Insights into the firm’s innovative potential and into the barriers to innovation are necessary to make effective proactive strategic choices?”

“Insights into the firm’s innovative potential and into the barriers to innovation are necessary to make effective proactive strategic choices?” Burgelman et al,2009, p8
Critically analyse the above statement.

Task One
Identify firms that have succeeded in using innovation and  those which have been criticised in regards to their lack of strategic management of technology and innovation. Critically assess the shortcoming of their approach and its impact of organisational performance.
(25 marks)
Task Two
Identify the barriers to innovation and how firms can overcome this to make effective strategic choice using relevant organisational examples
(25 marks)

BABS 6: Innovation and Technology Management

June to September 2014
Assignment One
Word limit: 3000 words

“Insights into the firm’s innovative potential and into the barriers to innovation are necessary to make effective proactive strategic choices?” Burgelman et al,2009, p8
Critically analyse the above statement.

Task One
Identify firms that have succeeded in using innovation and  those which have been criticised in regards to their lack of strategic management of technology and innovation. Critically assess the shortcoming of their approach and its impact of organisational performance.
(25 marks)
Task Two
Identify the barriers to innovation and how firms can overcome this to make effective strategic choice using relevant organisational examples
(25 marks)

Guidelines :
1.    Thorough literature review must be evident and these should be backed by relevant organisational examples
2.    Discussion and debate on the  use of innovation as a strategy by firms to gain competitive advantage should be seen. The barriers to innovation should be explained and how firms can overcome his should be stated clearly.
3.    Discussion and debate on the shortcomings firms are likely to face should be backed by relevant corporate examples
4.    Barriers to innovation by firms and how firms can overcome should be explained in detail.

5.    Harvard style of references should be used.

Please ensure that the report assignment has
•    A table of contents
•    A list of figures and/ or list of tables where appropriate
•    Introduction (500 words)- 10 marks
•    Literature Review& Critical Analysis (2000 words)-70 marks(Task 1-35  marks  and Task 2-35 marks
•    Conclusions/Recommendations- 500 words- 10 marks
•    References / Presentation – 10 marks

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Module Learning Outcome
Upon successful completion of the assignment, students will be able to:

Upon successful completion of the subject, students will be able to:
•    Demonstrate a critical understanding of some of the major international trends and developments in technology and innovation and their relationship to international business
•    Advance a multidimensional understanding of the causes and consequences of technology
•    Critically evaluate a range of normative questions in relation to people, technology and the marketplace in the 21st Century
•    Reflect analytically on the knowledge developed for innovative action
•    Understand the significance of innovation and how it links to wider strategic issues within the firm
•    Appreciate how process innovations alter the ways of transforming a range of inputs into products and services for customers and end users