MOØ232 Public innovation

Contents and structure

The elective is one of three elective specialization courses aimed at the master's thesis, where the students prepare an academic research proposal based on the themes from the chosen specialization course. The elective courses are thus not purely lecture courses, but partly take the form of a seminar with the expectation of an active participation from the students. The course will combine lectures, guest lectures, literature presentation from students, business visits and feedback on written work.

The elective course in public innovation is about organizing innovation, change and entrepreneurship in the public sector. The focus on innovation is increasing in all parts of the public sector, both locally in municipalities in various areas such as school, health and elderly care, and at regional and national levels of governance such as regional health authority, ministries and directorates. Public innovation may include a range of topics such as new technology and digitalization, service innovation and social entrepreneurship, new forms of organization and forms of interaction across sectors, increased use of public-private collaboration, citizen involvement and collaboration with civil society, education and human resource development (HR), coordination and management of innovation and change processes.

Former research on innovation and entrepreneurship is to a large extent based on experiences from the business world where profit and competition are important driving forces for innovation. The context for innovation and entrepreneurship is different in the public sector as the organizations here are less competitive, they have several bottom lines and not only profit maximization as a purpose, they are regulated, have little room for risk management and they are governed by politics. In recent years, there has been a development of research, concepts and theories on innovation better adapted to the public sector. It is this knowledge the course conveys.

The course offer insights to the central concepts and forms of innovation relevant to the public sector. These include notions of collaboration such as employee-driven innovation, collaborative innovation, open innovation and user-driven innovation. Furthermore, it will be about management and governance and concepts such as policy innovation and governance innovation. The course will also emphasize the innovation process and key concepts such as co-production and co-creation, innovation as diffusion and innovation as import, copying and translation.

The course will also highlight current government plans for innovation in various parts of the public sector in Norway, as well as problematize potential challenges and critical perspectives. The theoretical review will thus be linked to practical examples and possible cases for master's theses.

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course the student should be able to: Knowledge

 

• on the various elements included in the subject of public innovation
• on the most important forms of innovation relevant to the public sector
• on central government action plans for public innovation in Norway today
• on important issues and challenges in the research field
• on key theories of governance reform in the public sector, the role of professionals in innovation processes and various forms of citizen involvement

 

 

Skills

 

• be able to explain the difference between innovation and entrepreneurship in the private and public sectors  
• be able to collect research-based knowledge in both national and international contexts
• be able to identify key drivers and thresholds for innovation in the public sector
• understands new forms of interaction between public, private and voluntary sectors and organizational forms that transcend sectoral differences
• can reflect on their own professional practice and adjust it under supervision
• be able to analyze, evaluate and report on innovation processes
• be able to make critical judgments and identify professional, political and ethical challenges

 

 General competence

 

• can contribute to the organization and management of innovation in the public sector
• can communicate key theories, problems and solutions about public innovation in writing, orally and through other relevant forms of expression
• be able to disseminate current knowledge on how to facilitate and organise for innovation and to identify challenges
• be able to recognize when knowledge is needed and know where the knowledge can be found
• can collect and apply international experience and knowledge relevant to the Norwegian context

Entry requirements

Students must be admitted to the master's program in innovation and management at HVL.

Teaching methods

The most important form of work is participation in organized seminars with self-study and student presentations. The seminar form will be supplemented by lectures, company visits and possibly guest lectures. The course will be taught in Norwegian and possibly English. Submissions and exams can be delivered in Norwegian or English.

Compulsory learning activities

Each student must give an oral presentation of at least 1 research article, book chapter and / or master's thesis in the seminar. Students will also present a draft of the semester assignment and comment on each other's work.

Assessment

A semester assignment in the form of an academic research proposal. Length: approx. 20 pages (+/- 10%), 12 pts, 1.5 line spacing. Character Scale: A-F. The semester assignment is carried out in groups of up to 2 people.

Examination support material

None

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