Innovation Management
Assignment 1
Ducati: The Making of a Grand Prix Motorcycle
For the course Innovation Management 2012
In total you can earn 100 points for this assignment.
10 points are given for grammar and spelling.
30 are given per sub-question (for a detailed specification see the answers below).
Dividing your points by 10 gives you the grade for your assignment.
Regards,
The IM team
Assignment Question 1:
In the article “Toward a General Modular Systems Theory and its Application to Interfirm Product Modularity” Schilling (2000) explains why systems become more or less modular.
a) Explain how, according to Schilling, “heterogeneity of inputs”, “heterogeneity of demands”, and “urgency”, together and/or alone, influence modularity of a system. b) Using the Ducati case as an example, please describe how a combination of “heterogeneity of inputs”, “heterogeneity of demands”, and “urgency” influenced the decision to move from an integrated design to a modular design for the Ducati GP5 motorcycle.
Assignment Question 2:
In the article “Navigating the technology landscape of innovation” by Fleming and Sorensen (2003) technology landscapes are discussed as a basis for developing three strategies for product innovation.
a) Explain the difference between a “smooth” and a “jagged” technology landscape. In your answer please address what the term technology landscape refers to and what it means for such a technology landscape to be “smooth” or “jagged”. b) Please explain how the level of “synergistic specificity” (see Schilling, 2000) influences a technology landscape. c) Please explain how “heterogeneity of inputs” (see Schilling, 2000) influences a technology landscape.
Assignment Question 3:
In the article “Navigating the technology landscape of innovation” by Fleming and Sorensen (2003) technology landscapes are discussed as a basis for developing three strategies for product innovation.
a) Explain
Ducati: The Making of a Grand Prix Motorcycle
For the course Innovation Management 2012
In total you can earn 100 points for this assignment.
10 points are given for grammar and spelling.
30 are given per sub-question (for a detailed specification see the answers below).
Dividing your points by 10 gives you the grade for your assignment.
Regards,
The IM team
Assignment Question 1:
In the article “Toward a General Modular Systems Theory and its Application to Interfirm Product Modularity” Schilling (2000) explains why systems become more or less modular.
a) Explain how, according to Schilling, “heterogeneity of inputs”, “heterogeneity of demands”, and “urgency”, together and/or alone, influence modularity of a system. b) Using the Ducati case as an example, please describe how a combination of “heterogeneity of inputs”, “heterogeneity of demands”, and “urgency” influenced the decision to move from an integrated design to a modular design for the Ducati GP5 motorcycle.
Assignment Question 2:
In the article “Navigating the technology landscape of innovation” by Fleming and Sorensen (2003) technology landscapes are discussed as a basis for developing three strategies for product innovation.
a) Explain the difference between a “smooth” and a “jagged” technology landscape. In your answer please address what the term technology landscape refers to and what it means for such a technology landscape to be “smooth” or “jagged”. b) Please explain how the level of “synergistic specificity” (see Schilling, 2000) influences a technology landscape. c) Please explain how “heterogeneity of inputs” (see Schilling, 2000) influences a technology landscape.
Assignment Question 3:
In the article “Navigating the technology landscape of innovation” by Fleming and Sorensen (2003) technology landscapes are discussed as a basis for developing three strategies for product innovation.
a) Explain