GRA 3151 Theories of Innovation
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APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016 |
GRA 3151 Theories of Innovation
Responsible for the course
Heidi Wiig Aslesen
Department
Department of Innovation and Economic Organisation
Term
According to study plan
ECTS Credits
6
Language of instruction
English
Introduction
This course will give an introduction to the understanding of the concept of innovation at the micro, meso and macro level by introducing theories conceptualizing and problematizing the term.
Learning outcome
This course introduces students to frameworks of understanding concepts and principles in innovation theory and research. The course aims at providing an understanding of the different aspects of innovation and its relationship with economic growth and welfare. The course will introduce the student to themes addressed more in depth in other courses of the programme and as such, have an introductory and synthesizing role for the programme as a whole.
The students should during the course have acquired knowledge on why and how innovations happen. They should understand aspects of the process through which innovation occurs through a number of theoretical perspectives. These perspectives should give insight to what influences innovation and how this varies across industries, sectors and through time.
After the course the studens should have acquired skills so that they can be able to reflect upon concepts and principles in innovation theory and research, and should have developed a constructive and critical atitude towards different approaches.
Prerequisites
All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.
Compulsory reading
Books:
Fagerberg, Jan, David C. Mowery and Richard R. Nelson, eds. 2005. The Oxford handbook of innovation. Oxford Unversity Press
Other:
During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination.
Selected articles
Recommended reading
Course outline
* Processes of innovation at the firm level; from static to dynamic models; absorptive capacity; types of innovation; measuring problems.
* Innovation as interactive learning
* Network and process perspectives on innovation
* Systems of innovation; national, regional and sectoral innovation systems
* Role of innovation at the macrolevel; MNC’s and innovation.
Computer-based tools
Not applicable
Learning process and workload
A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours.
The course will be carried out through lectures and working seminars and excursions. The lectures will be carried out with the expectation of high degree of student involvement through group work, presentations and discussions.
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:
1) The student’s participation in the classroom through presentations and discussions and the presentation of assignments given in class (20%)
2) Assignment (20%), written individually.
3) A term paper delivery (60%), written individually or in groups of max. 3 students.
| Form of assessment | Weight | Group size |
| Class participation | 20% | |
| Assignment | 20% | Individual |
| Term paper | 60% | Optional (individual or group of max 3 students) |
Specific information regarding student assessment will be provided in class. This information may be relevant to requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one of several components of the overall assessment. This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded using points on a scale from 0-100. The final grade for the course is based on the aggregated mark of the course components. Each component is weighted as detailed in the course description. Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam components will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the points system and the mapping scale in the student portal @bi.
Examination code(s)
GRA31511 continuous assessment accounts for 100 % of the final grade in the course GRA3151
Examination support materials
Permitted examination support materials for written examinations are detailed under examination information in the student portal @bi. The section on support materials and the use of calculators and dictionaries should be paid special attention to.
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. All retaken examinations will incur an additional fee. Please note that you need to retake the latest version of the course with updated course literature and assessment. Please make sure that you have familiarised yourself with the latest course description.
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.