| Unit name | Global Innovation Networks |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0024 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Pyrko |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Knowledge and organisational learning are at the heart of creativity, innovation management, and entrepreneurship.
At the same time, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship are central activities to the well-being of today’s organisations and societies. Thus, it is essential that entrepreneurial and innovation activities are oriented towards building a sustainable and inclusive economy. In this unit, students will learn the key concepts that will enable them to develop a solid understanding and critical thinking with respect to the challenge of developing organisations that are both innovative and entrepreneurial in the context of the often turbulent and dynamically changing global environment. Thus, while the unit will cover the essential foundations with respect to the crucial notions of organisational learning, networks, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation, it will also provide a platform to problematise them and debate their ethical and responsible implementation.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The Global Innovation Networks unit adds to the storyline of the programme with an essential component of learning about the commercialisation of new knowledge and ideas while working towards a responsible and sustainable economy across organisational networks. On this basis, it provides a standalone ‘zoom-in’ perspective on the crucial role of knowledge and innovation in the context of global management.
An overview of content
The world of organisations is changing rapidly, and new technologies are creating not only new companies but entirely new ways of working and collaborating. Therefore, innovation and entrepreneurship are very much a current theme in our everyday lives. Small start-ups are disrupting established businesses, and established companies are trying to innovate new products and services to remain relevant and retain market shares. The course combines interactive lectures, workshops, and case analyses.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be able to draw on the theory of organisational learning, innovation management, creativity in business, and entrepreneurship, to address the practical everyday challenges in organisations and how they can support the development of an inclusive economy. To this end, students will learn to problematise the key concepts surrounding knowledge, learning, and creativity at the individual or personal level – which will then be applied to the organisational and global levels.
Learning Outcomes
1. To be able to critically apply key concepts within the theory and practice of organisational learning, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation management.
2. To develop solutions with respect to the key challenges entrepreneurs and managers face in the context of the global environment while creating and implementing innovation.
3. To be able to synthesize and critically evaluate frameworks, tools, techniques and skills to seize opportunities for intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship opportunities in the global environment.
4. To be able to develop solutions and recommendations for improving the role of creativity and innovation in the everyday process of organising and making strategies for a sustainable and inclusive economy.
Overview of the teaching pattern
The teaching pattern for this unit will comprise of:
The asynchronous material will allow students to prepare for the lectures while engaging with the tailored content prepared by the lecturer. Meanwhile, the weekly synchronous teaching (lectures/seminars/webinars) will focus on skills development, exercises, discussion and reflection.
Rationale for the proposed teaching pattern
The ability to appraise the contemporary global challenges in managerial practice requires developing critical thinking skills with respect to contemporary research and its bearing on the real-life problems faced by organisations. In order to develop these critical thinking skills, the formative and summative assessment is centred on the critical debate, application of theory, reflection, and problem-driven inquiry. In addition, all lectures will promote interaction and discussion of the current affairs in the business world and the evaluation of the relevance of the theory taught. Meanwhile, the pre-recorded teaching material and independent learning using the provided materials on Blackboard will enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
1000 words draft of the report, which will be treated as an early draft of the summative assignment outlined below.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 2000 individual report in which students analyse a real-life business issue in an organistion which they are familiar with. The business issue has to be concerned with organisational learning, creativity, innovation, or entrepreneurship. Students will have to define the business issue, select the relevant theories and frameworks to address it, and then write the recommendations (ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4).
When assessment does not go to plan
If students fail the summative piece of assessment, they will be asked to submit a new assignment on a different topic but corresponding to the respective failed assignment outline and requirements. For example, if a student fails the report, they will have to submit a new report but choose a different topic.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MGRCM0024).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
