Introductory description

The module will explore key topics in entrepreneurship and innovation. The course will draw from established theory and empirics from management and economics and will also include discussions of emerging phenomena in this rapidly evolving field. The module will start with a review of the sources and dynamics of entrepreneurship and innovation. Subsequently, the module will explore innovation-related challenges and opportunities for start-ups.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The economics of entrepreneurship
The psychology of entrepreneurship
Opportunity recognition
The biological perspective in entrepreneurship
Social and corporate entrepreneurship
Supply of entrepreneurs and innovators
Start-up innovation advantage
Commercialization strategy
Employee mobility and innovation and entrepreneurship
Start-up exits: IPOs and Acquisitions

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically examine published research, and articulate its strengths as well as weaknesses
• Build connections between a small set of research articles, and discover patterns
• Ability to understand state-of-the-art research published in top journals
• Ability to conduct critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of new and complex ideas
• Understand how different research areas in entrepreneurship and innovation have evolved
• Identify research gaps and future research directions in entrepreneurship and innovation

Indicative reading list

Campbell, B. A., Ganco, M., Franco, A. M., & Agarwal, R. (2012). Who leaves, where to, and why worry? Employee mobility, entrepreneurship and effects on source firm performance. Strategic Management Journal, 33(1), 65-87.
Gans, J. S., & Stern, S. (2003). The product market and the market for “ideas”: commercialization strategies for technology entrepreneurs. Research policy, 32(2), 333-350.
Henderson, R. M., & Clark, K. B. (1990). Architectural innovation: The reconfiguration of existing product technologies and the failure of established firms. Administrative science quarterly, 9-30.
Nicolaou, N., Shane, S., Cherkas, L., Hunkin, J., & Spector, T. D. (2008). Is the tendency to engage in entrepreneurship genetic?. Management Science, 54(1), 167-179.
Baron, R.A. (1998). Cognitive mechanisms in entrepreneurship: Why and when entrepreneurs think differently than other people. Journal of Business Venturing, 13, 275–294.
Busenitz, L.W. & Barney, J.B. (1997). Differences between entrepreneurs and managers in large organizations: Biases and heuristics in strategic decision-making. Journal of Business Venturing, 12(1), 9–30.
Sarasvathy, S. D. (2001). Causation and effectuation: Toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingency. Academy of Management Review, 26, 243-263.
Cardon, M.S., Wincent, J., Sing, J., Drnvosek, M., 2009. The nature and experience of entrepreneurial passion. Academy of Management Review 34, 511–532.

Interdisciplinary

Management, Economics, Psychology

Subject specific skills

Understand how different research areas in entrepreneurship and innovation have evolved
Identify research gaps and future research directions in entrepreneurship and innovation
Critically examine published research, and articulate its strengths as well as weaknesses

Transferable skills

Build connections between a small set of research articles, and discover patterns
Ability to understand state-of-the-art research published in top journals
Ability to conduct critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of new and complex ideas