GRA 3154 International Perspectives on Innovation

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

GRA 3154 International Perspectives on Innovation


Responsible for the course
Sverre August Christensen

Department
Department of Innovation and Economic Organisation

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The objective of the course is to show how different perceptions on innovation has evolved as a result of theoretical, academic, technological, industrial, economic and political development. And how the international development has effected Norway

Learning outcome
Students will be able to:

  • Comprehend theories on innovation and technological development.
  • Reflect upon how different forces, such as theoretical, academic, technological, industrial, economic and political forces, affect the perception and understanding of innovation.
  • Appreciate the historical development of theories of innovation, with emphasis on the traditions underpinning our understanding today.
  • Acquire a general understanding of the main political dimensions related to innovation.
  • Consider innovation's role and place in society.
  • Understand business and companies’ roles towards innovation.
  • Understand the governments’ roles towards innovation.
  • Get a thorough understanding of the Norwegian innovation system, or Norwegian clusters.
  • Contemplate on firms in relation to innovation, development and crises.
  • Be able to discuss and appreciate different viewpoints and opinons on innovation and innovation policy
  • To reflect in writing on the issues above.

Prerequisites
A bachelor degree qualifying for entrance to the Master programme

Compulsory reading

Collection of articles:
Compendium with selected articles/book chapters

Other:
During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination.


Recommended reading

Course outline
0. Introduction
  1. The American challenge
  2. National champions
  3. Silicon Valley, The smart phone industry
  4. Small is beautiful and the Japanese lessons
  5. European integration – the Single European act
  6. Globalisation and innovation
  7. The Norwegian SI and clusters
  8. The Norwegian SI in oil
  9. The Nordic model
  10. The Indian and/or Chinese Challenge.
  11. Has innovation slowed down?
Summing up

Computer-based tools
Standard, It's learning/homepage

Learning process and workload
A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours. Regular lectures and workshops including paper presentations.

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on the course homepage/It's learning or text book.


Examination
The course grade will be based on the following activities and weights:
20 % class work (in the form of a mix of some/ all of the following: hand in of paper, projects, and homeworks; case presentations and class participation).
80% 3 hour written final exam.
To get a final grade in the course, students need to complete and achieve a passing grade in all parts of the evaluation.

In this course class attendence is mandatory. Absences can result in a lower score. Specific information regarding student evaluation beyond the information given in the course description will be provided in class. This information may be relevant for requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one of several elements of the overall evaluation.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam elements) and one final exam code. Each exam element will be graded using points on a scale (e.g. 0-100). The elements will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades on the course site in It’s learning.

Examination code(s)
GRA 31541 continuous assessment accounts for 100% of the final grade in the course GRA 3154.

Examination support materials
A bilingual dictionary. Examination support materials at written examiniations are explained under examination information in the student portal @bi. Please note use of calculator and dictionary in the section on support materials.

Re-sit examination
It is only possible to retake an examination when the course is next taught.
The assessment in some courses is based on more than one exam code.
Where this is the case, you may retake only the assessed components of one of these exam codes.
Where this is not the case, all of the assessed components of the course must be retaken.
All retaken examinations will incur an additional fee.

Additional information
Honor Code
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honor code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honor code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.

Any violation of the honor code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honor code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honor code, please ask.

Semesters

Translations