2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS3990 Innovation Thinking and Practice

10 creditsClass Size: 210

Module manager: Tony Morgan
Email: T.Morgan@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Innovation is challenging, but it is also an imperative for success. All organisations, small and large, young and established from multiple industrial sectors face a challenge to develop new products and services. Students enrolled in this module will develop analytical and practical skills, which go well beyond their core degree disciplines to make them competent contributors to innovation initiatives in a corporate environment. Emphasis has been placed on a range of skill areas which employers have indicated graduates need to make a fast and successful start to their careers, in particular in the context of innovation related activities. Student learning of the skill areas covered will primarily be gained through development and delivery of an interdisciplinary (where possible) team-based innovation project.Specific skill areas will include:- Innovation - from identifying new ideas to addressing industry challenges, to capability and business case development, commercialisation and delivery- Design Thinking - use of tools, techniques and approaches to drive successful human centric design of new solutions- Commercial awareness and value proposition development - understanding of key business and technical challenges, alignment of business needs with resources and capabilities, development of differentiation and "wow" factor-- Collaboration - working with diverse multi-discipline teams and industry experts, including the use of advanced online digital collaboration tools and the ability to positively react to and manage change- Communication - effective communication using multiple methods with different target audiences from peers to senior industry experts and business executives Students will work in small project teams, each where possible with representatives from different faculties and schools to simulate real-life industry situations but assessment will be made on an individual basis.

Objectives

This module provides the opportunity for students from different disciplinary backgrounds to gain analytical and practical skills, which employers have identified as needed by graduates to make a fast start in their careers and to contribute to innovation and wider internal and client projects. The module will increase student attractiveness to potential employers and enable students to make a faster impact in their careers once employed.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:
- Critically assess and apply a range of innovation management and design thinking techniques for creating new solutions and innovations.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness and synthesise different business and technological considerations into value proposition development.
- Apply collaboration skills and methods, relevant for working in diverse multi-discipline teams.
- Apply a range of communication skills and methods.
- Design and deliver a professional presentation.

Syllabus

The module will be based around eleven interactive facilitated workshop sessions. The workshops will use a matrixed approach, including development of a team-based innovation project, and practical learning and application of the range of skills covered. Some skill areas will be focused on in specific sessions, for example Design Thinking. Others, for example digital collaboration skills, will be woven into every session.

The module design includes a level of iteration to simulate a realistic industry context and to enable reinforcement of the skills learned.

The syllabus follows an innovation management lifecycle. Students will learn about key innovation concepts and why innovation matters. In the idea generation phase, they will use Design Thinking and associated techniques to research their industry challenge, understand end users, generate and prioritise ideas. In the development phase, students will build rapid prototypes, develop commercial awareness and communicate value and "wow factor". The module will conclude with a final team presentation to a panel of senior industry and academic experts and a reflective learning review.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	11	2.00	22.00
e-Lecture	10	0.50	5.00
Private study hours			73.00
Total Contact hours			27.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

This could include a variety of activities, such as reading, watching videos, team-based activities, reflection and essay preparation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students receive feedback each week during the timetabled workshops via MCQ quizzes and as part of their team group activity. Students receive written formative feedback on their reflective Personal Weekly Reviews part way through the module. In addition, students receive formative feedback on their final presentations.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by reflective essay.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/05/2024

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