Innovation Management from Coursera

What is innovation management? How do firms bring in new business models and get new products and services to the market? Go on a nine-week journey through innovation management concepts, theories of idea generation, selection, strategy formulation and implementation in this MOOC in Innovation Management. In it, you will also learn the tools for implementing innovation projects yourself.

Guided by world-class academics, you will develop an innovative mindset and expertise in how firms successfully create new ideas for marketing new products. The syllabus also includes sessions about innovation strategy, idea management and social networks.

During this course, you will learn how to:

• use the main innovation management terminology and concepts

• explain the adoption life cycle and innovation adoption at the individual level

• define creativity and explain how creativity can be stimulated

• recognise and describe three types of idea management systems

• explain what an innovation strategy is and why it is important

• describe what a product portfolio is

• explain how innovation projects should be selected and managed

• explain the importance of teams, team structures and networks for innovation.

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s leading business schools, and ranked among the top three for research. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who carry their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Go to www.rsm.nl for more information.

This nine-week MOOC in Innovation Management is taught in English. There is no fee to participate in the programme.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

After this week’s studies and the associated exercise, you will understand the meaning of innovation and innovation management. Also, you will learn to identify and differentiate between various types of innovation. As a result, you will become acquainted with basic terminology that will help you to better process and understand the course content of the following weeks.

Innovation Strategy

You will learn to how to create and evaluate an innovation strategy. You will be able distinguish between creating and capturing value. The you will able to explain what innovation ecosystems are and why they are so important in today's world.

Creativity

Creativity is essential if an organization wants to gain a competitive advantage. All innovations begin with creating ideas. After this module you will understand what creativity is and how you, other people and groups become more creative. You will also get to know two creativity methods, brainstorming and design thinking.

Idea Selection

Organizations receive many new ideas from employees, suppliers, and customers. But they often do not realize the innovative potential of these ideas because they fail to properly manage them. By studying this module and doing the associated exercises, you will understand the basic principles of idea management. You will learn how to select and evaluate ideas and in which situations we are likely biased when selecting and evaluating.

Implementation of Innovation

Implementation is about making sure that the ideas an organization has created and selected will be successfully executed and end up as a market-ready product or service. In this module, we compare two methods that are designed to improve the implementation process: stage-gate and lean. After the this module, you will be able to compare the two methods and determine which one would suit your company better.

People and Organization

Successful innovating starts and ends with the people involved. In this module, you will learn how to create an organization that enables employees to be innovative and who can support the innovation activities of the organization. First, you will learn about the principles of structuring teams and the organization. Second, you will understand how leadership and diversity and critical aspects for successful innovation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores innovation management concepts and theories from idea generation to selection of innovation projects

Provides tools for implementing innovation projects

Taught by academics from one of Europe's leading business schools, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)

Develops an innovative mindset and expertise in creating new ideas for marketing new products

Covers innovation strategy, idea management, and social networks

No fee to participate in the program

Reviews summary

Practical innovations with value

Learners say practical insights are found throughout this relevant course. The course material is engaging and useful interviews are included, making this a well-received experience.

Informative interviews add real-world perspective.

"Very practical insights and useful interviews included"

Real-world insights for business innovation.

"Very practical insights and useful interviews included"

"The course material is also quite relevant to today's workplace"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Innovation Management with these activities:

Watch videos about innovation.

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Learn from the experts by watching videos about innovation. This will help you to get a better understanding of the concepts you learn in the course and to see how innovation is applied in the real world.

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Search for videos about innovation on YouTube or other video-sharing platforms.
Watch the videos.
Take notes on the key points.

Read Innovation - The Five Disciplines for Creating What Customers Want

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Get into the mindset of organizational innovation from the very beginning by reading this classic work that has inspired countless leaders and innovators around the world.

View Disruptive Innovation: The Christensen... on Amazon

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Purchase the book or borrow it from the library.
Read the book.
Take notes on the main points.
Discuss the book with friends or colleagues.

Join a study group or online forum for innovation.

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Connect with other learners and discuss the concepts you are learning in the course. This will help you to stay motivated and to get different perspectives on innovation management.

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Find a study group or online forum for innovation.
Join the study group or online forum.
Participate in the discussions.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Solve innovation case studies.

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Test your understanding of innovation management by solving case studies. This will help you to see how the concepts you learn in the course can be applied in the real world.

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Find some innovation case studies online.
Read the case studies.
Analyze the case studies.
Come up with solutions to the case studies.

Develop a New Product or Service Idea

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Put your understanding of the innovation process into practice by developing a new product or service idea. This will help you to see how the concepts you learn in the course can be applied in the real world.

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Define the problem you are trying to solve.
Do some research to understand the market.
Brainstorm a list of possible solutions.
Evaluate the solutions and choose the best one.
Develop a business plan for your product or service.

Develop an innovation strategy for your organization.

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Put your understanding of innovation strategy into practice by developing an innovation strategy for your organization. This will help you to see how the concepts you learn in the course can be applied in the real world.

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Define your organization's mission, vision, and values.
Analyze your organization's current innovation capabilities.
Identify opportunities for innovation.
Develop a plan for implementing your innovation strategy.
Monitor and evaluate the progress of your innovation strategy.

Create a blog post or article about innovation.

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Share your knowledge of innovation with others by writing a blog post or article. This will help you to internalize the concepts you learn in the course and to think critically about innovation.

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Choose a topic that you are interested in.
Research your topic.
Write your blog post or article.
Publish your blog post or article.

Career center

Learners who complete Innovation Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Innovation Manager

Innovation Managers are responsible for driving innovation within their organizations. They work closely with product development teams, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to identify new opportunities for growth and develop new products and services. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of innovation management, which can help you succeed in this role. You'll learn how to create and evaluate an innovation strategy, manage idea generation and selection, and implement new products and services. This course will also help you develop the leadership and communication skills necessary to be successful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall success of a product or service. They work closely with engineering, design, and marketing teams to bring new products to market and ensure that they meet the needs of customers. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the product development process, from idea generation to launch. You'll learn how to create a product roadmap, manage stakeholder expectations, and track product performance. This course will also help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns that promote products and services to target audiences. They work closely with product development teams, sales teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that marketing campaigns are aligned with the overall business strategy. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of marketing management. You'll learn how to conduct market research, develop marketing strategies, and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. This course will also help you develop the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for understanding the business needs of organizations and developing solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. They work closely with stakeholders across the organization to gather requirements, analyze data, and develop recommendations for improvement. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of business analysis. You'll learn how to gather and analyze data, develop process maps, and create business cases. This course will also help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and support to organizations on a variety of business issues, including innovation, strategy, and operations. They work with clients to identify opportunities for improvement, develop solutions, and implement change. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the consulting profession. You'll learn how to conduct client interviews, develop proposals, and manage consulting projects. This course will also help you develop the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities for their organizations. They work closely with sales teams, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to generate leads, build relationships, and close deals. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of business development. You'll learn how to identify and qualify leads, develop sales proposals, and negotiate contracts. This course will also help you develop the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in this role.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work closely with stakeholders across the organization to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the project management process. You'll learn how to develop project plans, manage project teams, and track project progress. This course will also help you develop the leadership and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are individuals who start their own businesses. They are responsible for all aspects of their business, from developing the product or service to marketing and sales. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of entrepreneurship. You'll learn how to develop a business plan, raise capital, and launch your own business. This course will also help you develop the leadership and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help organizations make better decisions. They work closely with stakeholders across the organization to identify data needs, develop data analysis plans, and communicate insights. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of data analysis. You'll learn how to collect and clean data, perform data analysis, and visualize data. This course will also help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to be successful in this role.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. They work closely with product development teams, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that software applications meet the needs of users. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of software engineering. You'll learn how to design and implement software applications, test software applications, and deploy software applications. This course will also help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of products and services. They work closely with product development teams, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that products and services are easy to use and enjoyable. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of UX design. You'll learn how to conduct user research, design user interfaces, and test user experience. This course will also help you develop the creativity and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Market Researcher

Market Researchers are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data about markets and customers. They work closely with marketing teams, product development teams, and other stakeholders to provide insights into customer needs and preferences. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of market research. You'll learn how to conduct market research, analyze market data, and develop marketing strategies. This course will also help you develop the analytical and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating sales teams. They work closely with sales teams, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to develop and execute sales strategies. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of sales management. You'll learn how to develop and implement sales plans, manage sales teams, and track sales performance. This course will also help you develop the leadership and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts are responsible for analyzing financial data and providing insights to investors and other stakeholders. They work closely with investment bankers, portfolio managers, and other stakeholders to provide financial advice. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of financial analysis. You'll learn how to analyze financial statements, value companies, and make investment recommendations. This course will also help you develop the analytical and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning and managing the day-to-day operations of an organization. They work closely with production teams, supply chain teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that operations are efficient and effective. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles and practices of operations management. You'll learn how to develop and implement operations plans, manage production processes, and control costs. This course will also help you develop the leadership and communication skills necessary to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager