CPT-22806 Innovation Management and Cross-Disciplinary Design

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Introduction to Strategic Communication (CPT-12306), or Introduction to Communication and Innovation Studies (CPT-23804).

Continuation courses:

Facilitating Interactive Processes / Management of Change

Contents:

Many scientists and policy makers wonder why their technologies and policy plans are hardly ever adopted widely. Evidence shows that innovations are likely to be successful only when designers manage to forge an effective balance between new technologies and new forms of social organisation. Creating such a balance requires a creative process amongst stakeholders, (technical and social) scientists and prospective users. This course first introduces recent theoretical insights from innovation theory. Subsequently, guest lecturers present existing efforts and approaches for inter-disciplinary design. Here the aim is to facilitate productive dialogue between technical and social science modes of thinking about design. In the third part of the course cross-disciplinary teams of students make a social-technical problem analysis around a topic of their choosing, and proceed to develop design criteria, research agendas and/or process designs as early steps in a possible innovation trajectory.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- distinguish, critique and apply recent theories and modes of thinking about innovation processes in complex environments;
- analyse and judge the role of gamma and beta scientists, stakeholders and communication specialists in innovation design processes;
- analyse and assess the roles that communication may play in such innovation trajectories;
- apply these insights to support and construct beta-gamma design approaches within agro-ecological and/or life science universities and research conglomerates;
- apply practical skills relevant to supporting socio-technical design.

Activities:

- lectures on relevant innovation theory and tools for socio-technical problem analysis;
- guest lectures on design approaches from the beta and gamma sciences;
- group work on socio-technical problem analysis and interventions.

Examination:

The exam and group assignment both count for 50% of the final grade.
The minimum average of the assignment and exam must be 6.0, and the minimum mark for each component is 5.0.

Literature:

A course outline can be obtained from the secretary of Communication Science.
Course literature will be available on MyPortal.