GSZ602 Actioning Strategic Innovation
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | GSZ602 |
|---|---|
| Antirequisite(s): | GSN405 |
| Equivalent(s): | EUZ658, EUN658 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Completion of 'Actioning Strategic Change and Innovation' active learning module is assumed knowledge. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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Unit Outline: Flexible Period - 10A 2024, Online (Start Date: 02 Sep 2024)
| Unit code: | GSZ602 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | EUN658, EUZ658 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Completion of 'Actioning Strategic Innovation' professional development module is assumed knowledge. |
| Anti-requisite: | GSN405 |
Overview
Managing the formulation and implementation of strategy requires the ability to develop innovative solutions for problems in complex environments and plan for their implementation. This unit examines strategic management and innovation concepts and frameworks that will help the manager to understand the strategic context of the enterprise, identify and deliver benefits from new strategic initiatives that may be regarded as innovative for their organisation. Management competencies are developed through the application of strategic concepts and frameworks to real-life case studies of innovation projects.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse workplace challenges using problem framing techniques to develop and plan strategic change and innovation.
- Apply creative problem-solving frameworks, tools and principles to organisational challenges to generate, evaluate, prototype and test solutions
- Evaluate the most appropriate creative problem-solving frameworks, tools and principles to be used in specific organisational environments and cultures.
- Creatively design and evaluate a strategy for organisational improvement within a specific workplace context.
Content
The topics covered in this unit have been developed to provide students with a broad grasp of implementing strategy into complex environments. Topics explored will include:
- Understanding the strategic context of the enterprise
- Design thinking principles and methodology
- Problem definition and idea generation
- Pitching your idea
- Implementation and benefits realisation
Course Learning Outcomes (Postgraduate - Executive)
The Graduate School of Business has established the Assurance of Learning (AoL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:
Knowledge and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced theoretical and practical knowledge (including systems thinking approaches, multidisciplinary frameworks and knowledge of research principles and methods) that incorporate recent development in business disciplines and professional practice.
1.2 Apply advanced technical and technological knowledge and skills to critically reflect on, evaluate and contribute to developments that enhance innovative, sustainable and effective business performance in local, national and global business environments.
Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Provide evidence of effective analysis, interpretation, evaluation and synthesis of complex data, theories, ideas, issues and situations and demonstrate knowledge of how research and inquiry can be used to interpret, contribute to and create theoretical and practical knowledge.
2.2 Provide evidence of higher order thinking including creativity, judgement, cognitive flexibility and critical reflection in designing, planning and implementing strategies and solutions for effective performance in complex business environments.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Demonstrate advanced use of language and argumentation in written communication, including digital communication, to frame strategic and influential responses to engage, persuade, negotiate, collaborate and lead in diverse and complex contexts and for diverse audiences.
3.2 Demonstrate advanced use of language and argumentation in oral communication, including digital communication, to frame strategic and influential responses to engage, persuade, negotiate, collaborate and lead across diverse and complex contexts and for diverse audiences.
Self and Leadership (SL)
4.1 Demonstrate adaptive personal leadership and accountability, including self-awareness, reflective practice and foresight in adapting and applying knowledge and skills to inform and influence effective and innovative practice.
4.2 Lead, manage and foster the development of collaborative teams that value and leverage the diverse knowledge and skills of others to contribute to the development of robust, adaptable and sustainable courses of action.
Social, Ethical and Cultural Understanding (SEC)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business, to contribute to responsible organisational governance and citizenship in local, national and global business environments.
5.2 Apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate, interpret and critically reflect on, appropriate culturally and socially inclusive and responsible decisions and actions across diverse social and cultural contexts.
Learning Approaches
This unit is presented in two sections - a professional development module and a credential unit. Both involve online learning components, the completion of readings and activities prior to intensive face-to-face workshops and work integrated projects. Students engage in reflective practice as they apply strategic theories and innovation frameworks to their work, sharing understandings with peers and synthesising academic understandings with their personal experience. Final activities and assessment equip students to design, implement and evaluate a strategy for innovation within their workplace context.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to whole class
Assessment
Overview
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. A breach of academic integrity is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit site. This unit may use content matching software to assist in verifying that original work has been submitted.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Proposal
Assessment Name: Workplace Project Strategy and Innovation Proposal
Description: Identify a task from your own workplace where is an ill-defined problem that could benefit from new problem-solving approaches. The problem might be due to stuck thinking, stuck behaviour, perceptual barriers, the need to frame situations in a new way, or the necessity to develop new ways of working.
Drawing on theories, models and instruments and technological processes relevant to organisational change and innovation, you are required to create a proposal that:
- Identifies an innovation initiative for your enterprise;
- Assesses and critically evaluates the value proposition of the initiative to your organisation and;
- Proposes strategic change and innovation processes you consider will enhance outcomes and successes for your organisation especially including stakeholder engagement.
Your recommendations will need to be supported with reference to the theory and relevant models and tools as well as relevant workplace examples.
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Report
Assessment Name: Actioning Strategic Change and Innovation in the Workplace
Description: Building on assignment one, you are required to provide a plan to develop and implement the strategic innovation initiative, including a proposed measurement process to assess the potential outcomes and benefits of the strategic change initiative.
Your project will:
- Take the re-framed problem and possible solutions from Assignment 1 and prototype and test these
- Identify what works and how you would implement any solutions for your innovation initiative
- Provide a plan to develop and implement the strategic innovation initiative
Outline a system for evaluating potential benefits and outcomes
Overall, you should reflect on the future direction of your organisation or division, and your role in enhancing its potential outcomes and successes. In addition to the above your paper should include reflection on the personal leadership challenges represented by the change initiative.
This project also required that you prepare and deliver a concise, 5 minute presentation in which you will summarise the problem, re-framed problem, solutions, prototypes, feedback and implementation strategy, followed by a 2 minute question time.
Formative or Summative: Summative
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Nil
Other
GSZ602 Canvas site
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit.
You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the Emergency video
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate Executive)
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Proposal, Report
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Proposal, Report
KS (1.1): Advanced Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Proposal, Report
KS (1.2): Advanced Technical and Technological Skills
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Proposal, Report
PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Proposal, Report