Sunderland International Business School Level: Masters Programme Module: Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer Module Leader: Assignment Code: PGBM108 Issue date: TBC Submission date: Tuesday 6th June 2017 at 16:00 Moderated by: Any work submitted is subject to the University’s Misconduct Regulations Assignment Brief The assessment has been specifically designed to accommodate the students varying commercial knowledge and understanding of the module content. Hence, students will be required to conduct either a: Option 1. Research a business-related theme from the module scheme of work (innovation and technology transfer) and produce an individual academic report. Option 2. Secure a live organisation, to manage an innovation project and produce an evidence-based, reflective log. Assessment The assessment of this assignment will cover all of the following learning outcomes: Knowledge K1 Critically analyse the management of innovation and technology transfer as a core business process. K2 Critically evaluate the choices and challenges in building and managing an innovative organisation. K3 Reflect upon and critically evaluate the key attributes in capturing learning from Innovation and technology transfer. Skills S1 Demonstrate an ability to critically appraise theories of managing innovation and technology transfer in the 21st century. PGBM108 Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer 2 S2 Evaluate the assessment of viable concepts, models and techniques in order to identify ease of transmission for the adoption and/or application of managing innovation and technology transfer. Formative feedback In week 3 of the module you will submit a formative proposal of 300-400 words detailing: • Your choice of organisation or theme for investigation, and your proposed Managing the People Issues • How you will address each learning outcome You will receive formative feedback to guide you in line with the module aims. Guidance Students are asked to reflect on their personal network of tutors, family members, relatives and professional / social networks to thoroughly consider if it is possible to source a live organisation and to manage an innovation project and produce a reflective log. However the assessment structure is clearly designed not to disadvantage those students who have limited commercial experience and access to a suitable organisation. Hence: Option 1. Research a business-related theme from the module scheme of work (innovation and technology transfer) and produce an individual academic report. (Word Count 3000 Words) Option 1 is a research based assessment in which students must familiarise themselves (i.e. reading and reflecting on current journal articles) with a current theme from the module scheme of work. Student will then be required to write an academic report in the form of a journal paper. The submitted paper must critically debate a current theme and be supported with company examples. In week three of the programme you will be required to submit a formative proposal of 300-400 words detailing: • Your proposed managing innovation and technology transfer theme • How you will address each learning outcome PGBM108 Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer 3 You will receive formative feedback to guide you in line with the module aims. Guidance The academic report in the form of a journal paper, excluding appendices, should be 3000 words in length. For your guidance, it will consist of: a) An introduction in which you introduce the theme that you are investigating, clearly emphasising its importance. b) A detailed methodology of the analytical approach you are taking, demonstrating a critical understanding of managing innovation and technology transfer theme. c) A section on your findings includes a critical evaluation, detailing the theme selected its implications and company examples. d) Conclusions and commercially viable solutions. e) Throughout the report, you must integrate theory with practice, critically evaluating your findings. f) All sources must be cited correctly in accordance with the Harvard system of referencing. Option 1 is intended to give you an opportunity to show that you are capable of applying your knowledge of managing innovation and technology transfer, not only in describing the issue faced by the commercial sector, but also in explaining it and justifying your proposed actions for improvement. You are encouraged to make full use of the tutor team support. For general assessment criteria see appendix 1. Good luck PGBM108 Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer 4 Option 2. Secure a live organisation, to manage an innovation project and produce an evidence-based, reflective log. (Word Count 3000 Words) Option 2 is directed at students with commercial experience and those who have access to a suitable organisation. to time constraints and organisational access, it would be quite acceptable if students assumed the role of a consultant, team play, or observer. If student are unsure then they are encouraged to liaise with their tutor. This task requires students to document a key challenge an organisation is experiencing whilst implementing an innovation project. It is recognised that whilst a student will identify a core issue there will no doubt be a series of symptomatic issues which will also need to be addressed. In week three of the programme you will be required to submit a formative proposal of 300-400 words detailing: • Your proposed organisation and managing innovation and technology Transfer project and key challenge • How you will address each learning outcome You will receive formative feedback to guide you in line with the module aims. Guidance The reflective log, excluding appendices, should be 3000 words in length. For your guidance, it will consist of: a) An introduction in which you introduce the theme that you are investigating, clearly emphasising its importance both academically and commercially. b) A detailed methodology of the analytical approach you are taking. c) A reflective commentary documenting the challenge identified within the project and clearly evidenced with academic underpinning throughout. d) Personal reflections and commercially viable solutions to overcome the identified challenge. PGBM108 Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer 5 e) All sources must be cited correctly in accordance with the Harvard system of referencing. Option 2 is intended to give you an opportunity to show that you are capable of applying your knowledge of managing innovation and technology transfer, not only in describing the issue faced by the commercial sector, but also in explaining it and justifying your proposed actions for improvement. You are encouraged to make full use of the tutor team support. For general assessment criteria see appendix 1. Good luck PGBM108 Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer 6 Appendix 1 Criteria Fail (<34) Fail (35-39) Pass C (40-54) Pass B (55-69) Distinction A (70+) Knowledge of relevant concepts and issues Fails to identify the majority of the concepts relevant to the question or introduces topics that are not Fails to identify the majority of the concepts relevant to the question. Those concepts that are used are Identifies and utilises some of the key concepts relevant to the question. Uses some of the Identifies the majority of the key concepts relevant to the question and uses them in an Identifies all of the key concepts relevant to the question and uses them in an appropriate relevant. The ordering of the concepts indicates a lack of understanding of key concepts. misapplied. The ordering of the concepts is in appropriate. concepts, but not always in an appropriate context. The ordering of the concepts may be adhoc. appropriate context. Orders and structures them in a logical sequence context. The material is structured to show significant understanding of the key issues. Depth understanding and extent critical evaluation (including evidence of wider reading) of of The student has failed to address the question set or appears to have answered a different question to that set. There is no evidence of any reading. No key issues identified. There is no evaluation of the validity of the sources used or the work is based on one key source. Inappropriate sources are used extensively. There is no evidence of appropriate wider reading. No reflection on key issues. There is some evaluation of the materials used in the work. The work is based on a limited number of appropriat e sources. Little reflection on key issues. Good evaluation of materials used, with discernment obvious as to important sources. The work is based on a number of appropriate sources. Some reflection on key issues. The work is set in a context where wider reading and appreciation of the context is obvious. The material included is relevant to the topic and appropriate in addressing the key issues identified in the assignment Evidence appropriate analysis of The student fails to draw any relationships from the material used or the student is incorrect in the relationships that they draw. The student draws one or two basic relationships from the material used, but then subsequently misapply these concepts. The student draws some limited relationships from the material used. There might be minor issues where the student is incorrect in the assertions that they make, but overall they demonstrate appropriate analysis. The student starts to demonstrate they understand the key relationships from the material used. There are no substantive errors in their analysis. All the key connections are drawn between materials from different sources. The student makes no substantive errors in their analysis and reflects upon the key issues identified in their analysis. PGBM108 Managing Innovation & Technology Transfer 7 Ability to synthesise relevant material from a range of sources The student fails to use any appropriate sources. There is extensive repetition of notes given out in class. The student uses just a few nonacademic sources of information or the material used is inappropriate for level study. They quote verbatim extensively from one or two sources. They use quotations incorrectly to support an argument. The student may be limited in their use of academic sources such as journals and books, but there is evidence that they have attempted to access a range of sources including non-academic ones. Extensive verbatim quotes are used as a replacement for the students own work. The student has accessed a range of academic sources such as journals and books, and also appropriate nonacademic ones. Verbatim quotes are used to enhance the arguments being developed rather than as a replacement for the students own work. The student has accessed a wide range of appropriate sources. They make reference to a wide range of material in their work. Verbatim quotes are used from a range of sources to illustrate and support the arguments being developed, but without becoming a substitute for the students own work. Structure and clarity of The work has no coherent The work is poorly organised, The work has a clear structure The work has overall a coherent The work is well structured with presentation. structure. The work is littered with spelling and typographical errors. Very poor use of English. Where appropriate tables/graphs are not used. Referencing is poor or nonexistent . and structured. There are many spelling and typographical errors. Poor use of English. Where appropriate tables/graphs are not used. Referencing is patchy and incomplete. and generally a logical progression. Occasional typographical and spelling errors. Some use of tables/graphs is made where appropriate. structure and a clear and logical progression. Very few typographical and spelling errors. Good use of tables/graphs is made where appropriate. clearly defined objectives that are achieved. Typographical and spelling errors are rare. Excellent use of tables/graphs is made where appropriate.