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"ideas"course from the open universityDave Elliot For further
details please contact the Course Team Chair:
Entitled 'Innovation : Design, Environment and Strategy' ( or IDEAS for short), its first presentation will be in February 1996, with some 600 students enrolled. The course is available as a one-off associate student basis or as a component of an OU degree.
Technological innovation is widely believed to be the key to the economic and commercial success of both companies and countries. The course asks: "why do only some technical innovations succeed, while many others fail to find a market?" "Why has Britain a reputation for being good at invention, but poor at exploiting new ideas as innovations?" " How does the British approach to innovation compare to that in other countries such as the United States, France and Japan?" " What is the most effective way of organising for technological innovation and managing innovative product development projects?" " What should be the role of governments in innovation?" "What are the global forces shaping the development of technological innovation?" And "what skills and techniques do technologists, designers and managers need to innovate in the 1990s and beyond?" This interdisciplinary course explores questions such as these by means of real world case studies, theoretical concepts and practical project work and is designed to be fully accessible to students with both technical and non-technical backgrounds. course focus The course is concerned with the development of technically innovative products, from market research, creative invention and idea generation, through research design and development, to manufacture and sales. T302 emphasises that for an innovation to succeed technical possibilities have to be balanced against market requirements and the whole process has to be effectively managed. The course also shows why it has become increasingly important to consider the social and environmental consequences of any technological innovation and discusses moves towards the development of 'greener' products and 'cleaner' processes. T302 explores a range of models of the innovation process, and covers some basic practical techniques including market research, patenting and project management. It looks at the major influences upon technological innovation including individual inventiveness, company strategies, government policies and globalisation of markets. The practice and management of innovative product development is compared with theory through a series of real world case studies in areas such as energy, information technology and transport. course structure The course consists of seven Blocks, each including a set readings and Case Studies, together with Guides to the skills and techniques relevant to the project. Block 1 An Introduction to innovation A review of the basics Block 2 Inventors and Innovation Theory and examples, from the past and the present, including a Case Study on Solar Cells Block 3 Markets and Innovation The need for market research and the role of marketing, with links in to the student project. Block 4 Innovative Product Development Practice and management of innovation at strategic, organisational and project levels, including a case study on advanced trains and material on eco-design. Block 5 Technology policy Government research and development programmes and support for innovation, with case studies on renewable energy and the Alvey advanced ICT project plus a review of the UK's Technology Foresight exercise. Block 6 Global patterns of innovation Global influences on technological change, including a look at 'long wave' theory and at global environmental issues Block 7 Conclusions: The future of innovation What shapes it, is it going in the right way? T302 project A major aspect of the course is a student project which runs through much of the study year. In the project students are given the opportunity to try their hand at parts of the innovation process, either by generating and developing a new product idea or by developing an innovation or design case history. Support for this project work is provided by local tutors and at a one week residential summer school, as well as via a series of course booklets and audio cassettes.. broadcasts and cassettes There is an introductory television programme, looking at the invention and development of the light bulb , and four video's, linked to the Blocks. Topics include: Invention, Green Design, the UK's Renewable Energy Programme, the Future of Innovation there are also a series of audio cassettes, covering key topics and themes in the course. residential school There is a one-week summer school, currently planned for Bath University. In addition to a wide range of lectures, seminars and talks designed to develop ideas and skills taught in the course text, it will include morning workshops focusing on special phases of the innovation process e.g. creative invention, design including computer aided design, market research, production evaluation, and strategic policy making. The summer school also provides an invaluable opportunity for supporting students project work, via tutorials, project surgeries and advice sessions. Tuition at the summer school is provided by tutors drawn from the OU and a variety of institutions around the country: the T302 Course Team would welcome approaches from potential tutors with suitable backgrounds and interests, particularly from people with experience in design teaching, and marketing as well as people with practical experience of innovation.
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