Business Administration, Shaping Innovation in Ecosystems, Second Cycle, 15 credits

Learning outcomes

The overall purpose of this course is to deepen, problematize, and broaden the knowledge about the company as part of the surrounding ecosystem and how this has a bearing on innovation. The course will thus deepen the student's ability for critical reflection on conditions, opportunities and limitations regarding innovation in ecosystems and how it can contribute to increased sustainability.

Knowledge and understanding

After successful completion of the course, the students are expected to:

• Summarize and understand key messages and themes in the scientific literature in the field of business ecosystems and innovation.
• Describe and problematize how innovation contributes - and can contribute - to societal benefit at different levels.
• Be able to carry out a scientific investigation in practice.

Competence and skills

After successful completion of the course, the students are expected to have an in-depth ability to:

• Identify and problematize innovation in business ecosystems and independently prepare proposals on how innovation in business ecosystems can be analyzed and understood with the help of existing business theories
• Transform relevant principles and models into practical problem solving
• Critically review and provide feedback on others' work
• Orally present and discuss results, conclusions and proposals.

Judgement and approach

After successful completion of the course, the students are expected to:

• Critically evaluate the practical consequences of innovation within the boundaries of the ecosystem
• Be able to reason in an educated way about the relevance and limitations of an ecosystem
• Critically reflect on issues that arise in the intersection between innovation and sustainability (both social and ecological sustainability)
• Critically reflect on socio-technical transitions

Content

Innovation is a driving force for economic development at the same time as it enables the improvement of society's conditions for a good standard of living. Innovation is seen as a crucial process for the development of the global as well as the national economy to meet the great societal challenges of our time. The EU and several national authorities have set up "innovation strategies" to strengthen innovation in general, but also in specific subject areas (not least related to the global goals for sustainable development).

The course deals with current research that relates to innovation in business ecosystems and you will be trained to turning theories into practice. You will gain insights and understanding of the latest research front and of how innovation has been empirically studied. You will also learn how to analyze innovation in business ecosystems from several different perspectives. With the help of these theoretical perspectives, you will get a toolbox of theories and models that you can use to analyze and understand how innovation is shaped from the perspective of a business ecosystem.

Examinations and grades

Project Work, 15 credits (Code: A002)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

In accordance with university regulations on grading systems for first and second-cycle courses and study programmes (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades is to be used: fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). For courses included in an international master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the A to F grading scale is to be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by them, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds for doing so.

The grades used on this course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Modes of assessment

Project Work, 15 credits (Code: A002)
Written and oral examination.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other modes of assessment.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

First-cycle courses of 75 credits in Business Administration or first-cycle courses of 60 credits in Business Administration and a first-cycle course of 30 credits in another field of study including an independent project/bachelor thesis of 15 credits. The applicant must also have qualifications corresponding to the course "English 6" or "English B" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations.

Other provisions

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Reading list and other learning resources

Required Reading

Scientific articles of a maximum of 600 pages. The articles are provided by the department and are announced in connection with the start of the course