Innovation (INNO) 321
Principles of Innovation
Fall 2008 - Weekend University
Lectures: Saturday 8:00 - 12:00
Sept 13, 20, 27. Oct 4, 18, 25. Nov 1, 15, 22, 29. Dec 6 - final exam

Instructor:	Dr. Anne Tyrie
Office Location:	SS 209
Office Phone:	403-949-2474
E-Mail:	tyriea@telus.net
Office Hours:	Sat 12:00 - 14:00, email any time

Course Description

This course is concerned with the dynamics of innovation, its theories and processes.

Innovation is about action and outcomes and involves much more than creating a new idea or engaging in R&D. It is a comprehensive process with various elements. It is the extraction of economic and social value from knowledge. An innovation can be a thing, a process or a service. Innovation can involve completely new developments which change the way we do things, or it can be an improvement on existing practices or technologies.

Innovation is the primary source of competitive advantage for firms and economic wealth for regions and national economies. At the same time, innovation is a powerful disruptive force. Innovation in all sectors has a major impact on social well-being and the natural environment. Understanding these dynamics is therefore one of the main challenges facing managers, policy makers, scientific and technical communities, and informed citizens. The purpose of the course is to explore innovation from a technological, social, historical and managerial perspective.

Innovation is a process through which knowledge and new ideas are applied to create new economic and social benefits. Students are introduced to definitions, contexts, language, dynamics, historical and contemporary examples, issues, aspects, outcomes, pitfalls, and impacts of the innovation process from a multidisciplinary perspective. Literature on innovation is explored.

Note: Open to students from all programs.

Objectives of the Course

This course introduces students to innovation and encourages a participative, inquiry approach to learning. At the end of the course, students should possess an understanding of the importance and implications of innovation dynamics. Students will also be encouraged to develop a level of expertise in an area of importance to their academic and professional pursuits, especially through their group term project.

It seeks to develop in students the understanding of the impact of the innovation process.

Textbooks and Readings:

A collection of readings is available in the Bookstore. Supplementary assignments posted on the web (course blackboard) and library resources are essential for the term projects. This course is a blend of face-to-face and web-based instruction.

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

1. Term project (groups of about 4)    

Group project meetings take place within and outside the class hours 

Project proposal - 5% Oct 18

Final report - 35% Nov 29

2. Class and blackboard discussion participation - 10%

3. Half-Term test - 15% Oct 18

4. Final examination - 35% Dec 6

1. Notes: 50% of the mark is awarded for student initiated activity. The grade of A+ is reserved for work during the term that is recognized as in the top 5% of work submitted in this course over the past three years. In calculating GPA for term work, A+ will be recorded as 4.3. However, an A+ final grade is officially recorded as 4.0.

Note: Please return assignments directly to the instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: Yes

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are invited to contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

(Revised, effective September 2008)

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100
A	90-95.99
A -	85-89.99
B+	80-84.99
B	75-79.99
B-	70-74.99
C+	65-69.99
C	60-64.99
C-	55-59.99
D+	53-54.99
D	50-52.99
F	0-49

 

Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale.  That is, A- would be converted to 87.5 for calculation purposes.  F will be converted to zero.

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offence. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS110) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

On Blackboard.