Topic, winter term 2024/25:
Intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship against the background of “twin-transition” processes in regional innovation systems
Course description:
The 'Master Seminar in Innovation Management and Economics | 5706-661' focuses on the digital and green transformation – the so-called "twin transition" – of regional innovation systems and the associated intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship activities. Both the green and the digital transformation are taking place at a rapid pace and are mutually dependent on and influence each other. Just like the internet, the AI revolution, which is just starting to take off, will induce profound change processes in all of our professional and private lives. First of all, it is worth noting that the major global megatrends – such as digitalization and climate change – can have very different effects in different regions. The technological and economic imprint of a region, the geographical topology, existing infrastructure, population dynamics and other factors play an important role in this context. For existing companies, the digital transformation is shifting the business environment in which these companies have been operating successfully for decades. Established markets and target customer groups are disappearing and new opportunities are being created. For existing companies that succeed in innovating or at least partially adapting their business models, adapting their existing capital stock and established organizational structures and routines to the new challenges, the digital transformation will create new business opportunities. This is where intrapreneurship – i.e. the consistent focus on entrepreneurial action within organizational boundaries – comes in. Companies that are unable to adapt to the rapid changes will not be able to compete in the long term. In many cases, digital technologies enable the creation and establishment of green innovations, but sustainability-oriented customer requirements can also give rise to digital innovations. The twin transition also creates opportunities for start-ups in often narrowly defined, highly specialized niches with significant growth potential. With the development or introduction of new digital or green technologies - and the associated customer needs - completely new markets are emerging that need to be satisfied with appropriate offerings. Entrepreneurship - i.e. the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities and the associated start-up activities of resourceful and risk-taking players - fills precisely these gaps in demand. The aim of the seminar is (i.) to understand the particularities and heterogeneity of digital and green transformation processes in regional innovation systems, (ii.) to address strategies of established companies for dealing with digital and green transformation processes, (iii.) to take an in-depth look at start-up activities and market entries of start-ups. Students are sensitized to these aspects and deal with the topic both in the form of individual and group work.
Examination performance:
- Group performance [30%]: Presentation and submission of a group elaboration
- Individual performance [50%]: Presentation, submission, and defense of a seminar paper (length: 12-15 pages, in compliance with previously provided formatting specifications]
- Oral performance [20%]: Discussion during the course
Learning objectives, structure, and methodology:
The course is designed as a classic seminar and is aimed at students in advanced semesters. Students work in groups and individually on well-defined topics in the field of innovation management and innovation economics and show the capability to argue on a theoretically substantiated and empirically verified basis.
The seminar is held in hybrid form. The introductory event, interim presentation and final event will take place in person. The course is structured as follows:
I. Introductory event (in presence)
Students receive an introduction to the content of this year's Master's seminar. A series of subject areas will be presented. Students choose one of these subject areas, in which both their group work and their individual work is to be completed. There will also be an introduction to methodological approaches to working on the topics: (i.) literature analysis + meta-study, (ii.) qualitative empirical analysis, (iii.) quantitative empirical analysis, (iv.) other methods.
II Group work (+online)
Development of the selected topic area, literature research and processing of the central sources, allocation of individual topics for individual work, including suggestions for methodical processing. Regular online meetings are offered to discuss the progress of the work.
III Interim presentation, results of the group work (in presence)
Each group presents on the following aspects/contents:
- Content specification and delimitation of the subject area
- Presentation, classification and critical appraisal of the literature base
- Presentation of the individual topics (content and methodology)
IV. Processing of the individual topics (+online voting appointments)
Regular online meetings are offered to discuss the progress of the work. Students can obtain processing information on structure, content, methodology, etc.
V. Final presentation, results of individual work (in presence)
Students present and defend the results of their individual work.
You may apply for this seminar using the following form: forms.gle/VgsZybauxXyzptAc7
Your contact for further questions:
Dr. Muhamed Kudic
University of Siegen
E-Mail: muhamed.kudic@uni-siegen.de
