| CODE | IOT5023 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Creativity, Innovation and New Digital Technologies | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | The Edward de Bono Institute for the Design and Development of Thinking | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Learning Objectives: - To understand the principles of network economics which drive the innovation process and innovation diffusion in ICT industries and markets respectively. - To develop predictions of the take-up of new ICT products through innovation diffusion modelling. - To apply a longitudinal perspective of the development of past and future products and to develop industry trajectories. Students will be expected to learn about the relevance of creativity and innovation in connection with digital technologies and to apply idea generation techniques to enhance their approach to both their own learning and to the environments in which they operate. Description: Creativity is a multidisciplinary concept that is extremely relevant in today’s context where dealing with the accelerated rate of technological, social and cultural change has necessitated new ways of thinking and acting. Creative ideas feed the innovation process which involves the implementation and often the commercialization of new products, services or processes. This study-unit looks at the development of the ICT industry and the process of creativity and innovation. The content is based on cutting-edge research on the network economy and the effects of digitisation and convergence as the broad innovation streams in the industry. Topics to be covered include: Topic 1: Technology driven creativity: The case of convergence and digitisation 1. New technological environments 2. Digitisation and innovation 3. Convergence and innovation as antecedents of innovation 4. Evolution of ICT products 5. Evolution of ICT networks 6. ICT challenges Topic 2: ICT industry's transformation through innovation 1. Broadcasting sector 2. Internet search engines 3. Online marketplace sector 4. Providers of IT solutions 5. Publishing sector 6. Telecommunications sector Topic 3: Evolution of creativity and implications for ICT 1. Survival of innovative ideas and ICT products (variation, retention, selection) 2. ICT evolutionary processes and ecology (natural selection, probability, complexity) 3. Creativity and genetic analogies (gradual innovation, punctuated innovation) 4. Sources of ICT creativity (isolated population, dynamic innovation) Topic 4: ICT product creativity 1. ICT product levels and creative design - Product levels and consumer attributes - Following, predicting and creating trends - Detecting latent demand 2. New product development - Idea generation - Internal ideas - External ideas - Concept and development testing 3. Extending product life cycles through creativity - Product life cycles - Product extension strategies Topic 5: ICT network dynamics 1. Innovation diffusion 2. Innovation standards and generations 3. Lock-in and innovation 4. 'Versioning' innovations 5. Critical mass 6. Network effects 7. Innovation evolution versus revolution Topic 6: A road map to ICT growth The road map synthesizes how ICT companies excel at the process of innovation. 1. Identify prospective opportunities. 2. Assess the potential of selected opportunities. 3. Begin the iterative process of execution. Topic 7: ICT case study: Google's creativity and innovation centres 1. Creating a creative environment 2. Incubating innovation 3. Encouraging multiple cultures and diversity 4. Attracting the right personnel 5. Managing the innovation process Topic 8: Innovation and new digital technologies 1. Digital technology and the accelerated rate of change 2. Identifying creativity and innovation in new digital technologies 3. Applying creativity tools to new digital technologies Reading List: - Burgelman, R. A., Christensen, C. M., & Wheelwright, S. C. (2003). Strategic management of technology and innovation. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. - Christensen, C. M. (1997). The innovator's dilemma: When new technologies cause great firms to fail. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press. - Christensen, C. M. (1999). Innovation and the general manager. Homewood, Ill.: Richard D. Irwin. - Christensen, C. M., Scott D. A., & Roth, E. A. (2004). Seeing what's next: Using the theories of innovation to predict industry change. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing. - Christensen, C. M., & Raynor, M. E. (2003). The innovator's solution: Creating and sustaining successful growth. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. - de Bono, E. (1993). Serious creativity: Using the power of lateral thinking to create new ideas. - Inouye, A. S., Blumenthal, M. S. & Mitchell, W. J. (2003). Beyond productivity: Information, technology, innovation, and creativity (available on line). - Managing for Eternity. The CEO Refresher, USA, 8(1.1), 2000. - McCraw, T. K. (2007). Prophet of innovation: Joseph Schumpeter and creative destruction. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. - McCraw, T. (2006). Schumpeter’s business cycles as business history. Business History Review, 80: 231-261. - McGee, J., Sammut-Bonnici, T. (2002). Network industries in the new economy. European Business Journal, 14, 116-32. - Tidd, J., Bessant, J., & Pavitt, K. (2005). Managing innovation: Integrating technological, market and organizational change. Websites: www.facebook.com; twitter, Second Life, YouTube, TED, Learning, www.diggit.com, etc. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Online Lecture and Workshop | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Tanya Sammut Bonnici |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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