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Accessibility statement
Qualification dates
StartEnd
01 Nov 2026Apr 2027
01 May 2027Oct 2027
The history of technological innovation has been nothing short of remarkable, affecting our lives, the effectiveness of organisations, the profitability of industries, the wellbeing of societies, the prosperity of nations, and the environment. Understanding the processes that underpin innovation is therefore crucial, whether you’re a user or producer of technological innovation. Understanding the overall process and its variations is a core professional competence if you're involved in managing innovation processes. This module examines innovation from a management perspective, enabling you to develop your contribution to the process and management of technological innovation.
The module aims to develop your knowledge, understanding, and skills, open you to new ways of thinking about technology and innovation management (TIM), and help you apply your learning to your professional practice. TB801 will introduce you to innovation theories, practices, and a broad range of related concepts and debates, supported by illustrative contemporary case studies and resources.
You’ll spend time exploring the innovation process and the importance of value creation as a fundamental feature of any innovation process – for example, commercial, social or environmental value. You’ll find that the module adopts a broad definition of technological innovation, addressing both innovation processes and different types and forms of innovation.
The module will begin by exploring innovation in terms of:
Considering the different types, novelty, levels, and impacts of innovation and the various forms it can take, TB801 adopts a broad view of technological innovation.
TB801 is an applicable option if you’re interested in technology and innovation management or are professionally involved with innovation (including in private, public, and third/not-for-profit sectors). This module’s central theme of creating, managing, and capturing the value of innovation and its evaluation is key to any organisation’s strategic, effective, and successful operation.
Through the study and analysis of topical issues in innovation, you will explore issues that need addressing to ensure effective technological innovation management. The module combines leading innovation management perspectives and practical techniques and tools to facilitate the innovation process and achieve successful outcomes.
TB801 is a challenging module but accessible to those interested in technology and innovation management concepts, theories, debates and practices. You will begin by gaining an overview of the study of Technology and Innovation Management (TIM) fundamentals. Throughout, you will develop a critical understanding of the role of people, technological, organisational and contextual (PTOC) factors that shape the management of technological innovation and the value it creates. The module will introduce the more complex product, process, and system innovation management concepts. Then, show you how to evaluate innovation and finally, how to synthesise the module teaching with a focus on innovation strategy, pulling together implications for innovation management practices.
The module is structured into six teaching blocks as follows:
Block 1: Technology and innovation management fundamentals
The first block introduces you to various concepts and topics central to the study and analysis of technology, technological change, technological innovation and innovation management. The block will explore the dynamics of innovation processes and different ways of classifying and understanding innovation. Through the block, you'll consider the role of people, technological, organisational and contextual (PTOC) factors shaping technology innovation. You will also consider the concepts behind contemporary forms of innovation in real-world contexts, including frugal, social, sustainable and eco innovation, and the value of systems approaches to innovation.
Block 2: Technology transfer and innovation systems
The second block explores emerging technologies and technological innovation in terms of technology transfer strategies and management in various sectors. You will be introduced to assessing technology readiness levels, intellectual property management and wider technology transfer networks and processes. The block introduces ‘systems of innovation’ that influence and enable innovation processes at organisational, sectoral, regional and national levels. This includes open innovation systems and networks – a system-level approach to technology transfer and innovation strategy.
Block 3: Managing product (goods) innovation and process innovation
The third block explores the role of technology in the processes and management of product innovation, focusing on goods, and how product design, development and marketing support innovation. You will also be introduced to various process innovations, focusing on management and environmentally responsible approaches to innovation in sectoral contexts. The block introduces the technique of technology roadmapping and how it can be used to shape innovation incomes in various management contexts.
Block 4: Managing product (services) innovation and system innovation
The fourth block explores the role of technology in service innovation and system innovation. It examines how diverse actors and their strategic and operational practices shape sociotechnical innovation processes and outcomes in different sectoral contexts. The block also introduces the Multi-Level Perspective and the Strategic Niche Management (SNM) technique applied to system innovations and considers how it can be used in innovation strategy.
Block 5: Defining and evaluating added value
Block 5 provides the knowledge you need to work with types and forms of evaluation suitable for measuring the value added by technological innovation. This block takes account of the conceptual, theoretical and contextual factors that inform and shape evaluation and assessment. The role of stakeholders and some practical aspects of ‘designing’ effective evaluation are also introduced.
Block 6: Innovation strategy and TIM conclusions
In this final block, we introduce you to different features of innovation strategy supported by practical tools and activities. This explores an overview of management strategy theories applicable to innovation and value creation. This block synthesises the module themes before considering questions about the nature and direction of technological innovation as we head further into the twenty-first century.
There are no entry requirements for this module.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
The module study materials, including online forums, tutorial rooms, and assessment material, are accessible via the module website. The OU Library website will also provide access to online databases for literature searching.
The study material is online, so you’ll spend considerable time using a computer and the internet.
Some components might not be fully accessible using a screen reader.
Written transcripts of audio components, figure descriptions and PDF versions of the material are available.
If you’re using printed materials as part of reasonable adjustments to support your studies, note that printed versions of online materials are unavailable for this module.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
Technology and innovation management (TB801) starts twice a year – in November and May.
It will next start in November 2026 and May 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in November 2028.
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