Technology, Innovation &

Strategy
Week 1
•Reading Journal:
Each week you will be provided with readings and you will be asked to answer
some prescribed questions. This assignment will ensure that you come prepared
for the classes. There will be 10 submissions for one mark each. These
submissions will be IN HARDCOPY ONLY and will be submitted at the
beginning of class on Sunday/Monday.

•My Light Bulb Log

You will make a scrap book of sorts that will be your creative space. Fill it with
articles, self reflections and other initiatives that appeal to the innovator within.
Your log MUST contain ATLEAST 5 summaries of TED TALKS on innovation.

•Case Journals
The weeks when Case Studies will be discussed, your team will expected to
upload on TURNITIN a Problem Analysis of the Case BEFORE the
commencement of class. This will be done 6-7 times in the semester
●The Eureka Fair
In Week 14 (or 15) both sections A & Z will jointly hold a
Eureka Fair, which will show case your innovative capability.
You will be required to submit a Slow Hunch (project
proposal) draft and get it approved by me. It can be anything
from an idea to a policy to a product, as long as it exhibits
either a radical or an incremental innovation

●20% Downtime
A few times in the course you will be awarded 20% Downtime
to support your innovation engines. Use this time to work on
your ideas, conduct interviews and surveys etc. Use the time
well!
Mandatory Readings
▶ Innovator’s Dilemma – Clayton Christensen
▶ Where Do Good Ideas Come From – Steven Johnson

◦ Ebooks available in your folders

The Dilemma
What is innovation?
▶ Innovation is the process and outcome of creating
something new, which is also of value.

▶ Innovation involves the whole process from

opportunity identification, ideation or invention to
development, prototyping, production marketing and
sales, while entrepreneurship only needs to involve
commercialization (Schumpeter).
What is innovation?
▶ Today it is said to involve the capacity to quickly
adapt by adopting new innovations (products,
processes, strategies, organization, etc)

▶ Also, traditionally the focus has been on new

products or processes, but recently new business
models have come into focus, i.e. the way a firm
delivers value and secures profits.
What is innovation?
▶ Innovation comes about through new combinations
made by an entrepreneur, resulting in

◦ a new product,
◦ a new process,
◦ opening of new market,
◦ new way of organizing the business
◦ new sources of supply
Dimensions of innovation
There are several types of innovation
◦ Process, product/service, strategy,

which can vary in degree of newness:

◦ Incremental to radical,

and impact:
continuous to discontinuous
Drivers for innovation
◦ Financial pressures to reduce costs, increase efficiency, do more with
less, etc
◦ Increased competition
◦ Shorter product life cycles
◦ Value migration
◦ Stricter regulation
◦ Industry and community needs for sustainable development
◦ Increased demend for accountability
◦ Demographic, social and maket changes
◦ Rising customer expectations regarding service and quality
◦ Changing economy
◦ Greater availability of potentially useful technologies coupled with a
need to exceed the competition in these technologies
Who is an Innovator?
▶ An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an
organization who is one of the first to introduce into
reality something better than before. That opens up a
new area for others and achieves an innovation.
Are YOU an Innovator?