The course „Developing an Innovation Strategy“ covers the interplay between innovation management and strategic management, two of the most important and challenging aspects of modern business. An appropriate innovation strategy can be a fundamental driver for a sustainable competitive advantage. The course discusses the concept of a Blue-Ocean Strategy, the importance of strategic resources and capabilities as well as knowledge creation. In a VUCA world dynamic capabilities, agile HR-management and a suitable organizational culture of innovation are crucial for competitiveness. The course also addresses how a digital strategy and digital business models can be developed and how ideas can be protected.
The course finishes with the topic of strategy formation and discusses the strategy formation process and the paradox of deliberateness and emergence. Throughout the course, numerous case studies and examples are used. The students also read, solve and present a Harvard Business School case on a real-world example of developing an innovation strategy.

The students :

• understand how to develop an innovation strategy,
• develop a profound understanding of the importance of strategic resources, dynamic capabilities and knowledge creation,
• can identify an appropriate HR management driving an organizational culture of innovation in a VUCA world,
• develop an understanding of how ideas can be protected and marketed,
• know the strategy formation process.