The course “Management of Innovation” is designed to provide students with an integrated understanding of how innovation can be systematically managed within organizations. It explores the strategic, organizational, and operational dimensions that enable organizations to create, develop, and sustain innovation in rapidly evolving environments. By adopting a multi-actor perspective, the course explores how innovation unfolds within and across large corporations, startups, venture capital investors, universities, public institutions, and mission-driven organizations. This approach equips students with a 360-degree view of innovation practices and challenges across diverse real-world contexts. The course combines core conceptual frameworks with practical applications, covering topics such as innovation strategy, organizational capabilities, corporate entrepreneurship, public sector innovation, and innovation for social impact. It encourages students to reflect on the complexity of innovation processes and the factors that facilitate or hinder them, such as culture, structure, and strategic alignment. Cross-cutting themes like collaboration among stakeholders and the use of emerging technologies are explored throughout the course to prepare students for navigating real-world innovation challenges with an informed perspective. A strong emphasis is placed on proactive, challenge-based learning. Students will apply concepts and frameworks through case study discussions, workshops, and a semester-long business challenge developed in collaboration with an external organization. Guest lectures from innovation professionals will further enhance the learning experience by bringing practitioner perspectives into the classroom. By the end of the course, students will have developed both the critical understanding and practical skills needed to lead innovation processes in a variety of organizational settings.

Knowledge and Conceptual Understanding Upon completion of the course, students will have developed a solid conceptual foundation in innovation management. They will understand how innovation functions as a dynamic, systemic process across strategic, organizational, and operational levels, and be able to analyze different types of innovation, from incremental to disruptive, and from technological to social, using established theoretical frameworks. Application of Knowledge in Real Contexts Students will learn to apply innovation tools and models to real-world challenges through case studies, class exercises, and a semester-long business challenge. Particular emphasis is placed on learning-by-doing: students will be required to iterate on ideas, engage in collaborative decision-making, and defend their innovation project proposals under conditions that mirror those encountered by managers and entrepreneurs in practice. Critical Thinking The course encourages students to think critically about the inherent uncertainty and ambiguity of innovation processes. Students will learn to assess innovation opportunities, manage trade-offs, and consider feasibility, desirability, and viability. They will reflect on failure and feedback as part of an iterative learning process. Communication Skills Students will strengthen their ability to communicate innovation strategies clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal forms. Particular attention will be given to pitching ideas effectively to business audiences, especially external stakeholders involved in the business challenge. Teamwork and Collaboration Students will work in teams throughout the semester, navigating group dynamics, co-developing ideas, and providing peer feedback. They will practice structured collaboration under realistic conditions, preparing them for innovation work in real-life organizational settings.

The course is structured into four interconnected modules, each focusing on a different set of actors involved in innovation processes. Designed as a highly interactive and challenge-based learning experience, the course blends lectures with practical components, including a semester-long business challenge developed in partnership with an external company, case study discussions, interactive workshops, and guest lectures by professionals across sectors. Module 1 – Foundations of Innovation and Organizational Readiness This introductory module provides a brief overview of the fundamentals of innovation management. Students explore the main types of innovation and examine how innovation can be embedded into the strategic and organizational fabric of a firm. The module also covers the development of innovation strategies and the levers, such as organizational design, culture, and leadership, that support innovative behavior. The role of emerging technologies, such as AI, is introduced as a key enabler. The module also includes a case study on innovation failure and a reflection on organizational resistance to change. Module 2 – Innovation in the Private Sector: Corporations, Startups, and Investors The second module focuses on how innovation is sourced, managed, and implemented across key private sector actors. Students analyze how large corporations leverage open innovation and how startups drive innovation through agility and experimentation. Venture capitalists and innovation intermediaries are also introduced as crucial players in funding and enabling innovation. Two guest lectures offer a practitioner’s perspective on these topics and the first business challenge checkpoint provides students with feedback on their strategic direction. Module 3 – Innovation for Public Good: Universities, Government, and Social Impact This third module shifts attention to innovation driven by public value and societal needs. It explores the role of universities and research centers in science- and knowledge-based innovation, and how public administrations design and implement innovative services. The module also introduces social innovation, examining how mission-driven and hybrid organizations address complex social and environmental challenges. Guest speakers from public and nonprofit sectors offer insights on the characteristics and constraints of innovation in these contexts. Module 4 – Implementation, Evaluation, and Learning from Innovation The fourth and final module addresses how organizations measure innovation performance and learn from both success and failure. Topics include project review methods, performance metrics, and innovation audits. A dedicated workshop helps students refine their storytelling and pitching skills in preparation for the final business challenge presentations. The course concludes with final team presentations to the partner organization and a collective reflection on lessons learned across the various innovation contexts explored throughout the course.

The reference book for the course is “Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change” (7th edition, Tidd & Bessant, Wiley). Additional materials, including lecture slides, academic papers, case studies, and relevant online resources, will be provided throughout the course. All communications and materials will be shared via the course’s e-learning page.

The course blends theoretical instruction with hands-on, challenge-based learning. Students will participate in interactive lectures, case discussions, guest lectures, and workshops that connect core innovation concepts to real-world applications. A central feature is the business challenge, developed in partnership with an external organization, in which teams work throughout the semester to solve an innovation problem and present their solution at the end of the course. Students are expected to actively participate by preparing assigned readings before class, contributing to in-class discussions, and engaging critically with case studies and peer feedback. Consistent participation, critical thinking, and a willingness to engage with real-world complexity are essential to the course experience, as they foster both conceptual understanding and practical skills development in managing innovation.

The assessment for this course is structured to reflect both ongoing engagement and the ability to apply concepts in real-world settings. For attending students, the final grade is composed of three components: 1. 30% Continuous Assessment This includes participation in class discussions, timely completion of individual and group assignments, and involvement in case study analysis and guest lectures. Specifically, it entails: • Group assignment on innovation failures (10%), to be presented in Session 5 • Individual assignment on innovation audit (10%), initiated in-class during Session 22 and submitted afterwards • Bonus participation point. Students may earn up to 1 additional point by submitting relevant questions in advance for guest speakers 2. 40% Business Challenge Students will work in teams on a business challenge in partnership with an external organization that runs across the course. The project requires the application of innovation management frameworks to solve a realistic innovation challenge and culminates in a team presentation. Evaluation is based on: • Progress shared during two checkpoints (10% total) • Peer feedback (5%), assessing each member’s contribution to the team’s work • Final team presentation (25%), delivered to the partner organization and faculty panel. 3. 30% Final Written Examination The individual final exam assesses the student’s understanding of the key concepts and models covered in the course. It will consist in a written exam whose structure will be shared at the beginning of the course. Non-attending students are assessed through a single final exam (100% of the grade), based on a workload that compensates for missed in-class learning activities. Additional relevant information regarding the course’s assessment methods will be communicated at the beginning of the course.

Students interested in writing their thesis in connection with this course must meet the following criteria: successful completion of the course, a demonstrated and sustained interest in the topics covered, and the ability to propose a relevant and original research project. Proposals should reflect a clear understanding of innovation-related themes and their application to business or societal contexts. To express interest, students may contact the Teaching Assistant by email (melia@luiss.it) after having passed the final exam. The email should include a brief abstract of the proposed thesis project (max. 15 lines) outlining the research question, motivation, and intended approach.