Course content

The course focuses on established and emerging research-based theories with a focus on innovation management and intellectual property. The course revolves around the key questions of how organisations can exploit and explore innovative opportunities to create competitive advantage. The course addresses issues of how to build and manage innovative capabilities and how the development of technological innovations affects the direction and outcome of innovations.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• Have in-depth knowledge of key themes, methods and challenges in innovation research
• Have detailed knowledge of stakeholders, challenges and characteristics of innovation at company, national and regional level
• Have a basic knowledge of national and international legislation and processes for the protection of intellectual property rights
• Have good knowledge in reading academic articles and academic writing

Skills:

• Be able to analyse existing theories and methods within the subject area
• Under guidance, be able to carry out well-defined research and academic work in the subject area

Competence:

• Be able to communicate the topics and conduct various analyses of the field with different stakeholders

Learning methods and activities

Pedagogy: The lectures/sessions adhere to a dialogue-based approach with an interactive format, where participants will exchange their own interpretations, critiques and suggestions to the syllabus. Hence, this is particularly important when guest lectures deliver the lectures/sessions.

Sessions/lectures: In each session we will read and discuss some articles in addition to the book chapters from the course book. The articles may include theoretical and empirical work, or both. We expect you to read all the articles and to think through and reflect on them before each lecture. This is important because this is an interactive course. I recommend that you first skim-read the assigned articles, then carefully read them again and make notes of important information, concepts and ideas.

To cultivate critical thinking with regards to innovation and international business issues, participation is expected and required.

Note, guest lectures, company visit(s), and three individual assignments are mandatory for access to exam/final grade. (if possible, attendance can be done through virtual channels e.g. Zoom, Collaborate etc).

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Completion of a relevant undergraduate degree programme or equivalent. For more information, please see the admission requirements for the Master in International Business.

Required previous knowledge

This course is only available to students who have been admitted to the following programmes: - Master in International Business and Marketing, at Department of International Business (NTNU Aalesund) - Mater in Management of Innovation and Sustainable Business Development, at Department of International Business (NTNU Aalesund) - Master in Business Administration, at Trondheim Business School (NTNU Trondheim) - Master in Financial Economics, and Master in Economics, at Department of Economics (NTNU Trondheim) - Master in Entrepreneurship, and Master in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, at Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management (NTNU Trondheim)

Course materials

The main syllabus contains a number of classical and contemporary articles, complemented by some chapters from the main course book.