Introduction to Theory (for Innovation, Management and Policy Pathway) (857L1)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Autumn teaching

This module is an introduction to theory and theorising in the context of organisation, innovation and policy. It provides an overview of classical theories of organization such as:

• theories of bureaucracy and scientific management
• theories of industrial organisation such as flexible specialisation and global value chains
• more contemporary theories such as institutional theory, practice theory and critical theory.

We also provide theoretical foundations of innovation studies, including evolutionary theory as well as economic and political theories of the firm. In addition, we touch on emerging themes such as grand challenges, ecosystems and the mission economy.

The module discusses theoretical concepts and paradigms in terms of their origin, evolution, and application in empirical work and policy-making. We also provide insights on strategies of inductive theorising and theory development. This module is a critical foundation for crafting impactful and policy-relevant scholarly work in business, economics and policy at Masters and PhD level.

 

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.