In­nov­a­tion Man­age­ment

Course content

Innovation is a much-used buzzword in modern society. However, do we properly understand the concept in all its complexity? Moreover, what are the consequences of different understandings for how we deal with innovation management?

The aim of this course is to enable students to work with and discuss innovation based on an advanced understanding of the process of innovation and innovation management. In teaching, students will learn to see different perspectives and to work with these in relation to cases from real-life situations. We will discuss innovation management both on a societal level and on a more practical level, e.g. within a start-up or an existing company. We will be practical and get inspiration to how to create a business model and find the right partners. However, we will also look at innovation and entrepreneurship in unconventional contexts and discuss innovation management as something going on in a range of places – not always with economic growth as goal.

Based on discussions of different theories and cases, students will generally learn about managing innovation both within a start-up and in the broader realm of society. The course introduces the basics of innovation management in theory and practice, and discusses the concepts and processes in connection with (i) trends in the broader society; (ii) different possibilities in different businesses and contexts; (iii) the development of business models in start-ups and existing companies. In light of this, students will discover that innovation and innovation management are not predictable and linear processes, but complex, iterative, and dynamic.

The course takes an interdisciplinary approach integrating entrepreneurial history with current trends in strategic thinking about innovation. In this way, it teaches students how to draw on the past when imagining the future. Generally, we emphasise the development of the skills, capabilities, and judgment needed to manage innovation processes effectively.