Professional Skills
Innovation for business results
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All successful companies innovate and all innovate in their own way. But there is also much that they have in common. Would you like to get a good idea of the chances of success or failure of a proposed innovation? Would you like to know how to emulate your competitors’ success or parry their innovations? This course looks at various types and sources of innovation and how different organisations have grappled with the challenge of producing better products and services through innovation.
This course is suitable for middle and senior managers especially those involved in applying strategic thinking, managing organisational change or advancing professional leadership.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB053 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
‘The enterprise that does not innovate ages and declines. And in a period of rapid change such as the present the decline will be fast’ Peter Drucker (1985). The systematic study of business innovation is fairly recent. Twentieth century research has shown that innovation rarely happens by accident. It requires discipline. This course will introduce some of the lessons from research on innovation and encourage you to relate them to your own working context.
You will learn
- that there many different types of innovation available
- to analyse where and how your organisation can innovate
- to implement a variety of different innovation approaches
- to organize for rapid experimentation and sustainable innovation
- to use knowledge about the market implications of modes of innovation to analyse both their own and competitors' new products and services
- to get a good idea of the chances of success and failure of a proposed innovation
- to emulate competitors’ success or parry their innovations.
In this course there are activities that you can use to help you relate your learning to your organisation and your role within it. A number of key techniques and competencies for innovation will be identified and developed, using an integrated work-based activity to produce a report on a real product, process or service and using what you have learned on the course to plan and implement it.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take 30 hours to study and includes web text, interviews, self assessment questions and activities. The course contains a series of bite-size chunks each devoted to both technical and managerial topics. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University (OU) from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (N.B. The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and the work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB053 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course is a written report and has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB053 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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