MSc Management of Innovation

The MSc in Management of Innovation degree is a 12 month full time conversion programme which takes students with a wide range of first degrees and prepares them for a career in the management or research of innovation.

The programme has several key strengths:

• Delivers unique value through a unique focus on specialised courses in the area of innovation to ensure students have the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with innovation challenges in a range of management contexts.
• Enhances learning through linking theory with practice by focusing on teaching how generic theories work in the real world, and relying on teaching staff with experience as active academic researchers and as practitioners in the business world.
• Reputation – University of Aberdeen is one of Britain oldest universities, with a five century long tradition of research and learning. Innovation and organisational change is one of the key research areas within the management group, ensuring that you can draw from the expertise of our faculty in the innovation area.

This programme is designed to teach graduate students both from a business and non-business background how to manage innovation successfully. Whether you are an engineer, a scientist, a law or business graduate, this programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to manage the development of new products and services, the introduction of new change programmes, the integration of emerging technologies, or the redesign of your organisation business model.

The programme is aimed both at those who want a management education to prepare them to enter a business development or organisational change management role, and at those interested in continuing their studies with a PhD and pursuing an academic career in innovation or technology management and organisational change.

What you will study:

Stage 1

New product and service development (15 credits)

Examines the activities involved in the development of a new product and/or service in firms, and develops an understanding of the tools and methods involved in developing new products and services and their application in firms

Operations and Technology Management (15 credits)

Investigates the nature of operations management and its role in the organization; understanding the role of technology and innovation in supporting organizations in their delivery of the goods and services; allows you to apply a range of frameworks and theories in examining operations and technology management problems within organizations.

Accounting and Finance for Managers (Innovation Stream) (15 credits)

The course will introduce key areas of accounting and finance. It will enable students to read and interpret financial statements, and to be able to use financial numbers in decision making - both short term & long term.

Innovation and Technology Strategy (15 credits)

You will examine the key concepts and principles concerning innovation and technology strategy; develop an understanding of what technology strategy is, and how it is formulated and implemented in organisations.

Semester 2

Business model innovation (15 credits)

Examines and evaluates the different types of business models that companies are using to create and sustain competitive advantage; develops an understanding of the business model innovation process through the creation and evaluation of new 'prototype' business models for existing organisations.

Strategic marketing (15 credits) or Consumer behaviour (15 credits)

The strategic marketing course will provide students with a critical understanding of the nature and articulation of the marketing function within modern organisations, and an appreciation of the relative contribution of specific marketing tools to the development of a market orientation.

Managing change and creativity (15 credits)

Examines the dynamic and complex processes associated with managing change and creativity in organisations; broadens understanding and awareness of the key theoretical, conceptual and practical issues that continue to service debates between scholarly research and business practice.

Research methods (15 credits)

Develops an understanding of the purpose of research, and of the different methods for data collection and analysis; develops the skills and competencies required to construct a literature review, access and collect good quality data, conduct rigorous data analysis, construct a dissertation proposal and write, edit and revise a dissertation

Final Stage

Dissertation (60 credits)

Over the summer, you will undertake an independent piece of research related to the management of innovation. You will be allocated to a member of staff that will supervise your work.

Assessment

Generally, the modules on the MSc MOI programme run a 2 hour or 3 hour weekly session involving a blend of lectures, seminars and workshops. Most modules are assessed by examination (generally at least 50%) and coursework (generally up to 50%). Some courses also include a group work and/or presentation component as part of the coursework assessment. The Research Methods course and the Dissertation are 100% coursework.

The MSc in Management of Innovation has been designed to prepare graduates for carriers in technology management and innovation, business development and organisational change roles, or as future researchers in the area of innovation and change management