This subject belongs to the subsidiary subject ‘Innovation and persons’.

The main objective is that students understand the social nature of the company.

A second objective is that students understand innovation in the company context: different innovation processes and innovation results, and the relationship between innovation and its social environment.

A third objective is familiarising students with the human resources management skills that are useful in relation to innovation and change processes in the company.

The following learning outcomes are expected from students:

1.- Students understand the company as a social institution and as a complex organization.

2.- Students understand the main dimensions of the current socio-economic context and the challenges and opportunities that it offers to the company.

3.- Students get to know company structure and dynamics, particularly in relation to change and innovation.

4.- Students should be able to apply this knowledge in order to analyze real cases of change and innovation in the company.

5.- Students identify and propose decisions and ways of acting in order to facilitate innovation and change in the company.

TOPIC I: The Company as an Open Socio-Economic System

a) The socio-economic context of the company

b) The company as a complex organization



TOPIC II: Innovation Models and Innovation Sectors: Change of Paradigm in Innovation Studies

a) The traditional and dominant paradigm: the STI model

b) Pluralistic models of innovation: The open innovation model

c) Modalities of innovation

d) Innovative companies: typology

e) Effects of innovation



TOPIC III: Social-Structural Resources and Conditioning for Organizational Change and Innovation

a) Territorial basis of the company

b) Economies of scale and agglomeration economies

c) The new global geography of innovation



TOPIC IV: Organizational Change and Innovation Management

a) Human resources and human capital management

b) Knowledge and innovation management

c) Innovation culture in the company

d) Possibilities and limits of organizational change and innovation

In the class sessions, the lecturer will first present the theoretical bases of the different topics.

Practical work will be then carried out based on the analysis of information such as texts, readings, statistical data, and media content.

Debates and presentations will also take place in class time.



In addition, students will carry out practical tasks in teams of 4 persons and will analyze practical cases related to the different topics. They will be presented and debated in class time.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 50
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 40
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 10

Evaluation will be of a continuous nature and will be based on the following items:

a) A written exam on the theoretical content of the course (50% of the final mark).

b) Practical tasks and practical cases worked on throughout the course by the teams: written reports (40% of the final mark), debates and presentations (10%).



In order to access this evaluation system, students will have to attend at least 80% of the class sessions.



They will have to pass both the written exam and the practical part.



According of the University of the Basque Country regulations for undergraduate studies, students can opt out of the continuous evaluation system. In this case they will have the opportunity to be evaluated on the basis of a final exam. This exam will consist of both theoretical and practical questions and exercises, enabling them to obtain 100% of the mark.

In the extraordinary evaluation modality, students will be evaluated on the basis of a final exam. This exam will consist of both theoretical and practical questions and exercises, enabling them to obtain 100% of the mark.

The detailed schedule of the course and the core texts and materials will be available on the university website (eGela).

Basic bibliography

CASTELLS, M. (1997).- The information Age: Economy, Society and Culture. Volume I: The Rise of the Network Society. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers Inc.

CHESBROUGH , H. W. (2003).- Open Innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press

FLORIDA, R. (2002). The Rise of the Creative Class: And How it's transforming work, leisure, community and everyday life. New York: Perseus Book Group

VON HIPPEL, E. (2005).- Democratizing Innovation. Massachusetts: MIT Press.

In-depth bibliography

BAKSHSHI, H.; HARGREAVES, I.; MATEOS-GARCÍA, J. (2013).- A Manifesto for the Creative Economy. London: NESTA.
BENKO, G.; LIPIETZ, A. (coords.) (1992): Les régions qui gagnent, districts et réseaux : les nouveaux paradigmes de la géographie économique. Paris : PUF, «collection economie et liberté ».
BONTJE, M.; MUSTERD, S.; KOVÁCS, Z. y MURIE, A. (2011): “Pathways toward european creative-knowledge city-regions”, Urban Geography, 31 (1): 80-104.
FLORIDA, R. (2008).- Who's Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where You Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life. New York: Basic Books, Penguin Random House.
HILPERT, U. (2003): Regionalisation of Globalized Innovation: Locations for Advanced Industrial Development and Disparities in Participation. London: Routledge.
LESTER, R. K.; PIORE, M. J. (2004).- Innovation: The Missing Dimension. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
MAC CALLUM, D.; MOULARET, F.; HILLIER, J. (2009).- Social Innovation and Territorial Development. London: Ashgate.
SAEXENIAN, A. L. (1994).- Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128. Cambridge. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
YOUNG FOUNDATION (2007).- Social Innovation: What Is It, Why It Matters, How It Can Be Accelerated. London: Basingstoke Press.
VON HIPPEL, E. (1995).- The Sources of Innovation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Journals

Arbor. Ciencia, pensamiento, cultura (CSIC)
Cuadernos de gestión (Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa de la Universidad del País Vasco)
Ekonomiaz. Revista vasca de economía. (Gobierno Vasco)

Web addresses

ADEGI. Asociación de Empresarios de Gipuzkoa: www.adegi.es
COTEC. Fundación Cotec para la Innovación: http://cotec.es/
INNOBASQUE. Agencia Vasca de la Innovación: www.innobasque.com
NESTA: http://www.nesta.org.uk/
The Young Foundation: https://youngfoundation.org/