The course “E&I Zone:Challenges with Open Innovation” focuses on the opportunities and challengesthat firms have to deal with when it comes to the potential access, acquisition,and sharing of knowledge for creating and diffusing innovations.

Since innovations are not only developed within but also between companies andwithin communities, this course deals with the particular challenges forcompanies in such settings.
In this so-called open innovation paradigm, firms need to take care of managingtheir intellectual property, by not only considering flows of knowledge fromthe outside into the company, but also from inside the company to the outsideworld. Students learn about firms handling their knowledge resources (i.e.intellectual property (IP)), different modes of collaboration andinter-organizational networks, as well as the phenomenon of 'selectiverevealing'.

After successfully completing the course, participants will be familiar withthe issues that arise for the managers of global companies in the formulationof technology strategy and the management of technology and will have anunderstanding of select academic literature and key concepts relating to strategyand management of technology and innovation.
Students will develop their skills working on a real case in a team, thusrefining their abilities in group work, case analysis, presentation andargumentation.

The course is structured as follows:
Block: During the block seminar (two consecutive days), we willpresent the course organization, get to know each other and start withfundamentals of open innovation.
We continue by elaborating on strategies for managing outside-in and inside-outknowledge flows. Lectures will follow an interactive format employing casestudies, selected articles and practical examples. Students will receive a briefingfrom a partner firm and start their group work (guided by the lecturers) duringthe second day.

Between the seminar and theclosing session students are expected to work on their case-study.
Closing: Students will present their findings in the format of a presentationto class and receive feedback from their peers, teachers and the representationof the partner firm.

This course targets all students of the major "Entrepreneurship &Innovation", equally those who intend to become independent with their owninnovative business idea, those who want to invest into such ideas, e.g. as aventure-capitalist, or students who are interested to work in corporate innovationmanagement or who decide on a career in innovation consulting.

The teaching language isEnglish.

• critically reflect on ‘open innovation’ and its strategic implications,
• examine methods of intellectual property protection, evaluate their value and derive strategic decisions,
• consider strategic aspects of protecting versus revealing knowledge,
• understand the role of inter-organizational relationships and networks for innovation,
• realize the ramifications of managing knowledge flows between firms,
• deploy open innovation strategies and present them professionally.

In addition,students will:

• get insights into a current topic in the academic community,
•  receive inspiration for own research projects,
•  enhance their professional collaboration and communication skills.

The course design employs various learning formats:

• lecture of key theoretical concepts
• case study work in teams
• individual reading of literature

The assessment is based on continuous classparticipation, case-study work as well as the assignment.

• 40% case-study (group mark)
• 20% case-study (individual mark)
• 10% individual assignment
• 30% class participation

• Students of the major (SBWL) "Entrepreneurship and Innovation"
• Exchange students

Interest and experience in technology and innovation management are advantageous, but not a prerequisite for participation.

Contact Markus Deimel
E-mail: Markus.Deimel@wu.ac.at

Contact Steffen Keijl
E-mail: Steffen.Keijl@wu.ac.at