Selected Learning Goals

The Course mainly contributes to the following Programme Learning Goal:

-        Ability of identifying, structuring, and solving meaningful research questions in the innovation management and economics field (LG1)

Course Aims

Specifically, the course aims at developing the ability of identifying and structuring meaningful research questions in the innovation management and economics field; it is fundamental in order to absorb a clear overview about the main theories and frameworks in the innovation management and economics field

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to:

-        Identifying meaningful research questions, also by defining them and differentiating them from similar problems in the innovation management and economics field (ILO1.1)

-        Structuring these research questions, also by critically assessing them and by linking them to extant knowledge for unearthing relevant gaps in the innovation management and economics field (ILO1.2)

Pedagogical methods/tools:

Lectures, Case Studies, Discussion, Exercises

Assessment methods:

-        Active participation in class discussions and exercises

-        Group assignment (max 2 students): preparation of a review article on one topic related to the ones addressed in the course (Choose the topic that is most relevant to your own research interests)

Evaluation:

-        Active participation [50%] (ILO1.1)

-        Group assignment [50%] (ILO1.1 and ILO1.2)

Roberto Verganti

Introduction and Innovation Leadership

Conceptual problems and theoretical streams in Innovation Management. Empirical challenges. Innovation and leadership: the role of people in innovation.The strategic perspectives.

Claudio Dell’Era

Innovation and Design

The interplay between Innovation and Design. Synergies between Innovation and Design. Design Thinking and Innovation of Meaning.

Federico Frattini

Open Innovation

Theories of innovation across the boundaries of firms. Collaboration between firms, and in communities, in a digitalized world.

Massimo G. Colombo

Innovating through alliances and acquisistions

Alliances and acquisitions and innovation. Theoretical lenses (transaction cost economics, competence & resource based view, agency theory, social identity approach). Methodological challenges and approaches typical of the quantitative empirical literature.

Massimiliano Guerini

Introduction and Innovation Leadership

Literature at the cross-road of innovation and economic geography. The co-localization of different actors of the innovation ecosystem. The role of universities. Spillovers of universities  depending on geographic, social, and institutional distance.