BMGT43850 Technology & Innovation Strategy

Academic Year 2023/2024

Technology and innovation are key strategic levers for competitive advantage, and their importance has further increased in todays’ digital economy. We take the perspective of CEOs and directors of large corporations to guide students through the understanding of how technological changes affect leading organizations, why they often fail to adapt, what are the strategies that new entrants use to attack through innovation, and how established companies can/should react in high-velocity and competitive environments.

This module will help participants to understand that creativity and innovation involve processes that can be designed, learned, and applied in order to increase their impact in intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial ventures. The module starts with a theoretical overview of innovation theories and concepts such as creative destruction, disruptive innovation and diffusion of innovation. They will be contrasted and discussed in great detail. Once these innovation theories are firmly understood will we explore the conditions under which creativity and innovation may proceed. For example, what is the impact of trust and reward on innovation? Also, what leadership behaviour is driving innovation and what leadership behaviour impacts innovation negatively. It will also explain how teams should be led to ensure that their ventures obtain the greatest benefit from creativity and innovation. The module will cover both theory and practice in innovation, and involve a mix of lectures, cases and practical applications including innovation in a range of fields and disciplines.

The objective of this course is to equip students with frameworks and examples regarding how companies develop technology and innovation strategies to gain and sustain competitive advantage.

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Curricular information is subject to change

What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be expected to:

- an ability to design organisations capable of innovation
- to learn how to lead creative and innovative teams
- insight in the processes of creativity and innovation and the difference between management and leadership
- knowledge about techniques on how to apply these in real life contexts
- a clear understanding that by creating the right context creativity and innovation can be enhanced
- a clear understanding of the theories that describe and predict managerial behaviour in a context of innovation
- a formal conceptual framework that will help them think about innovation and creativity and how to lead them
- to identify and initiate change in existing organisations to make them more innovative

- understand the drivers of technological changes and their consequences for organizations and markets
- use and apply existing models to predict strategic outcomes and changes in the competitive positioning of firms
- identify and analyze the relationship between technological innovation and firms’ advantage, and better interpret some of today’s industry transformations, such as the rise of platforms and ecosystems, potential disruptions and business model innovation.
- explain key concepts such as: industry evolution, product and process innovation, disruptive innovations, organizational adaptation, strategic alliances.
- develop their strategic thinking through the new lens, of innovation management
- improve their skills in analysing complex situations and discuss them through case study analysis and presentation.