MGT475: Strategic Innovation and Ideas
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
This practical course introduces you to fundamental aspects of the strategic innovation process. It addresses the
challenges of developing ideas and evaluating them for commercial feasibility, presenting a business case,
product design/development and commercialization. It covers basic management practices and critical success
factors required to excel in successful innovation, such as corporate governance and social responsibility, timebased management and corporate agility. This course also assists in preparing you for the New Product
Development Professional Certification offered by the Product Development and Management Association
(PDMA).
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify and explain innovation strategies associated with new product development and its impact
on value creation for customers, stakeholders, and organizations.
2. Apply the new product development/innovation process model to concept generation, design,
development, and launch of a new product.
3. Discuss the role of portfolio management in new product development and organizational success.
4. Examine and apply different types of research associated with innovation/new product
development.
5. Outline a business case for a new product concept including concept statement, technology
evaluation, financials, risk assessment, and customer and organizational value components.
6. Define and use ideation tools for the generation and evaluation of new product ideas.
7. Describe tools used to enable and execute the new product development process.
8. Explain financial, success, and process metrics associated with innovation.
9. Prepare for the New Product Development Professional Exam.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Lentz, C. (Ed.). (2010). The refractive thinker®: Volume V: Strategy in innovation. Las Vegas, NV: The Refractive
Thinker Press®. ISBN-13: 9780982874004
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Chapters 4 & 8 from The Refractive Thinker (assigned in Modules 1 & 8, respectively) are the only two
required chapters from this required textbook. Students may purchase the entire textbook for their
personal library or, for the purposes of this course, may purchase Chapters 4 & 8 individually from the
following website: http://lentzleadership.com/orders.php?book=12
Suggested:
Crawford, M., & DiBenedetto, A. (2010). New products management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. ISBN-13:
9780073404806
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
 Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until
they achieve the scores they desire.
 Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week #
Readings
Chapter 4 in The Refractive Thinker®: Volume V: Strategy in Innovation
Amadei, B. (2011). Technology with soul [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vBYjx6ID4g
Boddie, J. (2005, August 29). Behind Apple’s strategy: Be second to
market. Harvard Business School. Retrieved from
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/4970.html
DeBoskey, B. (2011, June 19). Innovation can help defeat poverty.
Denver Post. Retrieved from
http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_18303722
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Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Chapter 9 (Human-Centered Product Development) in Norman, D.
(1998). The invisible computer. Boston, MA: The MIT Press. Retrieved
from http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/NORVH/chapter9.html
Rehrig Pacific Company. (2008). Rarely specific new prod dev part 1
[Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0tTEwC4FQ&feature=related
Rehrig Pacific Company. (2008). Rarely specific new prod dev part 2
[Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJvAQ80f5WA&feature=related
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Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (70
points)
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Cooper, R., & Edgett, S. (2008, March). Ideation for product
innovation: What are the best methods? PDMA Visions Magazine.
Retrieved from http://www.stage-gate.com/knowledge.php
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Paraglider. (n.d.). How to write a business case. Retrieved from
http://paraglider.hubpages.com/hub/Business-Case
Simpson, D. (2009). The one-page business case. Retrieved from
http://klnonline.org/index.php/kln-programs/kln-businesscentre/business-articles/27-one-page-business-case
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Trelles-Duckett, A. (n.d.). All about project management. Retrieved
from http://managementhelp.org/projectmanagement/
[Note to students: Read all sections of All About Project Management
down to Basics of Project Planning.]
Trelles-Duckett, A. (n.d.). Risk management analysis of project -- What
could go wrong? Retrieved from
http://managementhelp.org/projectmanagement/index.htm#anchor4
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
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (70
points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (20 points)
Critical Thinking (70
points)
Portfolio Deliverable (0
Points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (70
points)
Cupman, J. (n.d.). White paper: Using market research for product
development. Retrieved from
http://www.b2binternational.com/publications/whitepapers/product-development-research/
B2B International. (2011). Innovate or die: Create powerful customer
insights. Retrieved from
http://www.b2binternational.com/publications/articles/marketintelligence-today/
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
Assignments
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Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (70
points)
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Kaplan, S., & Winby, S. (2007). Innovation metrics: Measuring
innovation to drive strategic business growth. Retrieved from
http://www.innovation-point.com/innovationmetrics.htm
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Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
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Chapter 8 in The Refractive Thinker®: Volume V: Strategy in Innovation
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Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (20 points)
Portfolio (350 points)
7
8
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 2
Critical Thinking: Innovation/New Product Development Overview (70 points)
Research an organization and provide an overview of its innovation and new product development process. Also,
note how the organization’s process may be different from the foundational model outlined in our course.
Your well-written paper should meet the following requirements:
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2 pages in length
Follow CSU-Global APA guidelines
Include a title and reference page
Include three outside references
Module 3
Critical Thinking: Annual Ideation Plan (70 Points)
Every organization that provides a service or sells a product needs innovation and improvement ideas. And every
organization needs an annual ideation plan.
For this assignment, you will develop an annual ideation plan for an organization, either real or fictional. Include at
least three different ideation methods and at least six ideation events. Determine who is responsible for ideation
and who serves as the idea manager and provide an outline of the responsibilities of the idea manager. Provide
details on the methods that will be used to collect, track, evaluate and report on ideas submitted.
Be clear, concise and focused. Your well-written paper should meet the following requirements:
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2-3 pages in length
Follow CSU-Global APA guidelines
Include a title and reference page
Include three outside references
Module 4
Critical Thinking: Business Case Tasks and Deliverables (70 Points)
For this assignment you will create a table or chart that outlines the tasks and deliverables you would complete for
a business case based on an idea or solution for an industry or business sector that you are familiar with or
interested in. Your table or chart should include specific definitions and metrics required for each task.
Be clear, concise, and focused. Your well-organized and well-written table or chart should meet the following
requirements:
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2 pages in length
Follow CSU-Global APA guidelines
Include a title and reference page
Include three outside references
PORTFOLIO: Chosen Organization for Portfolio Project (0 Points)
Please submit for approval the organization you want to use for your Portfolio Project. Send an e-mail to the
instructor by the end of Week 4.
For a full description of the Portfolio assignment, see the Week 8 Assignments page. Though you are not receiving
points for this deliverable, if you do not submit your topic for approval in Week 4 you will lose points on your final
project grade.
Module 5
Critical Thinking: Project Plan Outline (70 Points)
Using either a real or fictitious proposed product or service, outline a project plan for Stage 3, Concept Evaluation.
Include tasks, deliverables, resource assignments and time required. Be sure to note which task must be
completed before another task can begin (if applicable).
Please use MS Excel or another spreadsheet program to develop and present your plan. (Hint: Review the Stage 3
example provided in the lecture, in particular the tasks and deliverables. A risk management plan should be one of
your deliverables). Project plans come in many forms. Use your library and Internet search skills to review several
types of project plan layouts.
Here is one example that shows the beginning of a project plan.
Be clear, concise, and focused. Your well-organized and well-written spreadsheet should meet the following
requirements:
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Be 2-3 pages in length
Follow CSU-Global APA guidelines
Include a title and reference page
Include three outside references
Include three outside references
Module 6
Critical Thinking: Market Testing (70 Points)
There are three major areas of market testing – pseudo sale, controlled sale, and full sale. Using your research
skills, pick one method of either pseudo sale, controlled sale, or full sale and describe how it is (or would be) used
to test a product or service. Provide a real-world example/application of your research method.
Examples of market testing methods include:
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Speculative sales
Simulated test marketing
Direct marketing
Test marketing
Rollout testing (including geographic rollout testing)
Be clear, concise and focused. Your well-written paper should meet the following requirements:
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Be 2-3 pages long (no more than 3 pages)
Follow CSU-Global APA guidelines
Include a title and reference page
Module 8
Portfolio Project Innovation: Organization, Strategy and Development (350 Points)
Using your research skills, identify an innovative organization. Your well-written Portfolio Project should include
the following:
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Provide an overview of the company’s innovation strategy. Provide three examples that illustrate its
innovation strategy.
Describe the organizational culture and how innovation and creativity are communicated to the members
of the organization.
Describe the company’s innovation process, including all stages and gates. If the company doesn’t have an
innovation process, provide a recommendation for one that includes all stages and gates.
Describe or propose three different annual events or programs the organization has (or should have)
incorporated in its strategic plan to generate and collect ideas.
Provide a voice of customer research plan to support the first three stages of the company’s innovation
plan. Communicate the importance of each research method used.
Outline the components of a business case that should be used by the organization to evaluate new
product ideas.
Provide recommendations for the types of metrics the organization should use to monitor and evaluate
financials, processes and success. Indicate why each metric was chosen and how the metrics will be used.
Identify and define the tools that the organization uses (or should use) to implement its innovation plan.
Your Portfolio Project should meet the following guidelines:
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Be 8-10 pages long, excluding the title page and reference page
Use a minimum of five outside references (other than textbooks and course module materials)
Conform to CSU-Global APA guidelines
Also, you will be required to submit the following preliminary deliverable for your Portfolio Project in Week 4:
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Organization selection for Portfolio Project
No points will be assigned for this deliverable, but points will be deducted from your final grade on the Portfolio
Project if you fail to submit this in the week required (see the Portfolio grading rubric). Additionally, you will be
expected to account for any instructor feedback in the final version of the assignment.
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
10% Mastery Exercises
35% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
* Students who stop attending class and fail the course for nonparticipation will be issued the “FN” grade. The FN grade may have
implications for financial aid and scholarship awards.
** An “I” grade may be assigned at the Instructor’s discretion to students who are in good standing (passing) in the course. Students
should have completed a majority of the coursework in order to be eligible for the “I” grade. Students should request an "I" grade from
the Instructor with a written justification, which must include explanation of extenuating circumstances that prevented timely
completion of the coursework. If the request is approved, the Instructor will require a written agreement consisting of a) the specific
coursework to be completed, b) the plan to complete the coursework, and c) the deadline for completion. The agreement will be kept on
file at CSU-Global Campus. An incomplete course must be satisfactorily completed within the time frame stipulated in the agreement, but
no later than the end of the following semester from the date the “I” was given. An incomplete not removed within one year shall
convert to an F and be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other
work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating,
plagiarism, unauthorized possession of academic materials, and falsification. The Student Handbook
provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use library
and internet resources appropriately with proper citation. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for complete
policies regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
APA
Students are expected to follow the CSU-Global APA requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style
Manual, 6th edition). For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources located under the
Library tab in Blackboard.
Netiquette
All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in a professional and respectful manner in
accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you
meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Any derogatory or inappropriate comments regarding race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, are
unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.
Institutional Policies
Refer to the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-GC institutional policies.