What do you learn in this course?
After having studied this module, the students will have gained knowledge about theoretical basics of innovation management. They will comprehend the meaning of innovation management and its demarcation against routine activities in companies. They will be familiar with the most important terms and theoretical models, and they will know some of the available analysis techniques and project management instruments for dealing with innovations. They will be able to class their knowledge about innovation management with the operational context.
The aim of this module – besides imparting the above-mentioned theoretical basics – is to enable the students to apply their acquirements in a problem-oriented way. The students are expected to be able to address problems/projects independently and with creative solutions. In doing so, they are supposed to take their gained special knowledge as a basis, and to be open-minded about unconventional, flexible solutions, without neglecting fundamental economic ideas. It is not a learning objective to know the available instruments – such as patent portfolio, technology portfoilio, S-curve principle, and further models – in detail by heart, but to know their fields of application. Here, methodological competence that aims at applying an individual combination of given instruments for innovative problem solutions is to the fore.
Personal Expertise
In this module, the students demonstrate personal expertise by working on single learning units independently and with self-discipline. At the same time, they demonstrate their abilities for cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution by working on projects in teams and subsequently presenting their results to other course participants, either online or during the attendance phase.
How is the course structured?
1 Innovation Management: An Introduction
1.1 What are innovations?
1.2 Schumpeter – the ‘Godfather’ of innovation studies
1.3 Models of innovation
1.4 Repetition questions of chapter 1
2 Macro Factors and Innovation
2.1 Reasons for public support
2.2 Problems of public support
2.3 Repetition questions of chapter 2
3 Managing Intellectual Property
3.1 Patent
3.2 Utility model
3.3 Trademark
3.4 Copyright
3.5 Registered (industrial) design
3.6 Summery / overview
3.7 Repetition questions of chapter 3
4 Managing Organisational Knowledge
4.1 Different forms of knowledge
4.2 Knowledge base of the organisation
4.3 The learning organisation
4.4 Repetition questions of chapter 4
5 External and Internal Technology-based Analysis
5.1 External technology-based analysis
5.2 Internal technology-based analysis
5.3 Repetition questions of chapter 5
6 Technology-Portfolios
6.1 General characteristics of technology portfolios (TP)
6.2 Pfeiffer’s technology portfolio
6.3 Repetition questions of chapter 6
7 Selection of Technology Strategies
7.1 Linkage between technology strategy and business strategy
7.2 Dimensions of technology strategies
7.3 Types of technology strategies
7.4 Implementation of technology strategies
7.5 Summary
7.6 Repetition questions of chapter 7
8 New Product Development
8.1 Ansoff matrix
8.2 ‘Newness’
8.3 New product development theories / models
8.4 Repetition questions of chapter 8
9 Management of Research and Development
9.1 Classifying R&D
9.2 Linking R&D with the business strategy
9.3 R&D budget
9.4 Risks of R&D management
9.5 The changing nature of R&D
9.6 Organising industrial R&D
9.7 Scientific freedom in R&D
9.8 The link of R&D with the innovation process
9.9 Evaluating R&D projects
9.10 Repetition questions of chapter 9
10 Strategic Alliances and Networks
10.1 Definitions of strategic alliances and networks
10.2 Reasons for strategic alliances
10.3 Forms of strategic alliances and networks
10.4 Forming a strategic alliance
10.5 Risks and limitations of strategic alliances
10.6 The role of trust in strategic alliances
10.7 Repetition questions of chapter 10
11 Knowledge Transfer
11.1 Definitions of knowledge transfer
11.2 Open innovation
11.3 Models of knowledge / technology transfer
11.4 Receptivity
11.5 Limitations and barriers to knowledge / technology transfer
11.6 Factors fostering knowledge / technology transfer
11.7 Repetition questions of chapter 11
12 Final Comment