Innovation Management – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Prerequisite courses

• Research Methods

The learning objective of this course is to enable you to conduct empirical business research in a valid and reliable manner. You learn how to formulate research questions and to identify an appropriate research plan and methodology for the given set of research questions. This includes methodologies how to define unit of analysis and sample as well as methodologies how to collect, analyze and interpret data.

• Entrepreneurship: Planning to realize opportunities

This course will enable you to develop entrepreneurial thinking and behaviour and to start your own firm based on your business ideas. Students develop and evaluate business ideas and learn how to develop a compelling business case based on entrepreneurial market research. The course furthermore includes the decision on the appropriate legal form for their new venture and new venture financing.

• New Product Development Clinic

The learning objective is to enable you to understand and execute the crucial tasks in the new product development process from idea generation to commercialization. The course takes a concrete development problem as point of departure. Students will generate ideas for the solution of this problem and then carry out concept testing, prototype development, market assessment and pre-launch activities. Therefore, you will experience all the challenges in the new product development process hands-on. The course will be co-taught with faculty from ASB and the Engineering School. The teaching method of the course is project-based.

Specialisation courses

• Managing Intellectual Property

In this course the aim is to develop an understanding of how intellectual property rights, particularly patents, can be used as tools for technology development. A short introduction to the history and theory of patents is followed by an examination of the use of patents as tools of technology development. The course will also consider the evidence in support of the theory that patents on significant inventions are used to control and block 'downstream' innovation. Furthermore, the course will consider the 'anti-trust'- patent so-called 'interface' and recent changes to policy in favour of patents in the US.

• Innovation within the Firm

In this course the aim is to develop an understanding of the firm-internal perspective and context on innovation. This includes the formulation of and decision for innovation strategies, organizational structures and designs for innovation, creativity and performance within innovation teams, cooperation between R&D and marketing in the new product development process, champions and promotors of innovation, the management of radical innovation and the measurement of innovation performance.

• Open and User-Driven Innovation

Shorter product life cycles and increased technological complexity of new products and services force firms to increasingly open their innovation processes to external sources of innovation. The learning objective of this course is therefore to enable you to understand which relevant sources of innovation exist outside the firm and how a firm can systematically use these external sources as leverage for new product development and for enhancing the innovative capability of a firm. The course includes emerging forms of open and distributed innovation. Specific focus will be given to user-driven innovation, including market orientation in the new product development process, lead user innovation, user communities and user toolkits.

The third semester is dedicated to the electives block. You can choose electives at ASB - also at the ASB Summer University - or at other universities in Denmark. A lot of students prefer to study abroad in the third semester at one of ASBs many partner universities. It is also possible to do an internship in your third semester.

The fourth semester is devoted to writing the final thesis.

Accreditation

After the Student life Section there should be a section called Accreditations , that should include the following information:

The former Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus University (ASB), is one of Europe's largest and best business schools, as is illustrated by the accreditations which ASB has earned in the past seven years. ASB has been EQUIS-accredited since 2001, and in January 2008 we were approved to initiate the AACSB accreditation process.

Proof of high quality and international focus

EQUIS and AACSB are the leading international quality systems for assessing, improving and accrediting institutions of higher education within the field of management and business administration. In order to live up to these accreditations, ASB must not only demonstrate that we are capable of high-quality performance, but also that our activities are internationally oriented. The accreditations are also proof that we have achieved a good balance between high academic quality and professional relevance through close collaboration with the national and international business communities.

These accreditations are vital for the institution to maintain and strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive sector. They are decisive for ASB's brand and for our ability to attract the right students, researchers and collaborative partners. The accreditations are renewed every three to five years, which ensures that we work on an ongoing basis to develop ourselves and to improve the quality of everything we do.

Facts about EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditations

EQUIS stands for European Quality Improvement System, and accreditation is awarded by the EFMD (European Foundation of Management Development), whose members comprise leading business schools all over the world.

AACSB stands for Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and AASCSB International awards accreditation.
The accreditations are awarded to the entire institution – not just to individual programs or parts of the organization. Both accreditation systems maintain a significant focus on strategy.
AMBA stands for Association of MBAs , which is an independent international organization for MBA students, masters and employers. The AMBA accreditation is awarded to the entire institution but relates specifically to MBA programs. The purpose of AMBA is to secure high standards for MBA programs worldwide.

ACE Denmark

In August 2007, it was enacted that higher education study programs offered by the Danish University Act must be accredited by the Accreditation Institution - ACE Denmark. Accreditation is a professional assessment carried out using centrally set criteria for quality of existing and new courses. The purpose is to ensure and document quality and relevance of the higher education study programs.
According to the Danish University Act, the accreditation council is the specific unit, which makes the decisions regarding accreditation of all higher education study programs. Decisions are made on the basis of accreditation reports prepared by accreditation operators.