Course Outline 2013

INNOVENT 201 Understanding Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(15 POINTS)
Semester 2 (1135)

Course Prescription
Develops knowledge of how entrepreneurs and organisations create and capture value
through innovation in national and international markets. Explores various approaches
employed by entrepreneurial organisations and considers the skills and attributes needed
to succeed in todays competitive and global environment. Introduces key concepts in
innovation, including different types of innovation, and managerial and organisational
issues related to innovation.

Programme and Course Advice

Prerequisite: BUSINESS 102 or MGMT 101 or 120 points of courses
Restriction: MGMT 202, SCIGEN 201

Goals of the Course

1. To provide students with a foundational knowledge of entrepreneurship and
innovation, including the role of innovation and entrepreneurship for growth and
wealth creation.
2. To explore how entrepreneurial and innovative activities are influenced by individuallevel (e.g. experience and mind-set), organisational (e.g. leadership, culture and
strategy) and institutional (e.g. industry and country differences) factors.
3. To explore different types of entrepreneurial enterprise and innovation activity that
are part of New Zealands innovation system, and how these activities exist in a
global context.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course it is expected that the student will be able to:
1. Outline the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in New Zealand society.
2. Apply models and theories of entrepreneurship and innovation to real life examples at
the individual, organizational and institutional levels.
3. Identify and explain key characteristics of entrepreneurs and innovative
organisations.

Content Outline
Weeks

Topics

Course introduction

Why innovation and entrepreneurship

matters: individuals, organisations,
and society

Tasks/Assessment

Assignment 1 starts (Quiz 1)

Who is the entrepreneur? The role of

traits, motivation and experience

Introducing the entrepreneurial

process I: opportunity generation
and evaluation
Introducing the entrepreneurial
process II: Making a strategy,
gathering resources and launching
the business
Introducing the entrepreneurial
process III: Growing the business
and harvesting the returns.
Innovation I: what is innovation?

6
7
8

10

11
12

Innovation II: innovations in

organisations. Decision making and
strategy.
Sources of Innovation: where do
innovative organisations get ideas
from and what ways can they take
them to market?
Disruptive Innovations how do
established organisations make sense
of competing products/services and
when do they compete?
Fostering innovation and
entrepreneurship: what can be done?

Team formation; team process

workshop (3rd hour)

Guest speaker

Assignment 2 short report due

Guest speaker
Assignment 2 peer evaluation due
Guest speaker
Assignment 1 ends (Quiz 10)

Course Review and Exam Q&A

Learning and Teaching

The course uses a mix of in-class short lectures, discussion, guest lectures and group
activities, along with independent learning.

Teaching Staff
Course coordinator:

Dr Lisa Callagher
60.439
l.callagher@auckland.ac.nz
Tel: 923 1738
Office hours to be advised in class

Lecturer:

Dr Frank Siedlok
260.490
f.siedlok@auckland.ac.nz
Tel: 923 2744
Office hours to be advised in class

Learning Resources
Course readings:
Prescribed and recommended readings are available on the course library page. There is
no prescribed text for the course.

Assessment
The assessment of this course consists of the following three components (total =
100%):
Assignment 1:
Weekly
(x10)

20%

Quizzes

10 on-line quizzes will need to be completed prior

to the lecture (each quiz will close before the start
of the first class). Each quiz will consist of 5
questions based on the assigned reading for the
week.
The final mark for Weekly Quizzes will be based
on the highest 8 scores achieved. This
accommodates various unforeseen circumstances
of students missing up to 2 quizzes over the term.
There are no arrangements for make-up quizzes.

Assignment 2:

30%

Group case analysis

of an innovative
organisation

This is a group assignment. Groups of 4-6

students will analyse a case organisation* using
analytical tools introduced in the course. Groups
will be required to conduct relevant information
search on the case and theory to inform their
analysis.
Each member will also review the contribution of
the other members to the groups processes and
output. Final individual marks will be determined
by both the quality of the group analysis and the
peer review of other group members. Assignment
is due by the end of Week 9.
*groups will be given an opportunity to choose
different case study. Details will be discussed
during the lecture.

Final Exam

50%

The exam is comprehensive, meaning that all

topics are examinable. The structure of the 2-hour
exam consists of 5 long-answer questions. The
exam will focus on your ability to understand and
use theoretical models/frameworks/principles to
inform your understanding of innovation and
entrepreneurship, and your ability to build
convincing, concise arguments.

Assignments details on the will be will be available on CECIL once the semester starts.
Learning Outcome
Explore the role of the innovation and
entrepreneurship in New Zealand
society.
Apply models and theories of
entrepreneurship and innovation to real
life examples at the individual,
organizational and systems institutional
levels.
Identify and explain key features of
entrepreneurs and innovative
organisations.

Assignment
1

Assignment
2

Final
Exam