Innovation in Business Networks

Code:

2GE19

Acronym:

IBN

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Management Studies

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S (of 10-02-2014 to 06-06-2014)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Management
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Management

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIM	45	Bologna Official Syllabus	1	-	7,5	56	202,5

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

An increasing complexity of the environment, of knowledge and of competition across increasingly interconnected global markets, is driving firms and organizations.

 Faced with this, firms and organizations are led to establish links of various kinds with other actors so as to act collectively and perform competitively. The principal objective is to create, coordinate and control the conditions leading to a more collective development-oriented and efficient environment. With this in mind, participating in, and managing, industrial networks becomes a critical success factor.

Various network forms exist, bringing together actors, firms, institutions and other forms of economic, political and social action: linkage between firms (cluster, districts, territory…), linkage of actors (social networks, business networks, cliques…) and communities of practices (knowledge creation and sharing…).

Learning outcomes and competences

Know How:

• Ability to understand the origins and  importance of networks in business
• Ability to understand the scope of theories on networks and networked practices

 Know-doing:

• Ability to manage networks of actors and organizations
• Ability in responding to diversity and innovation by designing networks and networked practices
• Ability in conceiving diversity of managerial and strategic practices
• Ability in working collectively

Working method

Presencial

Program

A. Introduction to the themes of Innovation in Business Networks. The new division of labor and shift I economy. From companies as managerial entities to networks in networks. The role of coordination and control in the global activities.

 B. Different kinds and approaches to networks. The notion of Innovation in general. Innovation and Networks.

What does “managing networks and networked practices” mean?

 C. Organization and networks. How to coordinate and control in a network from a firm perspective. A model for analyzing and discussing the firms network. 

 D. Cluster and districts

Presentation and discussion of some experiences in sectors such as Textile and manufacturing equipment.

 E. S-C Relationship at the heart of Industrial Marketing Network approaches

Industrial Networks. Origins and characteristics.

 F. Different applications of network approaches in Industrial markets (Supply networks, KAM Networks, Project Marketing…).

Mandatory literature

Haakansson & Johanson ; A Model of Industrial Networks, in Industrial Networks: A New View of Reality, Routledge, London, 1992
Andersen, Christensen & Damgaard; Diverging expectations in buyer–seller relationships: Institutional contexts and relationship norms, Industrial Marketing Management, 2009
Clarke et.al.; Strategies for Innovation in Networks – Linking Multiple Partners to the Innovation Process, in P. V. Freytag & K. Philipsen (red.) Challenges in Relationship marketing, 2010
Damgaard, Munksgaard & Sørensen ; Strategising in Relationships? A Practical Framework for Situation Analysis, in P. V. Freytag & K. Philipsen (red.) Challenges in Relationship marketing,, 2010
Dicken, Peter; Global Shift: Mapping the changing contours of the world economy, Sage Publications
Freytag & Philipsen ; Challenges in Theoretical Building Blocks and Management Implications, in P. V. Freytag & K. Philipsen (red.) Challenges in Relationship marketing, 2010

Teaching methods and learning activities

Collective sessions and case study analyses.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Trabalho escrito	80,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

 

	Individual part of the grade	Collective part of the grade
Preparation and presentation of reading notes	-	20%
Case study n° 1	30%	10%
Case study n° 2	30%	10%
	60%	40%