BUSM4528 Managing Technology & Innovation Strategy

Course Description

This course will focus on various concepts and theories of technology and innovation including, Research & Development (R&D) knowledge transfer, open innovation, technology sourcing, globalization of innovation, entrance strategies and appropriation. These will help you to understand, analyse and critically evaluate how innovation andtechnology, knowledge-transfer, and internationalization strategies enablefirms(from small born global entrepreneurial ventures tolargemultinational corporations) to enhance their competitiveness and performance in the global economy.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

CLO1: Develop insights leading to more effective decision-making in the practice of integrating technology strategy with innovation and business strategy in a technology-based organisation;

CLO2: Learn how to use innovationand technology to build and sustain competitive advantage(s) in the global economy;

CLO3: Evaluate management practices that allow internationalfirms to transfer knowledge and outsource technologies more effectively.

CLO3: Construct strategic plans that may enable a firm to benefit from the technological developments and scientific knowledge of its competitors;

Learning Activities

This course will be delivered f2f over 2 intensive weekends and 2 online tutorials as follows,

• Monday 18thof July (week 1)
• Sat 30th& Sun 31stof July (week 2),
• Sat 10th& Sun 11thof September (week 7) and,
• Monday 26thof September (week 10)

This course will use small group work and discussion. You will engage in ideating and testing business innovation and technology ideas. In this course you will be encouraged to be an active learner. Your learning will be supported through various in-class and online activities comprising individual and group work. These may include quizzes; assignments; prescribed readings; sourcing, researching and analysing specific information; solving problems; conducting presentations; producing written work and collaborating with peers on set tasks or projects. To get started, please review the Course orientation modules, then access the relevant topics as needed during the course.Please make sure tostay current on course news by checking the announcement and your emails. My contact details are available under the 'course orientation' tab and 'meet your tutor'.

Teaching Schedule

You are expected to demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability. It is pertinent that you complete the guided readings prior to the intensive weekend(s) to ensure that you attain the greatest learning from this course. It is recommended that you engage with the additional readings, and beyond. Links that take you directly to each article are provided on the course Canvas.

This course will be delivered as per the schedule outlined earlier over 2 intensive weekends (week 2, week 7, week 10) (plus the two supplementary online tutorial) as per the plan below (subject to variations if/as needed):

Overview of Learning Resources

Various learning resources are available online throughmyRMIT/Canvas. In addition to topic notes, assessment details and a study schedule, you may also be provided with links to relevant online information, readings, audio and video clips and communication tools to facilitate collaboration with your peers and to share information.

Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. Visit theRMIT librarywebsitefor further details. Assistance is availableonlinevia our chat and email services, face to face at ourcampus librariesor via the telephone on (03) 9925 2020.

Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.

Additional Learning Resources

Please refer to the weekly topics and the recommended list as per the table above and on Canvas (for more up to date information).

Overview of Assessment

The assessment tasks, their weighting and the course learning outcomes to which they are aligned are as follows:

Assessment Task 1:Individual Essay 20%
Linked CLOs: 1 and 2

Assessment Task 2:Group Report (CLN), 30%
Linked CLOs: 2 and 3

Assessment Task 3:Individual Essay, 50%
Linked CLOs: 2, 3 and 4

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or in online forums through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.

Assessment Tasks

This course has three assessment tasks, all of which must be completed. A total mark of50%is required for a pass in the course.This does not mean that each individual component of assessment must be passed.

Overview of Assessments

Assessment Task 1: Individual Essay

Learning Outcomes Assessed: CLO1

Purpose:In this assignment you are free to choose your own topic from the first.

Description: You will select the topic of your interest around the broader concepts of innovation. You will produce an essay about it blending practical knowledge and the theories we discussed so far. This is your opportunity to take control of your learning and pick an area from the courses content that most interests you and/or is relevant to your current/future job role. It is expected that you use multiple highly ranked academic journals to compose your essay.

Assessment Task 2:Group Report (CLN)

Learning Outcomes Assessed: CLO 2 & 3

Purpose:In this assignment you are required to work in teams of 3 (4 max) to draft a report based on theory and practical solutions about the following real-life scenario.

You will use the knowledge gained on the module and your extra reading on the topics covered.It is expected that you use multiple highly ranked academic journals to compose your report.

Description:You work in a consultancy firm. One of your clients (a real or fititious Australian company of your choice) would like to create three R&D units abroad. However, the firm has limited resource and is also affected by the overall economic recession and it therefore faces budget constraints. How would you help this company to choose appropriate locations for its R&D units?

Assessment Task 3: Individual Essay

Learning Outcomes Assessed: CLO 2, 3 & 4

Purpose:In this assignment you are required compose an essay based the following real-life scenario.

Description:"Your firm has decided to develop a new product (or service). You are considering whether to develop it internally or to open the innovation process. Please discuss the advantages and disadvantages of open innovation for each stage of the innovation funnel and justify in which stage(s) your company will rely on internal or external innovation. For the stage(s) you decide to source from outside your firm, please justify whether you will source them from abroad or from home."It is expected that you use multiple highly ranked academic journals to compose your essay.

Other Information

Assignment Submission Procedure

All written assignments must be submitted electronically through Turnitin (and, therefore, no Assignment Cover Sheet is required). Turnitin will assess your work in approximately one minute, and return a colour coded response for the originality of the text.

You must retain a copy of all work submitted for assessment until a final result for a course is formally released by the university.

Referencing Guide

You are required to adopt the RMIT-Harvard style of referencing, i.e., in text referencing and end of text reference list. All quotations and references should be properly sourced. Inadequate details of publications and other sources will reduce the assessed grade. Not adhering to the RMIT-Harvard referencing guides and academic-integrity/writing guidelines will lead to mark reductions and can also lead to disciplinary measures.

Students can consult the library referencing guides. There is also a dedicated module on the courses Canvas shell that provides you will all the information needed on how to approach an academic report/essay.

Seehttps://www.rmit.edu.au/library/study/referencingfor assistance.

In addition to these resources, RMIT provides academic skills support and resources through the Study and Learning Centre (https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/)and the library (http://www.rmit.edu.au/library).

All RMIT University policies on assessment apply.

Academic Integrity and Misconduct

Students demonstrate academic integrity in their assessment practices by:

• engaging with assessment activities in an honest way;
• providing accountability for the authorship and originality of work submitted;
• acknowledging the work of others and the re-use of original work.

Academic misconduct is addressed in accordance with theStudent conductpolicy

Assessment involving research with human participants, their information or their tissue, or animal subjects is carried out in accordance with theStaffethics and integrity policy.

For further information see theAcademic Integritywebsite.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, ideas or creation of another person as though they are your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. RMITs policy on plagiarism is available here:http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Extensions and Special Consideration (Individual and Group Assessment)

Extensions:

• Extensions are available for unforeseen circumstances of a short-term nature.
• Applications must be submitted to the school at least one working day before the due date of the assessment.
• Extensions can be approved for a maximum of one week (seven calendar days) past the due date for an assessment. (Where students need an extension exceeding one week they must instead apply for special consideration.)

Special consideration:

• Special consideration is available for unexpected circumstances outside students control. These include but are not limited to: unexpected short-term ill health, and unavoidable family, work, cultural or religious commitments.
• An application for special consideration is made in advance of an assessment wherever possible but will normally be accepted within five working days after the assessment date.

For more information, see theSpecial Consideration pageof the RMIT website.

Penalties for Late Submission

All assignments will be marked as if submitted on time. Late submissions of assignments without special consideration or extension will be automatically penalised at a rate of 10% of the total marks available per day (or part of a day) late. For example, if an assignment is worth 20 marks and it is submitted 1 day late, a penalty of 10% or 2 marks will apply. This will be deducted from the assessed mark. Assignments will not be accepted if more than five days late, unless special consideration or an extension of time has been approved.

Changes to the Assessment Scheme

Where a change to assessment approved by the dean/head of school changes an assessment due date, students will be given at least five working days notice of the new due date.