Topic:Managing Innovation
Subject:Business
Volume: 11 pages
Type: Essay
Format: Harvard
Description
You are required to write your essay in up to 3,000 words:
A) To describe, in detail and in your own words, one OR more innovation theories of your choice (deep knowledge of one major innovation theory will be enough as a basis for a high mark, and you should not choose more than two innovation theories),
AND
B) To apply each of your chosen theory or theories in explaining the historical development of one or more products and/or services, also of your choice, and in predicting the possible future development pathways of your products or services. You may choose consumer and/or non-consumer products, services, and/or organizational processes for your application.
The principal requirement of this essay is to provide a critical analysis of the developmental trajectory of your invention and to suggest how your chosen theory or theories may help in illuminating the historical and future development of the invention. In undertaking a critical analysis, due consideration must be given to contributory factors in the commercial success of your products, services, or processes that have contributed to moving the products etc. beyond a novel invention to an innovative product, service, or process with a clear promise of social impact on its intended audience.
Please be specific in explaining which part/s of your chosen theory you are applying, and how you propose to apply your theory, firstly in explaining the historical development of your product/service/process, and secondly in predicting one or more ways in which your product/service/process may develop in future. The more specific and detailed your explanation of how your theory or theories help (or do not help) you explain and predict your chosen products etc. the higher your mark is likely to be.
The indicative marking scheme for your Individual Essay is as follows. This marking scheme is merely indicative and will not be held to rigidly in assessing students’ Essays. Your final mark for your Essay will be presented as an un-weighted mark out of 100%:
Indicative Marking Scheme for Your Individual Essay:
1. Detailed analysis of the student’s chosen theory or theories of innovation by a) Describing core features of each theory (5%), b) Arguing why the chosen theory is important & for what purpose(s) its original authors used their theory (10%), & c) Discussing its strengths (5%)= 20%
2. Application of the chosen theory or theories in a) Explaining the current development of one or more products, services, and/or processes in the market (15%), and b) Predicting the possible future development of the same products, services, or processes based on core elements of the student’s theory or theories (20%)= 35%
3. Evidence of creativity in producing a novel and plausible account of the chosen innovation’s current and future development, based on the student’s reading and application of her theories to her product(s): 20%
4. Structure of the essay, a) Incorporating a clear argument that runs through the essay, and 2) Setting out essay sections, logically presented, that include sections for 1. Detailed analysis of the student’s chosen theory (Literature or Theory section) and 2. Application of the chosen theory (Discussion section) = 20%
5. Preparation and presentation (length, use of academic conventions, grammar, paragraphing, layout, and proofreading): 5%
NB: Your assignment should have a maximum word limit of 3,000 words, excluding references and any appendices, tables, and/or diagrams. There is no minimum word count for this essay as the exercise is for you to write as concisely as possible to communicate your argument. However, as a high scoring essay will require at least 3,000 words you are strongly advised to write a detailed essay that addresses both a) and b) above and to then edit your essay down to the word limit.
Please do not think about any minimum word limit and then try and produce a piece of work that you think you can get away with. Above all this will show that you have learned little about innovation.
NB: Marks will be awarded for your ability to integrate, in a relevant way in your essay, some of the principal literature, theories, models, and frameworks of innovation from the module. Marks will also be awarded for your imaginative use of concepts from within and beyond the innovation literature to explain and predict the development of your chosen innovative products, services, or processes.