Overview

Core Courses

• Strategy of Innovation (block 1)

  This course focuses on the strategy of innovation; what should be included and how to develop it. You will examine the dilemmas faced by a firm undergoing innovation, its environment and potential competitors, and learn how to translate these dilemmas into viable management actions.

  During class sessions you will use academic articles as you prepare a business case and an assignment on a related topic.

  Unlike more general strategy courses, this course addresses theories of innovation strategy and examines real tools used by business when managing their portfolio of innovations. For this course, business strategy is translated into actual targets to deliver specific innovation requirements. These innovation targets – such as new products, intellectual property or alliances – form the basis for discussing innovation theories and tools, after taking into consideration the lessons learned from business cases presented by instructors and guest lecturers.
• Innovation in Chains and Networks (block 1)

  Inter-organisational collaboration is increasingly important in the creation and realisation of innovations because of greater specialisation, further technological development and a growing number of links between technologies. This course addresses this collaboration in depth, and examines how innovation can be managed across organisational borders. It builds on the knowledge of why co-operation is useful or necessary, which you will have learned in the 'Strategy of Innovation’ module. This course focuses on the co-operation for innovation between firms, and with customers, suppliers or competitors. Questions addressed cover the strategic, tactical, and operational aspects of collaborative innovation. Sessions will be constructed around case discussions and related literature, and will develop students’ knowledge, insights and skills in the design and governance of company chains and networks.
• Innovation Project Management (block 2)

  This course is devoted to the management of innovation projects; explaining project management theories and tools, and addressing goal-setting, planning methods, risk management, project control, and project teams. You will use your newly-learned innovation project management methods on a new product or new service development for a real company. You will also use elements and skills learned in other core courses.

  The Innovation Challenge in this course is run in co-operation with a large multinational company. Groups of students are asked to devise a business case presenting a sustainable solution for one of the company’s product groups. Some projects are so successful that the company considers developing the student-generated new product ideas. Students are therefore expected to sign an agreement with the company to specify ownership of the intellectual property.
• Organisation of Innovation (block 2)

  How do I organise radical innovation projects? Is it a different process to organising an incremental project? How can I successfully develop projects and services for emerging economies; innovations that are ‘frugal’ or ‘bottom of the pyramid’? These questions are addressed in the Organisation of Innovation course, with the central question being how the innovation process must be organised to efficiently deliver high-quality products within a short time-to-market.

  Contradicting orientations such as creativity and flexibility must be managed against effective implementation, and against uncertainties in the innovation process such as in the technology or in the market. We look at the process; the generation, development and commercialisation of ideas as well as the organisation in teams and units. We also address internal and external idea management and design-driven innovation.

Electives

• Creativity for Innovation (block 3)

  Organisations that pay attention to creativity traditionally focus on the selection and training of creative individuals. However, creativity also depends on how an individual perceives the greater organisational context, so organisations should provide a creatively stimulating organisational and work environment. This, combined with the right personal characteristics, promotes creativity at work and helps the organisation to become more innovative.

  After this course you will understand why some organisations are more creative than others when it comes to innovative products, services, processes and procedures. You will also learn practical skills so you can analyse organisations and make them more creative.
• Innovation and Interface Management (block 3)

  Most products and services are connected to others or are part of complex systems; the process of innovation management here requires action at the interfaces of those products, services or systems. In most cases, the company must co-operate with other stakeholders to specify them. In this elective, you learn the important skill of managing product or service innovations at such interfaces.

  You will learn basic knowledge about interface management and its integration so you can develop and use a strategy for any company, supply chain or a branch. The multidisciplinary and scientific basis of this course is complemented by the study of business cases, company visits, guest lectures and assignments based on business cases.
• New Business Development (block 4)

  Choosing and working on a new business opportunity for a real and established firm, you will learn a practical and rigorous understanding of the role, the analytics, and the process of business planning that leads to the successful creation of new business. Students will learn feasibility analysis, business modelling, marketing and financial planning, and how to implement all of these into an actual organisation or company. Previous students’ plans have been put into action for several multinationals and SMEs, such as international electrical company Philips, construction firm Heijmans, research organisation TNO, composite technology company Airborne, international listings organisation StudentEvents, and automated security systems firm Ubiqu.

  Student teams are carefully selected for a diverse range of skills and experience; together the teams will research and develop a plan for the sponsor firm’s new business opportunity. Your grades will depend on the quality of your interim reports, your final business plan, your progress presentations, and feedback from your teammates.
• Open Services Innovation (block 5)

  Large manufacturing firms have traditionally dominated the world of innovation and management of innovation, but service firms have recently been catching up. Meanwhile, the most advanced manufacturing firms have shifted to the process of ‘open innovation’. So now there is a new challenge for innovative service firms – preparing for ‘open services innovation’.

  In this elective you will become familiar with problems experienced by services companies before moving on to learning more about web-based services and open services innovation. You’ll gather a unique knowledge base that cannot be provided – yet – by any book.

  Your enthusiastic participation is crucial in this elective. You should be active in discussing the literature around the subject, and in presenting the results of your assignment – some of which may involve combining literature searches and case studies.

  You can choose one of two business projects:

  1.            Open services innovation

  Examining open services innovation in a large manufacturing company. For the past two years the project has been carried out within Philips’ Research division, and is overseen by RSM staff.

  2.            Service innovation

  You'll study the reactions of a large incumbent firm in a service market when a small innovative web-based firm disrupts the market with their business model innovation. Your student group may choose which service sector to work on.
• MI Business Project (block 4 or 5)

  You can use block 4 or 5 to carry out a business project – shorter than a normal internship – for which you may earn elective course points. You will work with your thesis coach to select a project. As a separate course, carrying its own credits, the report resulting from this project is in addition to your Master thesis and will be assessed separately.

  You can choose to conduct research at a business that is related to your thesis topic. You can either propose a project at a particular company, or you can choose a project from the official list, which includes companies such as Philips, Unilever, SHELL, ASML, Friesland-Campina, Rabobank and ING.

Research Methods & Thesis

• Thesis Research Skills

  Your master thesis is an opportunity to show your potential capabilities as a next generation manager. During this period, you will be supported in your thesis-writing process, and interacting with internationally-recognised companies and well-known researchers in the industry

  During the year you will participate in a structured master thesis trajectory. You will start in September, during the core courses, to familiarise yourself with the research being done at our department and the relevant academic literature and topics available. Staff involved in this MSc will present their current research projects, and you will be invited to link your master thesis to one of these projects. Before Christmas you will decide on a final topic and be assigned a coach who is an expert in the subject area chosen.

  In early January a research methodology course will bring you up to date with best practice in research and provide you with the foundation that you will need to complete your thesis successfully. You will find out how to direct your efforts towards the most important research methods for innovation management; through case studies, surveys, and experiments. Other practical issues address formal administrative procedures, managing your project with your coach and co-reader, and how to scan and review literature.

  The course concludes with a one-day workshop in which you will complete an assignment on the research methodology for your thesis – which you will have already chosen at this point. You will be working with students who will use the same methodology as you.

  In early spring you will deliver your final research proposal after which you will implement your research question and finalise your thesis before the summer. Staff and researchers will provide assistance by coaching you through the entire master thesis process.

  Master thesis subjects chosen by current students are mainly on the subject of innovation management, but you are free to write a master thesis research project in complementary disciplines.