovation on existing businesses and the potential of new ones. They also will learn how multifaceted the diffusion processes is and what kind of open innovation-based strategies can be put in place to control for risks and maximize opportunities. These take-aways do represent a useful platform to assess the feasibility of entrepreneurial initiatives in new as well in established companies. Together with the new start-up course, students will apply knowledge and understanding to the identification and exploitation of new opportunities.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
Technology and Innovation Management is concerned with the creation, development and exploitation of innovation within companies.
The course aims at providing students a comprehensive framework to analyse innovation and its impacts at economic level. We will move from a quick review of the most salient economic theories on innovation to a general analysis of possible sources and types of innovation. At a macro level we'll discuss why states and governments are involved in the innovation race, and main reasons and conditions under which firms are willing to innovate.
Then we will focus more at industrial and company level. At industrial level, we will debate conditions that make innovation sustainable and successful. At company level, we will discuss how to protect innovation through IPRs and how to leverage the options of the open innovation paradigm. The last section of the class will be devoted to analyse most appropriate organizational solutions supporting innovation, as well as to share main methods and tools to manage groups and teams.
MAIN TOPICS
Sources and types of innovation- Entrepreneurship and economic theory-Technological cycles-Knowledge as a resource and its origin - Times of entry- Innovation vs imitation - Dominant design and the diffusion dilemma - Protecting innovation- Intellectual property rights and the market for patents - Organizational structures and innovation - New Product Development Management (process and teams)
The course aims at providing students a comprehensive framework to analyse innovation and its impacts at economic level. We will move from a quick review of the most salient economic theories on innovation to a general analysis of possible sources and types of innovation. At a macro level we'll discuss why states and governments are involved in the innovation race, and main reasons and conditions under which firms are willing to innovate.
Then we will focus more at industrial and company level. At industrial level, we will debate conditions that make innovation sustainable and successful. At company level, we will discuss how to protect innovation through IPRs and how to leverage the options of the open innovation paradigm. The last section of the class will be devoted to analyse most appropriate organizational solutions supporting innovation, as well as to share main methods and tools to manage groups and teams.
MAIN TOPICS
Sources and types of innovation- Entrepreneurship and economic theory-Technological cycles-Knowledge as a resource and its origin - Times of entry- Innovation vs imitation - Dominant design and the diffusion dilemma - Protecting innovation- Intellectual property rights and the market for patents - Organizational structures and innovation - New Product Development Management (process and teams)
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The course is based on a combination of teaching methods:
-lectures (live sessions and recorded video lectures);
-short exercises in class;
-case-studies;
-presentation
We will alternate standard lectures (live sessions and recorded video lectures) with more interactive classes where students' participation is required. Some classes will be devoted to case discussions and team assignments.
-lectures (live sessions and recorded video lectures);
-short exercises in class;
-case-studies;
-presentation
We will alternate standard lectures (live sessions and recorded video lectures) with more interactive classes where students' participation is required. Some classes will be devoted to case discussions and team assignments.
Teaching Resources
Slides, readings, cases and materials made available on Ariel.
Schilling M., (2017) Strategic management of technological innovation. Mc Graw-Hill, International Edition (ALL CHAPTERS except ch. 8 and 13)
Chesbrough H.W. (2003), The Era of Open Innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, Spring 35-41. (see Ariel)
Schilling M., (2017) Strategic management of technological innovation. Mc Graw-Hill, International Edition (ALL CHAPTERS except ch. 8 and 13)
Chesbrough H.W. (2003), The Era of Open Innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, Spring 35-41. (see Ariel)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students:
30% of the final grade: Group assignment (presentation and team assignments based on business case distributed in class)
70% of the final grade: Written individual exam (traditional/online)
Non attending students:
100% of the final grade: Written individual exam (traditional/online)
30% of the final grade: Group assignment (presentation and team assignments based on business case distributed in class)
70% of the final grade: Written individual exam (traditional/online)
Non attending students:
100% of the final grade: Written individual exam (traditional/online)
SECS-P/08 - MANAGEMENT - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Zamboni Silvia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Zamboni SilviaProfessor(s)