Program Overview

---

Overview

This unit aims to provide the skills by which students analyse business innovation in different companies and provide recommended strategies for improvement. Topics covered include types of innovation, the S-Curve, idea generation, recognising opportunities, moving innovation to market, enhancing creativity, and the role of the leader in innovation. This unit provides students with an opportunity to learn and apply a variety of innovation tools and apply them directly to contemporary organisational contexts.

Unit Details and Rules

• Academic unit: Management Education
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: SMBA6114
• Assumed knowledge: None
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: No

Teaching Staff

• Coordinator: Stefan Meisiek

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 8 August 2025

• Type: Creative work
  • Description: Individual assignment 1 - Create a 2min podcast on a self-selected case and module 1 class material
  • Weight: 12%
  • Due: Week 01, Due date: 10 Aug 2025 at 23:59, Closing date: 20 Aug 2025
  • Length: 500 words (or equivalent)
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO2, LO4
• Type: Creative work
  • Description: Individual Assignment 2 - Create a 2min podcast on a self-selected case and module 12 class material
  • Weight: 12%
  • Due: Week 02, Due date: 17 Aug 2025 at 23:59, Closing date: 27 Aug 2025
  • Length: 2 mins podcast
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO2, LO4
• Type: Creative work
  • Description: Individual Assignment 3 - Create a 2min podcast on a self-selected case and module 3 class material
  • Weight: 12%
  • Due: Week 03, Due date: 24 Aug 2025 at 23:59, Closing date: 03 Sep 2025
  • Length: 500 words (or equivalent)
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO2, LO4
• Type: Presentation
  • Description: In Class Activity I - 90m group problem-solving exercise followed by 5m group presentation
  • Weight: 15%
  • Due: Week 04
  • Length: 95 mins
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO3, LO4
• Type: Presentation
  • Description: In Class Activity II - 90m group problem solving exercise, and 30m role play
  • Weight: 15%
  • Due: Week 05
  • Length: 120min
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO2, LO3, LO4
• Type: Data analysis
  • Description: Research report
  • Weight: 34%
  • Due: Week 06, Due date: 14 Sep 2025 at 23:59, Closing date: 24 Sep 2025
  • Length: 2500 words
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1, LO2, LO4

Assessment Summary

• In-class activities: In two weeks, students work on exercises related to a case study and a journal article during class time. The task will be to apply the concepts from the journal article to the case, and to extend it further to the organisations and experiences of your team members. The exercise ends with a brief presentation by each team, summarising their approach and outcomes.
• Individual assignment: Three times, each student submits a brief evaluation of a business innovation case/method that they found through research, and relate it to class materials covered so far. The submission should contain a description of the case/method, a concise argument for its relevance and impact, and reflection on how the class topic might/might not relate to their case/method. The format of this submission is a brief podcast.
• Research report: Students choose an organisation that they admire for its innovations. They analyse this organisation regarding its business innovation orientation, capabilities, and systems, using course concepts, theories and tools. On the basis of the analysis, they suggest improvements, point out opportunities, or identify risks for the innovation future of the organisation.

Assessment Criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

• Result name: High distinction
  • Mark range: 85 - 100
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Distinction
  • Mark range: 75 - 84
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Credit
  • Mark range: 65 - 74
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Pass
  • Mark range: 50 - 64
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Fail
  • Mark range: 0 - 49
  • Description: When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Late Submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

• Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
• After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic Integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Learning Support

Simple Extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension. The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special Consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Weekly Schedule

WK | Topic | Learning activity | Learning outcomes ---|---|---|--- Week 01 | Creative Construction | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1 Week 02 | Innovation strategy | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 The role of top management | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 Week 03 | Business experimentation | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 Linear Innovation Processes | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 Week 04 | Iterative Innovation processes | Lecture (4 hr) | LO3 What leaders must do | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 Creative teams | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 Week 05 | Innovative organisations | Lecture (4 hr) | LO1, LO2, LO4 Building Ecosystems | Lecture (4 hr) | LO3

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

• LO1: Describe an integrative framework for leading business innovation derived from class materials.
• LO2: Analyze business innovation issues taking into account strategy, processes, capabilities and limitations.
• LO3: Collaboratively apply conceptual models from class materials, and develop potential solutions to leading business innovation problems.
• LO4: Persuasively communicate, explain, and defend a position on issues in business innovation

Graduate Qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

• GQ1: Depth of disciplinary expertise
• GQ2: Critical thinking and problem solving
• GQ3: Oral and written communication
• GQ4: Information and digital literacy
• GQ5: Inventiveness
• GQ6: Cultural competence
• GQ7: Interdisciplinary effectiveness
• GQ8: Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity
• GQ9: Influence

Outcome Map

Learning outcomes | Graduate qualities ---|--- GQ1 | GQ2 | GQ3 | GQ4 | GQ5 | GQ6 | GQ7 | GQ8 | GQ9

Responding to Student Feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional Information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

This unit of study outline was last modified on 06 Aug 2025.