UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Konrad-Zuse-Ring 11, 14469 Potsdam

MODULE HANDBOOK
B114 Innovation Management in a Globalized World

Winter Semester, Quarter 2, 2024

MODULE LEADER: Dr.Peter Konhaeusner

Module Tutor: Kris Scendo-Kokot

CONTACT INFO: kris.scendo-kokot@gisma-education.com
Office: TBA
OFFICE HOURS: Online by Appointment

MODULE TUTOR: Waseem Haider

CONTACT INFO: waseem.haider@gisma-education.com
OFFICE HOURS: Online by Appointment

MODULE SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

MODULE CODE: B114

CREDITS: 5 ECTS
LEVEL: EQF6
MODE OF DELIVERY Blended

WORKLOAD 50 hours directed study

75 hours independent studies

PRE-REQUISITES: None
CO-REQUISITES: None

Innovation is the process of introducing new ideas to organizations which (if everything goes according to
plan i.e., if there is a plan …) results in increased performance of the organization. Innovation is motivated
by increasing global competition which requires organizations to respond through introducing new
technologies, new management processes, and through adopting new skills and competencies. Globally
leading innovative companies, thus, do not leave innovation to inspiration or intuition but manage it
systematically i.e., new product or new use cases for services are systematically developed. For several
years, digital transformation has been one of the key challenges facing practically most contemporary firms
and organizations. Digital transformation is not a new skill set or an extension of existing product or service
offerings. Digital transformation is a discipline of innovation, albeit one that requires firms to thoroughly
assess and re-evaluate existing competences, infrastructure, business culture to define a path for
themselves that specifies which technologies are relevant and which technologies are feasible in terms of
the ‘here and now’.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

The module aims to:

1. Develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the key approaches, methods, and tools for
systematic innovation analysis management;
2. Enable the application of different tools for modelling business innovation;
3. Explore and analyse cases and strategies of organisations successfully harnessing technological and non-
technological innovation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES (LOs)

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

LO.1: Recognize and evaluate different types of innovations and be able to build assumptions about which
success-factors are likely to apply to different types;
LO.2: Apply business canvassing methods and tools for understanding and assessing innovative ideas and
be able to define assumptions about desirability, feasibility, and commercial viability of these ideas.

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LO.3: Explore a domain dominated by real-life issues to identify innovation needs and potential, and practice
using Design Thinking tools.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Students will engage in learning through a series of directed study activities, lectures, and self-study.
Teaching methods include external as well as self-generated case studies, critical thinking exercises, and
group discussions. Emphasis is placed on applying the students' own knowledge, based on their respective
professional and personal experiences, to solving problems that are deliberately complex, uncertain,
volatile, and ambiguous.

INDICATIVE COURSE CONTENT

The module covers the following topics:

• Introduction to the module: What are types of innovation? Case studies of successful and failed
innovation
• Technological vs. Non-Technological Innovation — new products and new services vs. transforming
organizations, processes and procedures — examples and case studies
• Digitalization as a special case of innovation incl. case studies
• How to conceive of innovation, how to operationalize it, how to analyze innovation and innovative
potential — different types of businesses
• Sustainability, ecological challenge, global inequality — how innovation can help tackle
sustainability-related challenges
• Design Thinking— Getting to know Design Thinking as a workhorse for managing innovation in
organizational contexts

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MODULE OUTLINE, AND TEACHING METHOD

CHAPTER IN THE CORE In-Class Activities &

Week KEY TOPICS AND CONCEPTS CLOs TEXT Formative Assessment
LO.1
LO.2 Tidd & Bessant, Chp. 1
Introduction to the module and foundations of innovation Interactive lecture/case study
1

LO.1 Tidd & Bessant, Chp. 2

Innovation of business processes and digital transformation Rogers, Chp. 1 Interactive lecture/case study
2
LO.1
Interactive lecture/
LO.2 Tidd & Bessant, Chp. 5
Sources of innovation Case study / Summative
3 Assessment 1

LO.2 Osterwalder & Pigneur, Section

entitled “Canvas“ and section
Developing an innovation strategy entitled “Evaluating Business Interactive lecture/case study
4 Models“
Models of Impact Package

LO.2 Tidd & Bessant, Chp. 6

Interactive lecture/case study
Search strategies for innovation
5 / Summative Assessment 2

LO.2 El-Haggar, Chp. 2

Researching a field that urgently needs innovation: climate change, LO.3 Hoosain, M.S., Paul, B.P.,
6 sustainable management, resource efficiency Ramakrishna, S. (2020)
Interactive lecture/case study
United Nations (2019)

LO.2 Lange & Santarius, Chp. 3

Exploring the potential of digital technology to innovate the Interactive lecture/case study
7 sustainability space I
LO.3 World Economic Forum (WEF) in
/ Summative Assessment 3
collaboration with PwC (2020).

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 Exploring the potential of digital technology to innovate the LO.3 El-Haggar, Chp. 9
8 sustainability space II Lange & Santorius, Chp. 5
Interactive lecture/case study

LO.1 Beckmann & Barry

Interactive lecture/case study
9 Managing innovation: Design Thinking LO.2 Tschimmel
/ Summative Assessment 4
LO.3

REVISION

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READING AND COURSE PREPARATION

All of the books for the module are available on Perlego:

Essential Reading

Tidd, J. & Bessant, J. (2018). Managing Innovation. Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational
Change. 6th Edition. Wiley. https://perlego.com/book/1812805/managing-innovation-integrating-
technological-market-and-organizational-change-pdf/

Lange, S. & Santarius, T. (2020). Smart Green World? Making Digitalization Work for Sustainability.
Routledge. https://perlego.com/book/1514889/smart-green-world-making-digitalization-work-for-
sustainability-pdf/

El-Haggar, S.M. (2015). Sustainability and Innovation. The Next Global Industrial Revolution. The American
University in Cairo Press. https://perlego.com/book/1468101/sustainability-and-innovation-the-next-
global-industrial-revolution-pdf/

Osterwalder, A. & Pigneur, Y. (2013). Business Model Generation. A Handbook for Visionaries, Game
Changers, and Challengers. Wiles. https://perlego.com/book/1007692/business-model-generation-a-
handbook-for-visionaries-game-changers-and-challengers-pdf/

Recommended Reading
Anthony, S.D., Johnson, M.W., Sinfield, J.V., & Altman, E.J. (2008). The Innovator’s Guide to Growth. Putting
Disruptive Innovation to Work. Harvard Business Review Press. https://perlego.com/book/836925/the-
innovators-guide-to-growth-putting-disruptive-innovation-to-work-pdf/

Beckman, S.L., Barry, M. (2007). Innovation as a Learning Process: Embedding Design Thinking. California
Management Review 50 (1)

Models of Impact Package from MODELS OF IMPACT: THE BUSINESS MODEL DESIGN GAME, @
modelsofimpact.co

Hoosain, M.S., Paul, B.P., Ramakrishna, S. (2020). The Impact of 4IR Digital Technologies and Circular
Thinking on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability 12 (10143)

Rogers, D.L. (2016). The Digital Transformation Playbook. Columbia Business School Publishing.
https://perlego.com/book/774197/the-digital-transformation-playbook-rethink-your-business-for-the-
digital-age-pdf

United Nations (2019). The Sustainable Development Goals 2019. Available @

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2019.pdf

Tschimmel, K. (2012). Design Thinking as an Effective Toolkit for Innovation. Proceedings of the XXIII ISPIM
Conference: Action for Innovation: Innovating from Experience. Barcelona

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World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with PwC (2020). Unlocking Technology for the Global Goals.
Available at http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Unlocking_Technology_for_the_Global_Goals.pdf

ASSESSMENT, GRADING, AND FEEDBACK

Assessments should align with course objectives and materials. This assessment is designed to assess
students´ ability as outlined in learning outcomes. The following assessment strategy is used within this
module.

Summative assessment is through:

Assessment Title Weight towards Outline details Submission Date

final grade %
Analyze a digital or 70% Essay with 2,500 words End of module (see Assessment
technical innovation +/-10% Brief)
using the analytical lens
of the Business Canvas.
Online Assessment 15% Online quizzes on Canvas Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9
(work through the
asynchronous material is
mandatory)
Participation ≥ 80% 15% Continuous
A range of formative assessments, undertaken both in class and during the independent study, will be set on a
weekly basis. This will provide regular and detailed feedback to students so that they can develop an awareness
of their rate and level of progress and their strengths and weaknesses.

Submission Method electronically via the virtual learning system, by email or in class (TBC)
Special instructions Please submit your work as ONE file.
Use of Turnitin Submissions will be electronically checked for plagiarism.

GRADING
For the assessment performance criteria and grading system please refer to the Programme Handbook.

FEEDBACK
Assignments will be marked and graded according to published criteria. Written feedback will indicate
how the work compares to the given criteria and points for improvement and further development.