Technological change and innovation have to be managed by firms. In this course we will explore what main challenges firms face in their technological change and innovation activities and which concepts, techniques, tools and management processes are helpful to successfully advance technological change and innovations.

This is an introductory course to the management of innovation. Thus it aims at introducing theories, models and tools to the students that are central to managing the identification, development and commercialization of innovations. Core topics covered in this course include market failures faced by innovating firms, knowledge about the various definitions of an innovation and innovative activities, how to search for novel ideas (inside as well as outside of the firms’ boundaries), what tools to use inside and outside of the firm to evaluate promising ideas efficiently and accurately, ways to acquire external financing in case of cash flow constraints, tools to use to increase appropriability of innovations as well as various forms to develop innovations inside and outside of the firm. In examples, cases, and an assignment students work out in practice how to assess the feasibility and desirability of innovation opportunities and how to manage innovation from the first idea to implementing an innovation plan.

Book, articles and case studies.

Basic knowledge of: management/business economics, organization and strategy.
An advanced level of English