APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016

DRE 3007 Introduction to Innovation

Responsible for the course
Heidi Wiig Aslesen, Bjørn Terje Asheim

Department
Department of Innovation and Economic Organisation

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
This course presents an overview of innovation studies. It is divided into a system approach, i.e. the systemic nature of innovation and economic growth, and a corporate and organizational approach, focusing in particular on strategic issues. Both approaches deal with how processes of innovation occur. Traditionally, the system approach has dealt primarily with the allocation of resources to innovation and its macroeconomic effects (e.g. the relation between innovation on the one hand and a country’s competitiveness and economic growth on the other), while the innovation process at the micro level (e.g. in firms) has been treated more or less as a ‘black box’. Obviously, a lot of what happens has to do with learning occurring in organized settings (e.g. project groups, teams, firms and networks), the working of which is studied within disciplines such as sociology, organizational science, management and business studies. Innovation is a complex and dynamic organizational process—with repeating cycles of divergent and convergent activities—that both depends on and spurs of organizational learning and adaptation. Taking a strategic perspective on these processes is important to grasp opportunities and hindrances, as well as identifying the role of intentional action.

Learning outcome
The course will give the participants theoretical knowledge of major approaches to innovation studies, emphasising the collective research effort of this field over the last quarter of a century. The course places particular emphasis on how those research results can be translated into strategic action, be it from a corporate or societal perspective. 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 within innovation studies broadly defined.

Prerequisites
Admission to 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 admission to a PhD programme when signing up for a course with the doctoral administration. Candidates can be allowed to sit in on courses by approval of the course leader. Sitting in on courses does not permit registration for courses, handing in exams or gaining credits for the course. Course certificates or conformation letters will not be issued for sitting in on courses.

Compulsory reading

Collection of articles:
A collection of scientific articles

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
Innovation studies
Innovation management
Innovation strategy
National innovation systems
Innovation policy

Computer-based tools
Not applicable

Learning process and workload