Sustainable Business Development and Innovation: The Firm Perspective (ECS110)

Sustainable innovation is vital for firms' growth and competitiveness, offering both social and economic benefits. Today's leading companies primarily compete through innovation - this includes continuous product development, process enhancements, organizational changes, or exploring new markets. In the knowledge economy, firms must strategize their innovation approach and foster an environment conducive to creative growth. This course equips students with a critical understanding of firm strategies in innovation management. By examining real-world innovation processes in both private and public sectors, students will gain practical skills in sustainably managing innovation. Additionally, the course offers hands-on experience through collaborations with local firms.


Course description for study year 2024-2025. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

ECS110

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

5

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

The course will take up the following topics:

  • Disruptive innovation
  • Exploring innovation space
  • lnnovation as a process
  • Sources of innovaion
  • Dynamic capabilities
  • lnnovation strategy
  • Lean for innovation
  • lnnovation in public organizations
  • Sustainable innovation
  • Gate stage process, agile model of innovation
  • Open innovation

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Through the course, students will develop a solid understanding of the scholarly debate on innovation in the management sciences, including:

• The importance of innovation to firms

• Identifying strategic capabilities

• Sources and the process of innovation

• Strategies for innovation

• Sustainability-oriented innovation

Skills

Students will be able to:

• Present and critically assess different scholarly theories and hypotheses, as well as strategy and/or policy statements, related to innovation

• Conduct an analysis of the drivers and/or outcomes of innovation in real firms

• Discuss different strategies for promoting innovation in a firm

• Contribute to the management of a firm’s innovation process

• Identify and find solution for 10 most common innovation challenges

Required prerequisite knowledge

The course is on Masters level, and a bachelor's degree in any science is required.

Recommended prerequisites

Basic knowledge in business administration is recommended.

Exam

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

Masoumeh Shahverdi

Course coordinator:

Tatiana Aleksandrovna Iakovleva

Method of work

The course is divided into two segments: an online component featuring 10 pre-recorded lectures, and two in-person workshops at Stavanger University. The online lectures offer flexibility, allowing participants to view them at their preferred pace and at a time that suits them best.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Applied Innovation Management (MSB416_1) 5

Open for

Exchange programme ECIU University

Literature

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