Diploma in Business Innovation

Program Overview

The Diploma in Business Innovation is a blended learning program that equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to recognize, develop, and execute innovative solutions to real-world business challenges. The program emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative abilities, and focuses on cultivating technical skills, business disciplines, and soft skills essential for fostering innovation and effective leadership. Through a combination of on-campus and online activities, students gain an understanding of the business environment, innovation principles, technology's role in innovation, risk management, data analytics, innovation strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship, leadership culture and change, and project management.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Diploma in Business Innovation is structured as an active learning experience that demands students to partake actively in their learning, engaging in industry-relevant practical learning and assessment activities. The specific purpose of this diploma is to provide an accessible route to a level 7 qualification that equips graduates with the tools and methods to recognize, develop, and execute innovative solutions to real-world business challenges or use innovation in the face of opportunity, to advance their careers. This specialized and targeted diploma focuses on innovation, cultivating technical skills and knowledge, and the development of business disciplines with delicate soft skills essential for fostering innovation, and ensuring effective leadership. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative abilities. It is intended for individuals interested in pursuing leadership roles across a wide range of industries or government organizations, or those aspiring to work in innovative start-ups. Modules include The Business Environment, Introduction to Business Innovation, Technology and Innovation, Risk Management, Data Analytics for Innovation, Innovation Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Leadership Culture and Change, and Project Management.

Outline:

The Business Environment

(5 ECTS): This module aims to enhance students' understanding of the implications of cultural, political, legal, and economic forces in the business environment. It provides a solid foundation for students to comprehend how these factors influence, inform, or impact business operations and decision-making. The module equips learners with the knowledge to appreciate and respond to the dynamic and complex business landscape, establishing a foundation to foster their ability to identify opportunities to drive innovation and make informed decisions.

Introduction to Business Innovation

(10 ECTS): This module aims to provide learners with an overview of business innovation and its significance for organizations. The module introduces learners to the principles of design thinking, creativity, and idea generation. It explores different types of innovation, such as incremental and disruptive innovation. The module also aims to introduce learners to ethics as a key consideration when generating and evaluating new ideas and understanding the impact of innovation on society and the environment.

Technology and Innovation

(5 ECTS): This module aims to introduce learners to the role of technology in driving innovation, with a focus on digital technologies. The module explores emerging technologies and their potential applications in business innovation. It also develops learners' awareness of the ethical implications of emerging technologies, including issues related to privacy, bias, sustainability, and the potential for harm.

Risk Management

(5 ECTS): This module aims to introduce learners to risk management principles and practices in the innovation context. The module explores risk identification, risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk monitoring. Learners develop skills in designing risk management plans for innovation projects and communicating risk management strategies to stakeholders.

Data Analytics for Innovation

(5 ECTS): This module aims to develop learners' knowledge and understanding of the role of data analytics in identifying and supporting business innovation. The module explores the process of data collection, cleaning, and analysis, as well as the use of data visualization tools. Learners also develop their awareness of ethical considerations related to data privacy, security, and consent.

Innovation Strategy

(5 ECTS): This module explores and appreciates the relationship between innovation strategy and overall business strategy. Learners are introduced to business strategy and in that context will explore the different types of innovation strategies, such as open innovation, platform innovation, and ecosystem innovation, and how to identify the most appropriate strategy for an organization. The module covers topics such as strategic planning, innovation road-mapping, and the measurement of innovation performance. Learners also explore the challenges of integrating innovation into the broader organizational strategy and develop skills in communicating the value of innovation to stakeholders.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(5 ECTS): This module aims to provide learners with an understanding of the links between innovation and entrepreneurship and the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs in developing innovative products and services. The module explores a range of topics, including the development of a business model and the concept of intrapreneurship. A key element of this module is to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial thinking of students so they can recognize entrepreneurship as a managerial discipline that can be learned and developed.

Leadership Culture and Change

(10 ECTS): This module explores the role of leadership in fostering a culture of innovation within an organization and the role of ethical leadership, including the importance of transparency, accountability, and responsible innovation practices. It also addresses intrapreneurship/idea generation and employee engagement in fostering a culture of innovation within an organization. Learners examine the qualities of effective innovation leaders and explore the strategies they use to promote innovation.

Project Management

(10 ECTS): The purpose of this module is to introduce learners to project management principles and practices that can support innovation initiatives within organizations. Topics covered include project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder management. Learners also explore skills in project evaluation and monitoring, ensuring that innovation projects are executed successfully.

Assessment:

The assessment strategy for the program employs a combination of formative and summative evaluations. Summative assessments are completed during the taught modules and through end of module assessments. The program utilizes an authentic assessment approach to provide learners with insights into real-world work tasks, scenarios, and challenges. Integrated assessment opportunities are maximized to better reflect authentic work-based problems and scenarios. The program employs a combination of continuous assessment, examination, and research project assessment methodologies.

Teaching:

As this is a blended learning program, students will participate in a combination of on-campus and online activities. All students will be introduced to the CCT online learning environment as part of the program induction and will have access to ongoing support as required. Online activities can include live or pre-recorded lectures, independent learning and assessment activities such as research tasks, discussion forums, simulations, quizzes, and e-portfolio work along with online group activities like live classes, group project work, virtual labs, and tutorials. Completing the online components of the program each week is essential to successfully finishing the program. On-campus activities can include small group tutorials, labs, project supervision, problem-solving case studies, library research, and seminars.