DIGITAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION - 2026/7

Module Overview

This module is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to navigate the dynamic landscape of digital innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the new product/service development and the role of environmental impact. By exploring cutting-edge trends, best practices, and case studies, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to identify and capitalise on emerging opportunities to develop innovative digital products and services, and create sustainable, socially responsible businesses.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

BONINA Carla (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

The module will provide a range of topics that will equip students with knowledge on the role of digital innovation for new product/service development alongside the context of digital technologies and the digital economy. Below is a summary of the key topics characterising the overall content of the module. Defining Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Definitions, key concepts, and the role of innovation in business
• Entrepreneurial mindset and opportunity recognition
• Trends and drivers shaping the entrepreneurial landscape

• Understanding of innovation theories and NPD in the digital economy
• The new product development process
• Applying NPD tools 
• Outlining firm characteristics for innovation and new product development 

• The impact of digital technologies on startups and new ventures
• Digital product development for established organisations
• Leveraging digital platforms, tools, and technologies for business innovation

• Social entrepreneurship and the role of digital innovation in addressing societal challenges
• Measuring and communicating social and environmental impact

• Building and managing high-performing entrepreneurial teams
• Effective communication and decision-making
• Fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

The group Assignment 1 will be prepared as individual project.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to enable students to demonstrate their understanding of the key concepts, their ability to apply them in a practical context, and their development of essential digital innovation and entrepreneurial skills.

• This assessment will evaluate students' ability to identify and evaluate a new digital product/service development opportunity, develop a comprehensive digital product development plan incorporating opportunities for innovative digital solutions and strategies for creating social and environmental impact, and effectively communicate it to the relevant stakeholders.
• Analyse a case study focused on digital product/service development, with a particular emphasis on the role of sustainable business practices.

1. Digital Product Development Plan - Pitch Group Presentation (Learning outcomes 2,3,4,)
2. Individual report/Innovation Case Study Analysis (Learning outcomes 1,2,5)

• Formative feedback is provided as detailed above.
• Summative feedback is provided in writing, separately for each of the elements of assessment.

Module aims

• To provide students with a deep understanding of the principles and processes of innovation, entrepreneurship, new product development, and digital transformation in the context of new ventures and established organisations.
• To equip students with the skills and tools needed to identify, evaluate, and pursue viable business opportunities in digital product and service development, with a focus on innovation that drives social and environmental benefit.
• To develop students' ability to effectively communicate, collaborate, and lead in the dynamic and fast-paced world of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed on the principles of project-based experiential pedagogy and thus combines research-informed academic content with applied learning through project work.Learning and teaching is research-led and follows a student-focused, experiential, flipped-classroom methodology with online elements. It comprises lectures, group discussions, masterclass sessions, and practical seminars. It includes active and self-directed learning-both group and individual. Prior to attending the lecture and seminar, students are expected to undertake the essential reading and complete any set work for the sessions.The project work, which is the basis of both active learning and module assessment, is designed to give students the experience of working in an international and cross-cultural context. It is supported by engagement with practice through real-world cases and may include talks from guest practitioners, webinars and company visits. Together with dedicated group project time during seminars - these sessions are designed to support student learning project work providing formative feedback in preparation for the assessment.The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures are mainly designed to illustrate and explain theoretical concepts and models.
• Seminars/group discussions are designed to develop a more practical insight into the applied nature of the various topics covered: they help explore the theoretical concepts and models by reference to a range of topical issues and case studies.
• Active learning includes engaging in classroom practical exercises, video and case analyses, and group project work.
• Active learning through additional online resources, complemented by peer learning in class.
• Self-directed and pertains to engaging with learning materials and undertaking desk research required for classroom participation and assessment.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM606

Other information

Surrey Business School, Master of Business Administration programme is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Global and cultural capabilities: in line with the spirit of the programme, we prepare our students to work in a multicultural global working environment. Both staff and students on this module come from diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. The module introduces diverse perspectives through expert faculty covering topic from a diverse range of countries, cultures and environments, covering. Students in this module will develop competencies to engage effectively with people from different backgrounds in ways that respect the interests of cultural groups and individual rights.

Digital capabilities: this module offers a deep dive into understanding and applying digital technologies for their own group work. As such, students will gain useful and up-to-date skills to enable them to participate actively in society and professional life, within a digital, connected world. This includes developing their own digital presence through a project landing page, and a broad range of related capabilities, such as tools to conduct digital research.  

Employability: Students in this module will be supported to develop a unique set of individual, interpersonal and professional skills, relevant to their discipline and career ambitions. The course will cover expert topics that are industry-focused cases and exposed them to tools that are relevant for their future work.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.