Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 4 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Managing for Innovation in the context of complex projects is a strategic process involving identifying key innovative opportunities, evaluating those opportunities, and driving the innovations forward. Continuous innovation with a consistent output requires leadership, an organisational culture that embraces innovation as a core value, innovation processes as a core methodology and people who are focused, enthusiastic and committed to coming up with the best ideas and getting them speedily to market. This unit will analyse case examples of innovations looking in particular at the dynamics of innovation and at management strategies that shape and drive disruptive innovation in complex projects. Building on the work of prior units, especially GSZ526 Problem Solving in Complex Environments and GSZ507 Developing and Leading High Performance Teams, this unit will identify ways of empowering teams at the operational level to identify innovative opportunities and overcome organisational inertia. It will also look at ways of managing multiple innovation opportunities concurrently and how to progressively select the most beneficial business cases.

Aims

The mission of the DMO executive education program is to provide world class graduate business education and a stimulating learning experience to current and future business leaders and managers. The aim of this particular unit is to help managers develop a thorough understanding of the principles, processes and practices of managing for innovation, including organisational processes which encourage incremental and disruptive innovation and systems integration.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Corporate Programs)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Program Goal 1: Understand Self and Lead Others in an International Environment (ULO)

1.1 Develop the personal attributes of action and outcome orientation, ability to influence and self-knowledge that distinguish the manager of complex projects.
1.2 Develop and demonstrate the leadership and communication skills to manage the staff involved in complex projects
1.3 Work effectively in managing people and a wide range of stakeholders through understanding of culture cognition, personality and human lifecycle.

Program Goal 2: Lead Strategic Planning, Design and Implementation (SPDI)

2.1 Understand the context of complex projects and the design and implementation of appropriate project strategy and systems to match emergent requirements
2.2 Demonstrate the capacity to design, establish and manage the organisational architecture for complex projects
2.3 Develop the understanding and skill to deliver probity and governance requirements for complex projects
2.4 Develop the capacity to design and implement innovative business planning, reporting and performance measurement systems.

Program Goal 3: Think Holistically: Innovate and Creatively Problem Solve (TH)

3.1 Develop the insights to manage people and systems subject to on-going change and constantly adapt to emergent conditions
3.2 Demonstrate the capacity to envision novel, critical and creative responses to complex and emerging problems

Program Goal 4: Develop the understanding of and skill to design, manage and lead strategic procurement practices that respond to the challenges of the complex organisational and project management environment. (SP)

4.1 Develop, plan and implement a comprehensive and effective acquisition strategy to deliver complex strategic capabilities.
4.2 Assess and implement the contractual requirements of a complex acquisition taking into account the implications of international law and conventions, intellectual property rights, and ensuring the appropriate allocation and mitigation of contractual risks.
4.3 Develop, plan and implement strategic sourcing arrangements covering the capability life-cycle.

Unit Objectives
At the completion of the unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify the dynamics of innovation, including the sources, types and patterns of innovation, design dominance, and apply tools to case studies.
2. Formulate an innovation strategy, including the importance of using the knowledge from objective one above to inform strategic direction and project selection and to use tools to make decisions regarding collaboration and protection strategies.
3. Design, develop and evaluate approaches to implementing an innovation strategy, including how best to organise for innovation, how to manage the innovation process, and how to manage innovation teams.

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

Module 1: Key issues in Innovation Management: Importance of innovation; models and types of innovation; disruptive innovation
Module 2: Innovation as a Business Process: Design processes and innovation; managing continuous improvement; Kaizen
Module 3: Innovation Strategy; Learning through alliances; Open innovation & collaboration,
Module 4: The Innovative Oganisation; Organising and managing people for innovation; innovation teams
Module 5: Managing Projects, Complex projects, Innovation and procurement; organisational innovation.
Module 6: Innovation for Learning and Performance; Innovative tools and techniques; Assessing and improving innovation management

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

A blended learning approach is taken with this unit. Students will engage with the material through a blend of:

• Guided instruction, learning activities, readings and cases presented in a comprehensive study guide. Students are expected to engage with the readings and learning activities in the study guide prior to the face to face session.


• A comprehensive set of readings, cases, workplace documents and other authentic materials that will be provided in advance with the study guide. Set texts for units will be provided in advance to students.


• Intensive face-to-face sessions for each of the modules of the unit, where students will actively engage in exploring the concepts, issues and cases provided in the study guide. A focus on facilitated group learning and collaboration is a feature of the face-to-face sessions rather than content input by the lecturer.


• A Blackboard learning site where additional materials, and computer simulations can be shared through the life of the unit. Collaboration tools for students such as blogs, wikis, discussion forums, and group tools will be a feature of the Blackboard site.

There is a commitment to critical inquiry and intellectual debate in regard to the material covered, and students are encouraged to relate the theories and research discussed to situations known to them

Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation


• Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary


• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation


• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: 1A: Case Analysis
Description: You are required to develop a written Memo analysing the innovation process in a given case using the criteria presented.

How students will be assessed: Group product will be assessed by instructor based on detailed criterion referenced assessment; Peer evaluation of each individual's contribution to the group effort will be taken into consideration.

Length/Duration: 1,000 words
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1 and AOL goals: 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: End of Module 6

Assessment name: 1B: Audit
Description: Using the material and the 'Take Action for Innovation' instrument presented in your Study Guide, you will meet with your manager, workplace supervisor or mentor and complete an innovation audit for your organisation. You will summarise your findings into 1-2 pages identifying strengths and gaps in the organisation in relation to innovation.

How students will be assessed: You will receive written feedback from the instructor on the summary of your findings, which will help you to formulate your approach to developing an innovation plan for your organisation, the subject of Assessment Item 2. This audit will provide valuable data to you for the Innovation Plan. By discussing the audit with your workplace supervisor you will be able to identify the readiness of your organisation for innovation and identify the strengths and gaps operating in your organisation.

Optional or Compulsory: Optional

Length/Duration: 1-2 pages
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 2 and AOL goals: 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 6

Assessment name: Innovation Plan
Description: You are required to develop an Innovation Plan for your organisation, drawing on the innovation audit you completed in Assessment 1. The Plan will include the formulation and implementation of an innovation strategy and innovation processes and practices in relation to a portfolio of projects and will make recommendations to senior management.

How students will be assessed: The Plans will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the criterion referenced assessment document.

Length/Duration: 2,000 words
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1,2,3; and AOL goals: 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 6

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text
Tidd, J. & Bessant, J. (2009). Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change. 4th , Ed. John Wiley and Sons.

Required References
GSZ513 Study Guide and Readings
Case Studies

Other Resources
GSZ513 Blackboard site

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 25-Feb-2013