Introduction to Strategic Innovation

Coursework in this badge will explore the importance of innovation for a firm’s competitive success and the advancement of society in general, introduce some of the risks and costs of innovation, and look at why firms are much more likely to be successful if they have a well-crafted strategy for innovation. Specifically, we will look at likely sources of innovation, how innovations are frequently categorized, and why some innovations are more successful than others.

This is an asynchronous, self-paced class and requires approximately 30-35 hours of learning activities.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the common sources of innovation.
• Explore the differences in the types of innovation and the general patterns that characterize technology improvement trajectories and technology diffusion rates (including s-curves and technological discontinuities).
• Understand the differences in individuals that adopt an innovation early and those that adopt and innovation later in the technology cycle.
• Discover why some firms will adopt a new technology quickly while others adopt much later or not at all.

Requirements/Assessment

1. Create a two-to-four-page memo applying the theories and lessons from this badge to an organization and its innovations. 30 points
2. Reflect and apply the theories and lessons from this badge to a current event in technology and innovation and share your insights through the Flipgrid discussion board. 10 points
3. Demonstrate your mastery of the badge concepts by completing the quiz. You may retake the quiz up to three times; only your highest score will count. 10 points

Strategic Innovation badges are offered every semester.