Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Project Management and Innovation
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Individual questions and requests
- in-class: at the beginning and/or during class breaks
- back office: prior confirmation by email (rcolombari@uic.es)
Introduction
In an increasingly competitive business environment, technological innovation plays a fundamental role for organizations to compete and survive (or even be constituted). It contributes to the development of new and better products and business models to attract or retain customers, increase market share, create new opportunities that address social and environmental challenges, and so on.
To ensure that new ideas actually become innovation, effective project management is essential: a structured approach that helps mitigate the complexity, uncertainties and potential risks that come with each innovation project. This is especially important, for example, for startups, which often have limited resources and limited time to prove their viability, and need to quickly and efficiently execute their projects to successfully bring their innovative ideas to market.
In this context, the main objective of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge, tools and abilities to successfully plan projects focused on technological product innovation. Supported by theoretical frameworks and methodologies that allow a rigorous approach to the development of innovative ideas (eg. dynamics of innovation, innovation management, design thinking, lean canvas), the core of the course consists of the ideation and definition of a business model based on a technological innovation that solves a global challenge, and the future planning of the related business project.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 04 - To understand and know how to use financial terms within a business framework.
- 13 - To be familiar with and understand the terms and processes of company management.
- 19 - To analyse quantitative financial variables and take them into account when making decisions.
- 20 - To make decisions on resource optimisation using mathematical tools.
- 22 - To be able to identify the nature and behaviour of producers, consumers and investors.
- 25 - To understand the commercial function of a company and its objectives.
- 26 - To comprehend and use the basic concepts of marketing and the main sectorial policies and understand the commercial environment in which these companies operate.
- 28 - To be able to work in another language and use terminology and structures related to the economic-business world.
- 31 - To develop the ability to identify and interpret numerical data.
- 32 - To acquire problem solving skills based on quantitative and qualitative information.
- 33 - To be able to search for, interpret and convey information.
- 37 - To be able to apply managerial methods, tools and techniques.
- 39 - To acquire the ability to solve problems and make decisions based on relevant information, applying the appropriate methods and situating the problem within the organisation as a whole.
- 41 - To be able to descriptively summarise information.
- 42 - To be able to empirically analyse financial phenomena.
- 48 - To be able to identify the information needs in order to manage the main departments within organisations.
- 51 - To develop decision making skills.
- 52 - To develop interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
- 53 - To acquire the skills necessary to learn autonomously.
- 54 - To be able to express one’s ideas and formulate arguments in a logical and coherent way, both verbally and in writing.
- 55 - To adopt good time management skills.
- 56 - To be able to create arguments which are conducive to critical and self-critical thinking.
- 61 - To develop skills for adapting to new situations.
- 63 - To be able to analyse business related behaviour and decisions and evaluate them from an economic, social and ethical point of view.
- 64 - To be able to plan and organise one's work.
- 65 - To acquire the ability to put knowledge into practice.
- 66 - To be able to retrieve and manage information.
- 68 - To develop mechanisms that encourage sensitivity towards social welfare issues.
Syllabus
The course consists of 15 classes, organized as follows (the program may vary due to unforeseen events)
- Lecture 1: introduction
- Classes 2-7: Module 1 (see contents below)
- Class 8: Mid-term Presentation
- Classes 9-14: Module 2 (see contents below)
- Class 15: Final Presentation
Module 1: Innovation
- Methodologies for innovation: Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile
- Develop innovative business models: Traditional Business Model Canvas and Lean Canvas
- Technological innovation (dynamics, paradigms, diffusion, TRL, intellectual property, etc.)
- Explore current problems and solutions (PESTEL, stakeholder analysis, customer personas, patent/sector analysis, etc.)
- Generate, select and develop innovative solutions (ideation techniques, SWOT, multi-criteria analysis, value proposition, competitive advantages, etc.)
Module 2: Innovation Project Management
- Elements and basic concepts of project management; organizational plan
- Management tools: ProjectLibre, Google Suite (Sheets, Slides, Docs), etc.
- Product development plan; marketing plan
- Operative plan; risk and stakeholder management strategies
- Economic-financial plan; feasibility and investments
- Present the innovation project
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Given the practical nature of this course and according to the business perspective, the teaching method combines theoretical and practical readings to the development, in teams of 4-5 students, of a project carried out through homework and activities in class. The two presentation sessions last two hours, including presentations, questions and feedback, and the entire team has to be present. In each class there will be a frontal part (theoretical concepts, methodologies, tools, video viewing, examples of practical cases, etc.) and a practical part (activities, exercises, progress of the group project with access to tutorials).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Los puntos se asignarán a varias actividades de la siguiente manera:
50% proyecto (P)
- 25% presentación intermedia (PI) + 25% presentación final (PF)
- PI y PF calificadas de 1 a 10
- se evalúan el uso correcto de todos los conceptos vistos en clase + la calidad de la presentación, y si hay entregas semanales influyen en la calificación
- necesario para aprobar toda la asignatura: suficiencia en este apartado
- P ≥ 5/10 (donde P = 0.5 x PI + 0.5 x PF)
25% asistencia y participación en clase (AP)
- 15% asistencia (A)
- +0.5% cada hora de participación
- 100% de asistencias → A=10
- 10% entregas/ejercicios en clase (E)
- todas estas actividades se califican con una valoración de 1 a 10 y se ponderarán al final del semestre, por lo que cada una contribuye con el mismo peso a este 10%
- necesario para aprobar toda la asignatura: presencia en ≥ 80% de las horas disponibles
- A/T ≥ 80% (donde T es el total de clases disponibles para la calificación; se excluyen de T las horas de ausencia debidas a emergencias que se justifiquen pasando oficialmente por secretaría, y las horas que no se han podido cursar por no estar todavía matriculados en la asignatura)
25% examen final (EF)
- test multirespuesta sobre contenidos vistos en clase y aplicados al proyecto
- necesario para aprobar toda la asignatura: 4 de 10 en el examen final
- EF ≥ 4/10
5% participación en el E&S-DAY (adicional)
- se otorgarán 0.5 puntos extra en la nota final a quien participe activamente en la totalidad del proyecto y actos del E&S-Day (no acumulables con otras asignaturas; ver detalle en la web)
Nota* = [0.25 x PI + 0.25 x PF] + [0.15 x A + 0.10 x E] + [0.25 x EF] + [0.05 x ESD]
* en caso de no llegar al mínimo necesario en cualquier de los apartados , la nota final de la asignatura se calificará con el valor más bajo entre 4.0 y la nota que resulte de la media ponderada.
Segunda convocatoria:
- 50% entrega individual de un nuevo proyecto (PSeg) + 50% nuevo examen (EFSeg)
- Nota = 0.5 x PSeg + 0.5 x EFSeg (no se tienen en cuenta asistencia a clases ni participación en el E&S-DAY)
- máxima nota posible: 7/10
Normas generales:
- Si un estudiante no puede asistir a una sesión por causa de fuerza mayor (emergencia médica y/o familiar), debe informar al profesor con la debida anticipación (24 horas). Además deberá realizar una propuesta para recuperar el trabajo que se perderá. La ausencia justificada a una sesión no implica que se exima de la entrega de las asignaciones previstas en esa fecha.
- Abandonar el aula antes de que finalice la clase es perturbador; si un estudiante absolutamente necesita hacerlo, debe obtener permiso antes o al comienzo de la clase. Entrar al aula después de que empiece la clase es perturbador; se permite entrar a clase durante los primeros 15 minutos de cada una de las dos horas (el profesor puede registrar una ausencia en caso de retraso)
- Todas las actividades serán evaluadas por su contenido y por su presentación. Se espera que tengan un adecuado nivel de calidad en ambos sentidos y que se entreguen a tiempo; los días de retraso en la entrega de una actividad suponen la pérdida de nota (un punto por día de retraso).
- Los teléfonos móviles están estrictamente prohibidos en actividades de evaluación. Si un alumno utiliza un móvil o dispositivo similar en una evaluación (a menos que el profesor lo permita explícitamente) será expulsado de la misma y tendrá como nota 0 puntos. Se aplicará la misma penalización si se detecta plagio en cualquier entrega y examen.
- No está prevista la realización de evaluaciones adicionales para recuperar y/o subir la nota. Los estudiantes deben esforzarse por cumplir con sus obligaciones en el tiempo previsto.
Bibliography and resources
- Maurya, Ash. Running Lean. Cómo iterar de un plan A a un plan que funciona. Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, 2014, 978-84-16125-09-8
- Osterwalder, Alexander, and Yves Pigneur. Business model generation: a handbook for visionaries, game changers, and challengers. John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
- Ries, Eric. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. New York: Crown Business, 2011.
(more reading will be recommended throughout the course)