BUS3027 : Innovation and Creativity
- Offered for Year: 2019/20
- Module Leader(s): Dr Neil Alderman
- Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
To introduce students to concepts and theories of creativity and its role in the innovation process. To provide students with an awareness and understanding of the role of management in fostering creativity and (particularly radical) innovation in the workplace. To introduce theoretical perspectives on the wider process of innovation that go beyond a simplistic managerial approach, including social shaping, evolutionary economics and actor networks. To provide students with the basis for critical judgement with regard to the strategies and processes of innovation creativity management in an organizational context and the role of innovation and creativity in contemporary economic and organizational activity.
Outline Of Syllabus
1 Creativity and Innovation: Introduction
2. Key concepts Aspects of creativity
3 What is creativity?
4 The creative process
5 Creative individuals
6 Creative teams
7 Creativity tools and techniques
8 Creative places
9 Creative organisations
10 Creative industries
11 The management of creativity
Design, design thinking and the design process
12 Design and consumer culture
13 Product design and design value
14 Design and competitiveness
Rational managerialism, radical innovation and technology failure
15 The Rational Managerialist Approach
16 Radical innovation and disruption
17 Engaging in radical innovation
18 Innovation and technology failure
How do innovations evolve?
19 Evolutionary Interpretations
20 The shaping of innovations: Politics and shaping within the firm
21 Social shaping of innovation and technology
Innovation in projects
22 Innovating in major projects: incremental versus radical change
23 Understanding the innovation process in major projects: Actor Network Theory
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 21 | 1:00 | 21:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 64:00 | 64:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Staff hours depend on class size. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures introduce students to the main theoretical ideas and processes of creativity management and innovation in different contexts. Students will be introduced to some of the key debates and controversies in the subject area. Critical approaches to the literature will be demonstrated through the lectures.
The group teaching sessions permit more detailed discussion of specific issues and case examples and engage students in practical exercises to experience creative practice and design thinking.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 50 | Unseeen examination. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | Individual assignment of 2,000 words |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Students are invited to present their ideas for assignment topics at a series of workshops at which feedback and guidance is given. |
| Written exercise | 2 | M | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Formative Feedback
Feed forward is provided at a session that goes over and explains the assignment brief. A Q&A session is provided at the end of the Autumn term before submission.
A preparation session is provided at which previous exam papers/questions are discussed and feed forward given.
Feedback is also provided on group discussions within seminars on specific topics with prior reading.
Summative Feedback
The exam will test students’ knowledge of the subject and their ability critically to assess competing theories and perspectives. Questions will invite critical analysis of key issues in innovation and creativity and their management.
The assessed essay will test students’ ability to relate ideas and apply theory to an analysis of a creative product, person, place of their choosing.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BUS3027's Timetable