Assessment - Individual Final Reflection

Learning Outcome

Demonstrate the ability to appraise and assess innovation toolkits and communicate the most appropriate based on the context.

Reflect on own innovation related skills and demonstrate insight into how best to apply and further develop these skills.

Assessment Objectives

The purpose of this assessment is to provide students with the opportunity to consolidate all that has been covered in this unit and to demonstrate a deep understanding of both how to manage innovation but also their own innovation capabilities. The first task, the interview with an entrepreneur/innovator is specifically designed to allow students to develop greater understanding of managing innovation in a real-life content. The second of the tasks is a self- reflection which allows students to demonstrate the extent to which they understand their own capabilities in order to prepare for a future role which may include innovation management. The final task, the development of a toolkit, allows students to select and focus on those theoretical frameworks they feel will be particularly useful to their own current/future situation.

Assessment Task

There are three aspects to this assessment:

Section A - is a summary of an interview with an entrepreneur/innovator. The selection of the individual to interview is left up to the student but it is expected that they will find someone who is useful in terms of developing their own understanding of concepts of managing innovation. Students are expected to adequately address the following questions in this section -
o Why did you select this individual to interview?
o What insights did you gain from talking to them?
o What will you do differently based on your discussion?
o What advice could you offer this entrepreneur?
o As well as provide a summary of the date and time of the interview, length of the interview, format of the interview (i.e. in person, phone or video). Please note email "interviews" are not appropriate for this activity, you need to have a discussion with the person.

Section B - is a personal innovation capability audit where students reflect on their own skills and plan how they intend to develop these going forward.
This section will be marked according to two aspects:

1) Reflection: Using the assessments completed during the semester, as well as data from other sources (e.g. feedback from others, past experiences, etc.) students are required to reflect on their innovation capabilities. Provide insight into where data was gathered from and discuss perceived strengths and areas for development.

2) Planning: Students are required to develop a plan of how they intend to maintain/develop their capabilities on an ongoing basis. Students are required to discuss strengths in terms of innovation management and also how they will capitalize on these strengths going forward. In addition, students need to consider which skills and capabilities they should focus on developing. Plans for how to develop these skills should be laid out using the SMART framework (S = Specific, M= Measurable, A=Aligned, R=Realistic and T=Time bound).

It is appropriate to write this section from the first person perspective (e.g. "I have identified...")

Section C - is a toolkit for innovation management which covers an overview of the models of innovation; Selection of two models for a particular industry sector and the description of the two chosen models.

Based on all of the content covered throughout the unit and own research students are required to identify and briefly describe the key models and frameworks for effective innovation management. Using a table for this section of the paper is recommended.

Students are then required to select two of these models/approaches which they feel are most relevant to a chosen industry sector. Describe the industry sector you have selected and why these three models are relevant/important.
Each of the models/approaches chosen need to be described, critically examined and their benefit or application to the student's own situation/chosen industry sector explained.

This section will be divided into three subsections:
- Overview of the models of innovation;
- Selection of two models for a particular industry sector and
- Description of the two chosen models

This section will be marked according to two aspects:

1) Analysis: The extent to which the student is able to identify the key models and frameworks relating to innovation management, to select the ones most relevant to their own circumstances and critically analyses and reflect on these in order to develop a toolkit which will be of use in future.

2) Presentation: The extent to which the information presented in the toolkit is clearly organized and well-presented. Including attention to grammar, spelling and citation and reference formats.

You will need to have citations and references in this section.