ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

The course is part of the supplementary activities concerning management and business organization.
The educational objective of the course is to offer knowledge related to the themes of entrepreneurship and innovation. Some conceptual coordinates will be offered, with particular regard to 1) new business models, 2) contextual factors, sources and paths that facilitate the generation of new ideas and the elaboration of entrepreneurial projects, 3) the elaboration of a strategy oriented to the development of entrepreneurship and innovation, 4) the role of different variables in influencing the overall rate of innovativeness of an organization.
The conceptual coordinates will be constantly applied to the study of concrete cases.

Students will gain a general understanding of key principles, concepts, and terminology that characterize this discipline. They will also be able to identify strategies and actions applicable to specific cases, using the theoretical and methodological tools made available as part of the course.

Knowledge and Understanding
Students will acquire a general knowledge of the analytical, methodological and critical tools regarding the general principles of entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the development and implementation of an innovation-oriented strategy.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to apply conceptual resources and problem solving skills to the analysis of specific business cases. They will also be able to identify strengths/weaknesses and formulate recommendations for strategic choices and action plans.

Autonomy of Judgment
Students will be able to integrate knowledge and use a variety of perspectives. They will also be able to evaluate and manage complex situations, reflecting on the social and ethical responsibilities associated with the application of their knowledge.

Communication Skills
Students will be able to communicate, clearly and effectively, both theoretical knowledge and the results of specific case analyses.

Learning skills
The course aims to enable students to acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of principles, strategies and management processes of entrepreneurial projects and innovation development paths, through a largely self-directed and autonomous learning.

General knowledge acquired in previous coursework.

The course develops the concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation, focusing on the ways in which these issues are handled by both private, public and third sector organizations, both large and small. The program is divided into four parts.

In the first part will be offered some conceptual coordinates, with particular regard to new business models (value co-creation, Service-Dominant Logic, experience economy, blue ocean strategy, stakeholder engagement, sharing economy), which recognize the importance of social networks in the development of business projects and the growing involvement of stakeholders in the dynamics of innovation. These orientations offer the cue for the definition of innovative strategies oriented to the creation of shared value, able to embrace the reasons of business and those of the community.

In the second part will be discussed the general principles of innovation, observing in detail the ways in which it manifests itself, the reasons that determine it and the mechanisms that lead some innovations to dominate over others. In this context, the role of creativity in generating new ideas and activating entrepreneurial projects will be explored. The different sources of innovation will then be considered, analyzing the role played by individual inventors, companies, public agencies and collaborative networks. The forms and evolutionary paths of innovation will also be reviewed.

In the third part, the focus will be on the elaboration of a strategy oriented towards the development of entrepreneurship and innovation. In this context, the basic principles for assessing positioning, identifying distinctive competencies and sources of competitive advantage will be presented, as well as the tools available for defining a strategic orientation for the future.

In the fourth part, the implementation of an innovation strategy will be addressed, exploring the role played by some variables (size, structure, culture, workspace, decision-making characteristics) in influencing the overall rate of innovativeness of an organization. Particular attention will be devoted to the management of such strategies from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises, which represent a dynamic aspect of the Italian economy.

M.A.Schilling, F. Izzo, Gestione dell’innovazione, Milano, McGraw-Hill, 2017 (the following chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Facebook and Netflix cases only, 6, 10, 11, 12).

G. Qualizza, Il ritorno dei luoghi. Place of origin, marche locali, consumer engagement: nuove mappe per creare valore, Pisa, ETS, 2020 (further reading).

Selection of texts in handouts, available in the Moodle platform.

Teaching support tools: supplementary bibliography and further readings, PowerPoint slides, movies and other multimedia documents. Teaching materials (slides used in class and texts in the handout) will be available online in the Moodle platform.

Learning assessment consists of two parts:
- oral examination in the form of a discussion with the examiner. The discussion will cover the topics and concepts explained in class and considered in the teaching materials (bibliography, handouts and supplementary texts). The purpose of the exam is to test the student's depth and breadth of knowledge, to assess the students' ability to critically analyze, discuss, and evaluate the major themes of the course, and to ascertain their ability to articulate an argument and communicate what they have learned;
- optional presentation of a project work (written report and PowerPoint), concerning a small company strongly focused on innovation. The aim is to ascertain not only the ability to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired, but also the clarity and effectiveness of communication. The preparation of the case study entitles the student to an additional score (from 1 to 3 points) with respect to the one obtained in the oral test.

Frontal lessons integrated, where possible, by debates and seminar activities, with the participation of experts and professionals. The course may also include specific activities entrusted to the students (drafting of reports, group work, oral presentations).

Italian

Reception time: by appointment, to be agreed by e-mail at the following address: gabriele.qualizza@unive.it. It is possible to use the online platforms (e.g. Zoom) for any telematic conversations.

Those who attend at least 65% of the lessons are considered attending students.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development