Week 1: What is innovation strategy?

• Definition of innovation strategy
• The shift towards open innovation
• Case study: Procter & Gamble

Week 2: Are you engaging in the most strategic types of innovation?

• The innovation pyramid
• The five types of innovation
• Case study: Alphabet (Google)

Week 3: Can you go from a product to a platform strategy?

• The shift from product strategy to platform strategy
• The building blocks of platform innovation
• Case study: Videogame industry

Week 4: Is advanced still advanced and emerging still emerging?

• The rapidly accelerating innovation pace in emerging markets
• The types of innovation that emerging market firms use to challenge
• The comparative advantages and disadvantages of emerging and advanced market firms in the global innovation market place
• Case studies: GE in China and Huawei in Europe

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

• Debate conventional thinking on successful innovation and how to provide it with strategic direction.
• Improve the innovation strategy of your current or future organization by drawing on practical frameworks grounded in a rigorous review of the management literature.
• Describe key mechanisms of open innovation.
• Explain that the leading companies in the world are adopting a platform strategy and not the commonly assumed product strategy taught in traditional management courses.
• Describe the rising importance of China, India and other emerging economies, as well as the challenge of emerging market companies in terms of their innovation capacity rather than their low-cost market potential.
• Apply the three strategic moves that allow a platform organization to "win".
• Identify different types of innovation in a strategic framework, including the neglected but key type of management innovation.
• Describe the strengths and weaknesses of converging advanced and emerging market dynamics.
• Apply practical insights from leading global experts on innovation strategy.
• Apply key innovation concepts, frameworks and theories in a professional context.
• Apply leading case insights to your own local context.
• Contribute to a multicultural, peer-led learning context on innovation strategy.

This course has been created for graduates with a strategic experience of innovation challenges, and experienced professionals looking to get up to date with the latest innovation strategy thinking. The course is also appropriate for students willing to invest very substantially in acquiring advanced knowledge and skills in the area of innovation strategy. The course provides novel theoretical frameworks, expert-led practical insights and leading case material, including references to leading textbooks, academic and professional articles for more advanced learning. Ultimately, the dual goal for all participants is to satisfy their thirst for advanced innovation strategy learning and improve practice in their current or future organisation. All participants are expected to demonstrate a willingness to contribute to discussions and debates with peers.