This programme provides the student with knowledge and skills in the field of entrepreneurial innovation processes. First it presents the main tools to understand the scope and implications of an innovation and of the dynamics of innovative processes. On this basis, secondly, students should develop basic skills to tackle innovation management issues by providing the student with a methodology and a set of specialized operational tools.
- Schilling, Izzo, Gestione dell’innovazione, 4th ed, McGraw-Hill, 2017, only Chapters 1,2,3,4,5, 7,8,9, 12
- Supplementary teaching materials provided by the teacher available on the Moodle platform (e-l.unifi.it)
Learning Objectives
Teaching aims to provide the student with knowledge in the field of entrepreneurial innovation processes and develop basic skills to tackle innovation management issues.
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisites are required, but it is desirable for the student to have the basic knowledge in the field of management and, in particular, of business strategy and marketing
Teaching Methods
Classroom-taught lessons and seminars with professionals in the field of innovation management.
Attending students will be guided in the development of a work that analyzes a case of innovation.
Further information
Lesson Schedule (no., date, hours; contents):
1 Me 13-Sep-17 2 Course Presentation. General concepts in innovation and entrepreneurship and their link with strategy and research of competitive advantage. CASE: electric car (first approximation)
2 G 26-Oct-17 4 1. "What is Innovation": major taxonomies; difference between innovation and invention; complexity of the phenomenon. 2. The link between innovation and entrepreneurship; definition of entrepreneurship. The concept of "entrepreneurial innovation CASES: Meucci and Bell, Tesla and Edison, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
3 Ma 31-Oct-17 2 The theoretical background on the theme of innovation and entrepreneurship and the importance of a conscious vision of the role of these phenomena in determining the dynamics of the economy and society. Notes to Drucker, Schumpeter and other authors
4 G 02 Nov-17 4 Forms of innovation. Building an analytical "grid" to understand the contents, meaning and possible implications of an innovation.
5 Ma 07-Nov-17 2 The forms of innovation (end). The "contexts" of innovation: from start-up to development of a new product. Terms and Conditions for the Establishment of an Enterprise.
6 Me 08-Nov-17 2 (cont.) Terms and conditions for the birth of the enterprise. Startups: General Aspects
7 G 09-Nov-17 4 SEMINAR: Marco Bicocchi Pichi (president of Italy Startup) - Theme: Startup and Financing
8 Nov 14, 17 2 The sources of innovation (beginning): a first taxonomy, the role of creativity, our model of analysis. 1st perspective: Analysis of actors and places of innovation.
9 Me 15-nov-17 2
10 G 16 Nov-17 4 SEMINAR: Alessandro Sordi (Nanabianca) - theme: startup development - in the case of ICT
11 May 21-Nov-17 2 The sources of innovation: 2nd perspective: the Drucker model, general aspects and method; analysis of the 7 circumstances-type
12 Nov 22-Nov-17 (continued) Drucker's Model: 7-Circumstance Analysis; development of corporate cases
13 G 23 Nov-17 4 SEMINAR: Rosario Faraci - theme: Open Innovation
14 Nov 28-Nov-17 2 Innovation and collaborative networks: business networks, collaboration strategies.
15 Me 29-Nov-17 2 (Continued) Business networks, collaboration strategies.
16 G 30 Nov-17 4 SEMINAR: Jose d'Alessandro theme: the new frontiers of innovation
17 May 05-Dec-17 2 Innovation Management: Selection of Innovation Projects; the choice of time to enter the market
18 Me 06-Dec-17 2 Innovation Management: managing the processes of developing a new product
19 G 07-Dec-17 2 SEMINAR: Michele Mannucci (Mannucci Associati): patenting and other forms of protection of innovation.
2 Conclusion of the course: summary of the topics covered and presentation of the main links between the different parts
Type of Assessment
Oral examination. It will be assessed, first of all, knowledge of the topics that are part of the course program; therefore the ability to discuss them in depth and to make the necessary connections between the different parts of the program; and finally the ability to analyze innovation cases using the tools and skills provided in the course.
In the case of attending students who have developed an elaborate on a case of innovation, this work will also be evaluated.
Course program
1. Innovation and entrepreneurshim: their basic contents; main taxonomies; the link between innovation and entrepreneurship; difference between innovation and invention; the concept of "entrepreneurial innovation”, the link with strategy and with the search for competitive advantage.
2. The theoretical background: innovation and entrepreneurship as "complex" phenomenon; their central role in determining the dynamics of economy and society. Analysis of the main contents from the classical economy to date; in-depth information on Schumpeter's contribution.
3. The forms of innovation. Construction of an analytical "grid" to understand the contents, the meaning and the possible implications of an innovation: the degree of innovation newness; product and process innovation; technological innovation and non-tech innovation; radical and incremental innovation; disruptive and sustaining innovation; competence enhancing and competence destroying innovation; archiectural and modular innovations (Abernathy and Clark model)
4. Entrepreneurial innovation as a process: the analysis of the main phases of a process of innovation and of the conditions and conditions for starting up and for the success of a new business venture (models of Bessant and Tidd and Vallini).
5. Startups: basic characteristics and problems; the financing cycle of a startup; business angels, incubators and accelerators; venture capital; crowdfunding; the specificities of the business models of startups operating in the field of e-business.
6. The sources of innovation: analysis of the relationship between an innovative idea and its translation into a business idea. First taxonomy of possible sources. A model of systematic analysis of the possible sources of innovation: a) analysis of "subjects" and "places" of innovation: inventors; research laboratories; incubators; technological clusters and technological parks; relationships between customers and suppliers; b) "circumstances" as sources of innovation: the model of Drucker's systematic entrepreneurship and the seven possible sources.
7. Open innovation: the reasons for the development of new "open" models of innovation; the Chesbrough model; perspectives and problems of Open Innovation.
8. Networks for entrepreneurship: the entrepreneurial "role networks" that can emerge within organizations and their role in determining their innovative potential, the models of Maidique, Hauschildt and Chakrabarti and Roberts and Fusfeld.
9. The dynamics of innovation: cycles and technological curves; conflicts of standards and affirmation of a dominant design; the choice of the right time to enter the market
10. Elements of strategy in the field of innovation; the choice of innovation projects (outline); collaboration strategies; the protection of innovation; the management of a new product development process.
The cases developed in classroom teaching and those presented in the text choosen chapters are an integral part of the program.