DIGITAL INNOVATION MANAGEMENT - 2027/8

Module Overview

The Digital Innovation Management module is a cornerstone in your business education. This module examines the strategic and tactical dimensions of innovation that a future leader considers when managing an organisation or team. It combines established and contemporary conceptual frameworks with practical guidance for analysing the challenges of leading an innovative organisation. 

In today's digital economy, emerging technologies both create opportunities and threaten established business models and market leadership, requiring sophisticated innovation management capabilities. In this module, students will discuss the strategy, sources, processes, and implementation of innovation. 

This module particularly provides students with 

1. A holistic understanding of the concept of digital innovation and its relevance to firms¿ competitiveness 
2. The capability to identify the links between the structures and processes which support specific models of innovation 
3. The capability to recognise the opportunities for, and constraints to innovation in specific business contexts and organisational settings 
4. The capability to develop practical skills that are crucial to the management of digital innovation 
5. The capability to evaluate emerging digital technologies and their strategic implications for innovation management, including AI, data analytics, blockchain, and digital platforms In brief, students should come away with models and insights to succeed in each innovation management phase. 

Finally, the module is designed to provide deep theoretical and practical knowledge by applying theory in case studies and other assignments. The course consists of lectures, seminars, group assignments and an individual assignment.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

FACKLER Thomas (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes: 

• Foundations of innovation, digital transformation and organisational change 
• Innovation strategy design and implementation 
• Digital innovation topics such as AI, digital platforms, data analytics, and blockchain 
• Economics of digitisation 
• Collaborative innovation and ecosystem management 
• Global innovation and digital economy dynamics 
• Data-driven decision making for innovation

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual Assignment

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to ensure that students demonstrate that they have gained knowledge of the relevant theory of digital innovation management, practical and cognitive skills with regard to their ability to apply the theoretical concepts of digital innovation management to a given business context and to critically identify potential problems and related management solutions. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of 

1. Group assignment (30% weight) - addresses learning outcomes 2, 3, and 4 

2. Individual report (70% weight) - addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, 5, and 6 

The group assignment is a video presentation where students demonstrate insight into key concepts and digital innovation technologies as well as how to apply them in a commercial context. In this respect, students should demonstrate critical understanding of the theory, the commercial research process and the commercial context on which it is based such as a corporate environment. 

In the individual report students should demonstrate the ability to apply the theoretical frameworks of digital innovation management to a real context, critically evaluate management issues concerned with the implementation of innovation and identify potential solutions to such management issues. To this end, students should demonstrate the capability of making realistic recommendations which are consistent with the presented evidence and the knowledge of the theory. Students may choose to focus on traditional innovation frameworks or integrate emerging digital technologies and data analytics approaches in their analysis, depending on their chosen business context. The assessment strategy is consistent with the learning outcomes as it enables to assess the K+C+P skills. 

Formative assessment: Students will receive individual and group feedback during the module from teaching staff which they are expected to use to improve their work in subsequent assignments. 

Summative Feedback: Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment as detailed by the Code of Practice for Assessment and Feedback. An overview report will be shared with the cohort to highlight key metrics and themes found in the marking and feedback process.

Module aims

• Analyse the facets of digital innovation and their impact on the firm's market position.
• Apply the theoretical models of digital innovation management to real business cases.
• Evaluate needs and opportunities for a new digital innovation strategy, technology, and organisational renewal.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to give students the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of the relevant theory, management practices and related problems which are pertinent to digital innovation management.

The teaching and learning methods include the delivery of formal lectures and critical evaluation of specific case studies. Whilst the lectures are mainly designed to illustrate and explain theoretical concepts and models of innovation management, the critical evaluation of business cases illuminates the theoretical concepts and models by class discussion and reference to the theory. Seminars will be used to further develop the conversation and application of content from the lectures and guided learning. The module will incorporate practical examples, case studies, and multimedia resources featuring digital technologies, AI applications, data analytics, and digital business models. Students will engage with real-world scenarios to illustrate how digital technologies enable and constrain innovation in contemporary business contexts. 

Prior to attending the lecture students are required to review the guided learning and online resources as recommended accordingly by the lecturer in each teaching week. 

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: MANM616

Other information

The MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management 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: 

Employability: Students develop key digital innovation management skills which they can apply in a range of different business contexts. This is assessed in the group and individual assignment. 

Global and Cultural intelligence:  Students develop awareness about global innovation and innovation at large companies which they apply in case studies; this is assessed in both individual and group assessments. 

Resourcefulness and Resilience : Students work in groups in numerous case studies where they are expected to respond to firms¿ challenges and opportunities. Students need to apply different innovation frameworks to find solutions which require creativity and an ability to adapt based on the business context. 

Digital Capabilities: Students develop critical understanding of how emerging digital technologies affect business strategy and innovation management. This includes evaluating both opportunities and constraints. Assessed in both group and individual assignments.

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 2027/8 academic year.