OVERVIEW

The course addresses the issues of innovation in business as a key factor for competing on the markets. The development of new digital technologies is profoundly transforming corporate innovation processes. The presence of heterogeneous clusters, made up of companies and institutions, makes the innovation process more complex than in the past in all sectors, with a differentiated impact in relation to the dynamics with which new technologies are adopted and assimilated within business processes . Taking into account the current technological, competitive and market context, this course aims to provide theoretical and managerial tools to analyze and understand the innovation processes underlying the generation and diffusion of new technologies, with particular attention to the new emerging technologies of the Industry paradigm 5.0, which emphasizes the centrality of sustainable development according to the UN 2030 Agenda.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course addresses the issue of innovation within the company as a key factor for competing on the market, particularly by examining technology management strategies and technology-based innovation. The course pursues two educational objectives: - to provide the classroom with knowledge and valuable tools to frame the issue of strategic management of innovation in the company, in its multiple dimensions (technological, market, organizational innovation) - to examine the issues of technology management as a source of competitive advantage, in light of the dynamics introduced by the spread of the open innovation paradigm and new disruptive technologies.
The structure of the course reflects the fundamental phases of a strategic management process, proceeding from the evaluation of the dynamics of the technological and market environments, to the formulation of the strategy and its implementation, with an emphasis on the study of design thinking and exploratory marketing techniques for creating innovative value propositions.
The course includes lectures, in-depth seminars and group activities.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the course is to provide students with a solid base of theoretical and managerial knowledge to understand and analyze the challenges related to innovation processes in the current technological, competitive and market context, which requires the ability of companies and institutions to act in line with current trends at a global level, enhancing distinctive resources and skills available and activated in local systems.

The program focuses on deepening the fundamental concepts relating to the generation and diffusion of innovation, with particular emphasis on systemic innovative processes involving a vast spectrum of public and private actors (research institutes, businesses, government agencies and bodies, hybrid organisations which favour interaction between the fundamental components of the innovation ecosystem). From a technological point of view, we focus on emerging technologies, specifically the so-called Deep Tech, which is expected to have a significant impact shortly and for which essential pre-existences already exist in the regional innovation ecosystem.

The objective is to equip students with the necessary skills to:

- analyse the dynamics of innovation processes at different levels (territorial, organisational, individual)

- Identify the leading actors (innovators, facilitators, users) of the innovation processes and analyse the dynamics of the relationships between them, recognising the incentive factors and those that hinder the development of virtuous processes

- Set up strategic analysis and design processes for the translation of creative ideas into product/process innovation projects

- Establish strategic analysis and planning processes that underpin the development of creative ideas into business projects.

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Describe innovation processes, focusing on processes involving different public and private actors.
• Distinguish and classify emerging technological innovations and solutions.
• Identify and analyse the challenges related to innovation processes involving emerging technologies, with particular reference to the applications of innovative technologies in key sectors of the smart specialisation strategy at the regional level.
• Evaluate the adoption processes of new digital technologies and the diffusion mechanisms in specific sector contexts.
• Effectively communicate innovation projects, as well as formulate strategies through group activities.
• Identify the primary critical issues associated with implementing an innovation strategy.
• Develop a business project using a design thinking approach.
• Develop and present a business plan based on an innovative idea.

PREREQUISITES

The following topics are useful prerequisites for adequate use of the course content:

- strategic management theories and models

- basic knowledge of marketing management.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, case analyses, and company testimonials.

Furthermore, students will be engaged in analysing and developing a case study. Workgroups will be formed during the course sessions, and each group will be assigned a specific case to examine using the methodologies learned throughout the course. During the course’s final week, each group will present their project, proposing innovative strategies and solutions.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course intends to offer an in-depth understanding of innovation management processes. The program is structured in two parts.

In the first, students learn the theories and practices of innovation management, focusing on the strategies of generation, diffusion and adoption of innovations in the corporate and ecosystem context.

The second part of the teaching focuses on technological trends and specific innovative processes, defined from time to time as emerging needs at a territorial level and by relationships with actors in the territorial innovation ecosystem. In this part, of an exploratory/applicative nature, students tackle a particular technology, or a specific sector application, to stimulate active learning processes through a project work that can simulate:

- the presentation of an innovation project to management;

- the launch of a technological asset with a high innovation content;

- the presentation of a start-up project to investors.  

Through an integrated approach between theory and practice, teaching aims to raise students' awareness of the complex challenges related to the dynamics of technological change, and to exploit emerging opportunities.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Reference text:

Schilling M., Strategic Management of Technological Innovation, McGraw-Hill Education.

In-depth readings on single topics may be indicated to attending students; additional readings and materials will be published on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes are held in the second semester, according to the calendar and timetable established by the Department of Economics.
The class schedule and classrooms are available at the Easyacademy link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam includes a written test with open-ended questions on the topics covered in the syllabus.

Retaking the exam: Students who receive a failing grade on the exam cannot sit for the next exam session. However, they may sit for the next exam session if it falls within a different exam session. Students who fail to receive a passing grade may resit the next exam session. Erasmus students may sit for the exam in all available exam sessions.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam will assess the student's ability to:
1. orient themselves with respect to the theories and reference models in innovation management, placing them in the correct temporal sequence.
2. solve simple questions relating to the management of the main processes associated with the implementation and valorization of a technological innovation.

The following are assessment parameters:
- correct use of specialized vocabulary
- the ability to critically reason about the appropriateness of innovation management models in relation to specific sectoral and technological circumstances.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Each year, the teacher examines and considers the evaluations and suggestions submitted by students in the teaching evaluation questionnaires.