DRE 7010 The Innovative Firm

DRE 7010 The Innovative Firm

Course code: 
DRE 7010
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Knut Sogner
Course name in Norwegian: 
The Innovative Firm
Product category: 
PhD
Portfolio: 
PhD Innovation and Entrepreneurship courses
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
PhD
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course covers the social conditions tradition that emphasises that corporate innovations are affected by institutional factors related to strategies, finance and organizations. The underlying argument is that social conditions dependent on time and place cater for a certain kind of innovative firm, such as the new industrial factory of The Industrial Revolution, the Managerial Enterprise, typical of USA in the twentieth century, or the newer, more flexible type of firms that have been developed to some extent in Japan. Theories of how firms are resource based, linked in networks, or how success is dependent on (dynamic) capabilities are related to this body of theory. An important part of this approach is work organisation, and research has identified four main forms of work organisation: 'learning', 'lean', 'Taylorist', and 'simple'. Not only does the learning form of work organization result in less job stress and greater worker satisfaction, it also implies more labour market flexibility and superior conditions for learning and innovation. Emphasis is also placed on the role of multinational companies (MNCs) and the way they address innovation challenges: How they are combining in house research with outside sourcing, and how firms 'traditional proprietary attitude - in an open innovation environment where easier access to shared knowledge is becoming important-is challenged by new attitudes and newcomers.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The course will give the participants theoretical perspectives of major approaches to firm innovation, emphasising the constraints and difficulties surrounding firm's entrepreneurial actions. The course aims at clarifying and reflecting upon the firm's role in processes of innovation. Through a combination of lectures, seminars and paper writing exercises the students will be trained to position their work and to frame their research in relation to various schools of thought.

Learning outcomes - Skills

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Learning Outcome - Reflection

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Course content
  • The social conditions' approach to innovation
  • The capabilities approach
  • The work organisation approach
  • Multinationals' approach to innovations
  • The role of global knowledge networks and value chains
Learning process and requirements to students

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Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

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Qualifications

Enrollment in a PhD programme is a general requirement for participation in PhD courses at BI Norwegian Business School.
External candidates are kindly asked to attach confirmation of enrollment in a PhD programme when signing up for a course. Other candidates may be allowed to sit in on courses by approval of the course leader. Sitting in on a course does not permit registration for the course, handing in exams or gaining credits for the course. Course certificates or confirmation letters will not be issued for sitting in on courses.

Required prerequisite knowledge

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Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
The term paper should 15-25 pages long,original work and written specifically for this course.
Exam code: 
DRE 70101
Grading scale: 
Pass/fail
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam organisation: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.