Examination arrangement

Course content

The course aims to provide a set of advanced insights into innovation research spanning from foundational themes to the most recent developments of the field. The competitiveness of firms, economic growth and societal welfare in general depend on the ability to introduce innovative products, processes and services. It is divided into a systems approach, i.e. the systemic nature of innovation and economic growth, and a corporate and a managerial approach, focusing in particular on strategic issues. Both approaches deal with how processes of innovation occur. Traditionally, the system approach has dealt primarily with the allocation of resources to innovation and its macroeconomic effects (e.g. the relation between innovation on the one hand and a country's competitiveness and economic growth on the other), while the innovation process at the micro level (e.g. in firms) has been treated more or less as a "black box". Innovation is a complex and dynamic organizational process - with repeating cycles of divergent and convergent activities - that both depends on and spurs of organizational learning and adaptation. Taking a strategic perspective on these processes is important to grasp opportunities and hindrances, as well as identifying the role of intentional action. Interest in management of innovation has traditionally centered on firm-internal aspects of processes such as, for instance, how collaboration and interaction among specialized professionals take place in the creation of innovation; how to deal with unavoidable uncertainty involved; and the path dependency in skills and resources. In recent years there has been a surge in interest among scholars and practitioners in methods that allow the firm systematically to source its inputs externally. Innovation that originate from sources external to the firm has emerged as an important phenomenon and has been associated with labels such as open innovation, user innovation, crowd sourcing, and open source. These trends have also given rise to novel and so far immature research agendas that promise to enhance our understanding of the processes and sources of innovation in the years to come.

Learning outcome

• The course should provide insight in innovation research from its origin to recent development in the field.
• The course should provide specific knowledge about "the systems of innovation" approach.
• The course should provide specific knowledge about managerial approaches to innovation research.
• Candidates should be capable to reflect on innovation research on both macro and microlevel (and how different perspectives are interlinked).
• Candidates following the course should be capable to reflect and position their own research within the field of innovation research.

Learning methods and activities

The course is scheduled as two intensive seminar, as a combination of lectures, seminars and paper writing exercises.

Recommended previous knowledge

This course is tailor made for PhD students within the field of innovation research.

Required previous knowledge

The course is tailormade for candidates at NORSI II, the national research school in innovation. Candidates not admitted to NORSI II could be included after individual application. Max. 25 participants.

Course materials

Scientific articles and selected literature.