MSc in Management of Innovation

You'll learn core leadership skills, and how to apply them to manage the near continuous need for innovations and changes in organisational products, structures, strategies, and processes. You can choose to study the latest techniques and strategies for consumer behaviour and marketing or seek to develop a fully formed business model for entreprenurial ventures.

The programme mixes theory and practice and allows you to obtain a professional qualification in project management and development, which will enhance your employment prospects.

The Institute of Management Studies (IMS) at Goldsmiths benefits from excellent links with industry. Graduates of this programme will be capable of leadership and adaptive management styles, and will be able to direct and manage innovation in a variety of organisations.

Core Modules:

• You'll have access to executives from industry, who'll discuss and debate the merits of different approaches to the management of innovation. Recent speakers have included fashion designer Paul Smith, 'city super woman' Nicola Horlick , and editor of Monocle Tyler Brûlé.
• Learn about a variety of innovation approaches and challenges
• Translate conceptual and theoretical implications of innovation to practical applications
• Understand current and future potential issues reshaping commercial and non-profit practices
• Critically evaluate debates on the value and potential of intersections between disciplines and emerging innovation practices, particularly as these relate to transformation and change
• Understand the challenges and opportunities for applying or piloting early stage digital, media, and marketing in commercial and non-profit organisations
15 credits. Project Management Project Management 30 credits
• Find out about project management and its application to a range of project environments
• Critically evaluate project management theories as they relate to practical application
• Understand and act upon the role of the project manager in relation to project stakeholders
• Develop an understanding of appropriate project management methods, tools, and techniques, and their application for problem-solving and decision-making in project environments
30 credits. Digital Research Methods Digital Research Methods 15 credits
• Introduction to the process of conducting research and evaluating results, techniques for conducting advanced research of online and offline social life, and tools and techniques for finding and analysing big and small data
• Use a variety of techniques to capture and monitor newly published or real-time information, using quantitative analysis to handle ‘big’ data
• Understand how to formulate project plans for scope, budget, and resource requirements of research projects
15 credits. Innovation Theory Innovation Theory 15 credits

Innovation is a defining feature of novelty in complex technological, sociocultural, and biological systems. Theories of innovation offer principles on which the practices of innovation are based as well as the connections between theory and practice. As the psychologist Kurt Lewin wrote there is “nothing more practical than a good theory”. Innovation theories help explain the features of systems that make them capable of innovating and how the mechanisms that create novelty help us better understand and shape our world. Building on empirical, modelling and theoretical research, Innovation Theory, introduces a diverse variety of interdisciplinary theories explaining how innovation systems are formed, evolve, and transform in particular conditions and disciplines.

15 credits. Design Thinking Design Thinking 15 Credits

Design Thinking encourages individuals to act as creative catalysts with a systemic approach to innovation challenges. It can be applied in the workplace, at home, and in any sector of socio-economic life, though the focus of this course is the application of Design Thinking to challenges and opportunities specifically related to the management of innovation. The course introduces the concepts of design thinking applied to product development but does so as an exemplar of, and entry into, how those design thinking concepts can be applied to conceptualising changes in organisational culture, structure, processes, and systems. The core set of skills in Design Thinking, from understanding your customer to defining problems, ideation, prototyping, journey mapping, iteration and testing, are introduced in the course through both theory and practice. Design Thinking involves a step-by-step process that can be activated in a linear or non-linear fashion as there are no explicit dependencies between the skills. The foundational agenda of the course is providing students with a theoretical framework and toolkit for surfacing, defining, and refining viable ideas quickly and then executing on high-impact business and social interventions with a lean human-centred design mindset aimed at solving problems and creating opportunities. In the management of innovation, this applies to everything from actionable strategies for workplace or workforce challenges to the leadership skills for developing and nurturing high-performance teams or organisations poised to innovate using, indeed, Design Thinking strategies.

Students are taught to approach real-world problems from the point-of-view of their target audience, demonstrating the kind of audience-led and lead-user that translates inventive ideas into business-ready concepts and encourages making small bets fast, constructive evaluation of failures, and exploiting and harnessing breakthroughs to propel organizational growth or social good. The course structure features 10 lectures focused on learning and applying theories of Design Thinking and two labs where students gain exposure to and experience with software tools used to augment and accelerate application of design thinking theories to real-world challenges.

15 Credits.

In addition to these modules, you'll also partake in a compulsory Research Project:

Research Project (60 credits)
You'll undertake an independent piece of research or a large-scale multimedia website and/or mobile application addressing a specific innovation gap or entrepreneurial opportunity related to digital entrepreneurship. The research dissertation should be no longer than 10,000 words. If you choose to develop a multimedia application you must provide an accompanying 3,000 word critical analysis essay reflecting on the production process. You'll be allocated to an appropriate supervisor.

Option modules

Students on the MSc Management of Innovation programme can choose 45 credits of options. This offers opportunities for students to focus on specific aspects of management and innovation that fit with individual student interests from developing innovative ventures to product development and progressive and contemporary forms of managing and motivating human capital.

Optional modules Module title Credits. Consumer Behaviour Consumer Behaviour 15 credits

This lecture course will introduce you to the fundamentals of consumer psychology and behavioural economics.

It will give you an understanding for the fundamental decision making processes and the factors that influence these processes. It covers topics such as prospect theory and classical economics, brain structures and information processing, heuristics and rules of thumb, and framing and influencing techniques.

It also discloses the various strategies used by marketers to differentiate their products, leverage brands, set strategic prices, reduce the effectiveness of consumer search, and it compares the effectiveness of each.

The course covers topics such as the types and effectiveness of pricing strategies, individual differences in uptake of pricing strategies, value perceptions and subconscious influences (priming), and ethical and legal issues around influencing consumer choice.

The lectures in this course will be supplemented by several assignments designed to develop and enhance practical skills, and further develop familiarity with consumer psychological methods and theories.

15 credits. Entrepreneurial Modelling Entrepreneurial Modelling 30 credits

This module aims to nurture the skills and attitudes of students to allow them to become innovators and to provide models of entrepreneurial/business support relevant and useful for creative entrepreneurs. This course will provide a link between the theoretical aspects of the broader overview of the sector and the practice specifics, and work to focus on how creativity can be strengthened when put through creative commercialisation modelling techniques. The course has evolved from NESTA’s Creative Pioneer Programme and will use the Modelling Techniques that were designed and have evolved from `The Academy’ ‘Starter for Six’ and `Insight Out’ which provide approaches to commercialising creativity.

It will critically review the key characteristics of successful enterprises, entrepreneurs and leaders, within the cultural and more commercially focused creative industries. It will look at the range of business models that exist and review how best to build a financially sustainable organisation.

In line with the ethos of this programme, which seeks to foster the development of creativity and entrepreneurship as related activities rather than bringing entrepreneurship or business to creativity, this module allows you to continue to develop your understanding of a creative practice. This module, therefore, comprises studies in one area of creative practice related to your chosen pathway. Please see the relevant MA Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship pathway page on the website for more information on options

30 credits. Organisational Behaviour and Health Organisational Behaviour and Health 15 credits

This module introduces students to the psychological theories and research that address questions concerning how both organisational and individual characteristics affect productivity and mental health in the workplace.

Topics will include:

• organisational behaviour
• organisational development
• and occupational health psychology
• organisational structure and effectiveness
• work organisation theories
• work organisation and individual differences
• individual differences and the stress process
• leadership and organizational behaviour
• health promotion programs
• employee engagement
15 credits. Leadership and Talent Management Leadership and Talent Management 15 credits
• Learn the extent to which leadership skills and behaviours are universal or different in their relevance across cultures
• Understand individual differences, strategic approaches, and assessment methodologies
• Understand leadership development: approaches and practices
• Learn about technology and talent management
15 credits. Training, Coaching and Counselling Training, Coaching and Counselling 15 credits

This module aims to provide an introduction to the ways in which individuals learn and develop within organisations. Lecture topics include the following:

• Training: the learner and learning processes
• Training: training design and delivery
• Stress management training
• Coaching: introduction and theoretical underpinnings
• Coaching II: evidence and professional issues
• Careers I: career development models and career counselling
15 credits. Psychology of Marketing and Advertising Psychology of Marketing and Advertising 15 credits
• The traditional view of marketing: targeting, differentiation, loyalty, buying behaviour
• How people buy and what they buy
• Emerging marketing views: physical and mental availability
• Packaging of products
• The future of marketing.
• Three ways of communicating information to consumers
• Advertising effectiveness
• Different types of media: online, TV, radio, print
• Communication strategies and cognitive psychology
15 credits. Research Design and Applied Statistics Research Design and Applied Statistics 15 credits

This module covers skills required for effective research design and analysis of data in work environments to enable inferences about cause and effect relationships. You will also learn to critically evaluate the research appearing in academic and business literatures. Lecture topics include the following:

• Basic principles of research design, scientific method, role of theory
• Sample selection, data cleaning, data screening, descriptive statistics
• Association: correlation and covariance
• Design of experiments: one way and two way ANOVA, contrasts, repeated measures
• Regression: simple, multiple, logistic, time series, awareness of multi-level modelling
• Measurement: classical test theory, reliability, validity, factor analysis and item response theory, structural equation modelling
15 credits. Assessment and Selection Assessment and Selection 15 credits
• Overview, unscientific versus scientific methods
• Interview, references, biodata and GPA
• General mental ability
• Personality traits
• Creativity, leadership, and talent
• Theories of motivation
• Job satisfaction and engagement
• Using motivational rewards
• Employee relations, fairness and decisions
15 credits. Technological Innovation & Market Creation Technological Innovation & Market Creation 15 credits

What is technology and how does it evolve? How can managers stimulate technological innovation in organisations? How can managers use technology to disrupt existing markets, and create entirely new ones? These questions lie at the heart of this module. Students will learn how to appreciate the potential commercial and social implications of emerging technologies, and how to orchestrate marketing processes for the creation of new markets.

15 credits. Digital Marketing & Branding Digital Marketing & Branding 15 Credits

How do you build compelling brand identities in the digital age? How do you create viral communication campaigns using social media? How will the Internet of Things impact marketing landscapes of the future? This module will discuss potential answers to these and other questions. Students will be equipped with essential digital marketing skills, and the ability to assess the risks and opportunities emerging from ever-changing digital marketing environments.

15 Credits. Marketing Analytics Marketing Analytics 15 credits

Digital technologies have led to the creation of an unprecedented amount of data on consumer behaviour that now informs marketing decision-making. This module will introduce students to the rapidly growing field of data science, and it will demonstrate how the combination of big data analytics and netnography can lead to the creation of radically new product ideas. This module conveys the skills students will need to work in the data-driven world we live in.

15 credits. Creating Customer Experiences Creating Customer Experiences 15 Credits

Over the past three decades, customers have gained centre stage in marketing education and practice. Establishing close and intimate relationships with customers is considered to be key to marketing success, and customer equity has become an important marketing performance indicator.

The advent of digital technology and social media have had a major impact on the nature of customer relationships. Today, companies are seeking to engage the customer by creating interactive, participative marketing landscapes which will be the focus of this module.

Based on a solid understanding of traditional customer relationship management and contemporary customer engagement theories, this module discusses the creation of customer experiences from two perspectives.

First, the module will teach students how managers involve customers throughout the marketing process. Existing technology allows customers to participate in product design (for example online product customization), pricing (for example pay-what-you-want), and marketing communications (creation of viral online content). 3D printing may revolutionize the distribution of material goods, with customers designing products online and printing them at home.

Virtual Reality will add further customer touch points to our existing marketing landscapes in the near future. Specifically, Virtual Reality has the potential to transform retail environments and create entirely new marketing communication channels. Furthermore, companies are increasingly engaging customers in brand building, especially via brand communities. The merits as well as the limitations of participative customer experiences will be discussed in this module. Also, the potential impact of other emerging technologies on the customer experience will be examined.

Second, this module focuses on customer involvement in the innovation process. Companies are increasingly involving customers directly in the development of novel products and services. On the one hand, this occurs via crowdsourcing efforts and product idea competitions. On the other hand,