Term Paper
MANAGING INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY MAN 385 – SPRING 2011
Professor Office Office Hours Phone E-Mail Course Web Page
Luis L. Martins, Ph.D. CBA 4.246 3:30 – 4:30 PM Mondays and Wednesdays, or by appointment 512-471-5286 luis.martins@mccombs.utexas.edu (preferred contact method) via Blackboard
Course Overview and Objectives In its December 2009 issue, the Economist stated that innovation “is now recognized as one of the most important contributors to economic growth.” Earlier, in June 2006, Business Week observed that “making innovation work is the single most important business issue of our era.” In fact, managing innovation has always been critical to the survival and growth of organizations, and an essential component of leadership. Innovation and creativity are just as important to established organizations as they are to start-up organizations that are typically referred to as innovative. Yet, as organizations get more established, they often lose their edge, finding their very existence to be threatened by their inability to generate innovation and creativity. Obviously, some companies have done a much better job of stimulating innovation and creativity than others, and knowledge is rapidly accumulating regarding the effects of organizational policies, practices, structures, and cultures on innovation and creativity. This course will examine what we know about these topics. Innovation depends on a complex set of variables reflecting individual, group, organizational, and contextual factors, and we will examine each of these levels of analysis. The course will draw on various theoretical foundations and business cases to develop an understanding of the factors that lead to successful innovation and creativity in organizations. The primary instructional method used in the course is case analysis, which is combined with lectures, exercises, and other pedagogical tools. This course will not focus on developing business plans, obtaining venture capital,
Professor Office Office Hours Phone E-Mail Course Web Page
Luis L. Martins, Ph.D. CBA 4.246 3:30 – 4:30 PM Mondays and Wednesdays, or by appointment 512-471-5286 luis.martins@mccombs.utexas.edu (preferred contact method) via Blackboard
Course Overview and Objectives In its December 2009 issue, the Economist stated that innovation “is now recognized as one of the most important contributors to economic growth.” Earlier, in June 2006, Business Week observed that “making innovation work is the single most important business issue of our era.” In fact, managing innovation has always been critical to the survival and growth of organizations, and an essential component of leadership. Innovation and creativity are just as important to established organizations as they are to start-up organizations that are typically referred to as innovative. Yet, as organizations get more established, they often lose their edge, finding their very existence to be threatened by their inability to generate innovation and creativity. Obviously, some companies have done a much better job of stimulating innovation and creativity than others, and knowledge is rapidly accumulating regarding the effects of organizational policies, practices, structures, and cultures on innovation and creativity. This course will examine what we know about these topics. Innovation depends on a complex set of variables reflecting individual, group, organizational, and contextual factors, and we will examine each of these levels of analysis. The course will draw on various theoretical foundations and business cases to develop an understanding of the factors that lead to successful innovation and creativity in organizations. The primary instructional method used in the course is case analysis, which is combined with lectures, exercises, and other pedagogical tools. This course will not focus on developing business plans, obtaining venture capital,