BEMM118 Individual Assignment 2

Innovation Fitness Report Deadline: 9/5/2023 – 12.00AM

 Simplified model of the innovation process Learning:

Evolving capabilities

Pro-active linkages: Connecting

Innovation strategy

Strategic selection

Agile Implementation

Value:

Business Models

Search

Innovative organization

 Innovation Fitness Report

From the Handbook

Assignment 2: (70%): Innovation Fitness Report

You will carry out research to assess the “Innovation Fitness” of an organisation, at an organisational, departmental or Divisional/Business Unit level. The 2,000 word report (+/- 10%) will analyse how well the organisation manages innovation in rapidly changing digital environments, and will include prioritised recommendations to improve innovation performance.

You will develop a report which covers key elements including:

• Introduction setting the overall context for the study

• Identifying and critically reviewing relevant literature

• Methodology, embedding core theories and material presented during the course

• Data analysis, developing your own critical analysis of the results

• Discussion section, drawing together key themes identified in the report and recommendations for future actions to improve innovation management in the digital era

 Assignment 2: From the Handbook Innovation Fitness Report

To inform the report, you will undertake a quantitative Innovation Fitness Test Audit at an organisational, departmental or Divisional/Business Unit level which will generate insights regarding:

• How well does the organization manage innovation STRATEGY? • How well does it manage LEARNING?

• How well it develops and exploits LINKAGES?

• How well it manages INNOVATION PROCESSES?

• Are the elements of an INNOVATIVE ORGANIZATION in place?

 Option 1

If you have access to an organization of over 10 staff

Public Sector or Private Sector

Any country: All material, data and appendices must be in English

 Assignment 2: Quantitative (Survey) Research Carrying out the Innovation Fitness Test

• The Innovation Fitness Test / Audit (Including Explanation) - can be found at: https://www.johnbessant.org/toolsgi

• Small adjustments to wording of questions can help – but do not fundamentally change the questions

 Assignment 2: Quantitative Analysis phase

• Move beyond general comments on strategy, learning, linkages, processes and innovative organisation

• Look at the “outlier” results – very low or high scores – and consider why this might be the case

• Compare your findings with comparator organisations – if possible

 Assignment 2: Qualitative research (interviews)

• Additional research beyond the Innovation Fitness Test Audit, including 3-4 qualitative interviews, is likely to strengthen the final report and presentation

• Good practice when planning (e.g. emails) and undertaking interviews:

ØExplain what you are doing, that data will not be retained beyond the assignment by you, and that names and direct quotes WILL NOT be attributed to individuals (in emails, and at the start of the interview)

ØAim for a 45 minute interview. Record if you can – but no need for full transcription. Video calls work well (Zoom, Teams etc.)

ØDesign 8 – 12 OPEN questions – to help the interviewee to explore areas beyond the Innovation Fitness Test. A good approach is 6 – 8 “must ask” questions, with some additional questions if you need them

 Assignment 2: Qualitative Analysis phase Suggested approach – to help compare feedback on the same theme from different interviewees

   Question

  1. How do you think that our organisation manages innovation?

  2.

  3.

  4.

  5.

  6.

  7.

8.

Interviewee A

Interviewee B

Interviewee C

Synthesis of findings from interviews

 Option 2: If you do not have access to an organisation

Use publicly available documents, FT, Economist, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Public Accounts etc. to conduct your analysis

Use Innovation Fitness Test approach

  Guidance:

recommendations about the theme for managers in an organisation

Highlight key ideas + draw out some key messages +

   Section

Words?

 Often Missed......

Introduction, explaining the purpose of the report, and briefly introduce the organisation that you will be assessing. Make sure the reader knows what is coming up.

100

1-3 refs

 High impact cover

Contents page incl. list of tables + figures Don’t get into lots of detail about your organisation too early ....

Confirm that innovation is a complex process, that requires capabilities across a range of themes. Can use the same references as assignment 1, but needs more detail.

Use references from the course texts (Tidd & Bessant) as well as journal articles

600

16-32 refs

 Say something (2-4 references) about each of the 8 key elements of the simplified innovation management process: Search; select; implementation; value/business models; innovation strategy; innovative organization; linkages; learning

Reflect on how contexts are changing: Sustainability; digitalization; ecosystems

Methodology: Explain the IFT, the interview phase, so that the reader trusts your research process – and the quality of your data – and your recommendations.

200

1 ref: John Bessant

 Benefits of a mixed qualitative + quantitative approach

How many questionnaires sent out, + received back. Timing. Anonymity of interviewees.

  Guidance:

recommendations about the theme for managers in an organisation

Highlight key ideas + draw out some key messages +

   Section

Words?

 Often Missed......

Findings: Explain what you found. Use infographics and tables to draw attention to key aspects/areas for focus.

400: No refs if generating own data. If using secondary sources – explain which sources e.g. FT

 Results to 1 or 2 decimal places

Comment at the high level: Strategy; processes; organization; linkages; learning

Comment on outlier (high and low) results

Use quotes

Use a table to bring together what has been learned from the interviews

Discussion: Compare your findings with what you know about managing innovation from the module, including references to the literature. Make recommendations for future actions to improve innovation management in the digital era.

500

5-10 refs

 Reflect on how context is changing the organization’s priorities: Sustainability; digitalization; ecosystems

Recommendations: Delivered in a 5 columned table works best

200

No refs

 Priorities; which area of the business is responsible?; “Next 12 months; 13 – 24 months...2”; explain how the recommendations with the findings. Use colour

 Literature review approach: Include the key elements of the innovation process, including visuals. Most of research going to be from last 30 years.

Use Tidd + Bessant 2014 + 2021, Alan Brown, HBR, MIT SMR, CMR (+ others).

    You can re-use the references and what you have written about ONE element in Assignment 1 in Assignment 2

 Element

Key themes: What is important: What can be difficult

Literature sources (Using APA referencing)

 Search

 Select

 Agile implementation

 Value capture + business modelling

 Innovation strategy

 Innovative organization

 Proactive linkages (incl. ecosystems here)

 Learning: Evolving capabilities

  Guidance:

Be persuasive ...........Seek implementation

Examples of Recommendation Tables

            Example A

Recommendation

Objective

Specific actions

Resource/Budget

 Owner

    Example B

Focus area: Strategy; Learning; Linkages; Processes; Organization

Prioritized recommendations

Rationale

Next steps

Resource allocation

Decisions to progress

  Example C: Works very well

 Challenges identified

Prioritized recommendations

Future Benefits

Next steps

Resource allocation

Decisions to progress

   Example D (weaker)

Area for improvement

Recommended improvement action

Next steps

Priority

 Report Writing

  Guidance

   Use tables to synthesise your thinking. They can be particularly useful when summarising the literature review and recommendations. They help you “save” word count as well.

  Recommendation tables: Consider having next steps, decisions, RAG or other practical headings to help structure your recommendations

  Use titles – in bold – to guide the reader through your document.

  Use graphics, key frameworks and diagrams (visuals) from articles, to illustrate your writing.

  Use bullet points, to write punchily and succinctly.

  Use colour and white space to increase the impact of your document. An interesting visual on the cover can increase the impact of a document. Create a high impact cover.

  Follow the guidelines on APA referencing:

https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/2107634/mod_resource/content/1/A%20Guide%20to%20Citing%2C%20Referencing%2 0and%20Avoiding%20Plagiarism%20V.3%20with%20short%20guide.pdf

    Number of references: Build on the material on ELE (e.g. Strategic Innovation Management – Tidd & Bessant), and

  consider 20 – 30 references

 Word Count

  Guidance

   The following content is NOT included in a final word count:

• Abstract

• Title

• Contents page

• Reference list

• Bibliography

• Footnotes (these should be used for references only; those containing large amounts of text will be treated as if they were

part of the main body of text.

• Appendices

• Words used in tables, graphs and other forms of data presentation (including titles of figures – which are required)

• Equations

  The following content IS included in a final word count:

• Main body of text

• In text quotations

• In text references

• Section headings

• Footnotes containing large amounts of text

     Knowledge source

Where to find it

Module Reading List

https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.ph p?id=9005§ion=5

  Harvard Business Review

In “Business Source Complete” in the Library (Under “B” in the database section) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/

 Sloan Management Review

In “Proquest Business Premium Collection” in the Library (Under “P” in the database section) http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/

 California Management Review

In “Sage Journals” in the Library (Under “S” in the database section). You will need to search under “Management & Organization Studies http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/

 Strategic Innovation Management (Tidd + Bessant 2014)

Chapters currently on ELE: Buy on Amazon

McKinsey, BCG, PWC, Deloitte all have useful things to say – but they are all trying to sell something as well – so be wary. OK to cite.

Online search!

Also give good examples of how to design and write reports.

 Simplified model of the innovation process Learning:

Evolving capabilities

Pro-active linkages: Connecting

Innovation strategy

Strategic selection

Agile Implementation

Value:

Business Models

Search

Innovative organization

 ¡ ¡ THANK YOU!!

Dr Bill Russell [email protected]