The final 10-15 page paper will give students the chance to more closely examine a weekly topic from the course. A list of supplemental readings is provided and the paper should include citations from the selected week. The final paper may take one of three forms:
Case Study
illustrate how experiences in a company relate to one of the weekly topics
company background info can come from personal experience or public documents
think about important facts, events, people, decisions, and turning points in the case
key evaluation criteria for case study is an interesting story about managing innovation
format of paper should model a Harvard Business School case, such as Corporate New
Ventures at Procter & Gamble or Digital Equipment Corporation: The Kodak
Outsourcing Agreement
Critical Essay
write an analytical assessment of one of the weekly topics
typologies, archetypes, or frameworks can come from your observations or the articles
think about exceptions to the rule, competing hypotheses, and generalizability of ideas
key evaluation criteria for critical essay is a unique perspective on managing innovation
format of paper should model an overview article from the readings, such as Gunfire at
sea: A case study of innovation or Organizing and leading "heavyweight" development
teams
Research Report
empirically investigate an idea related to one of the weekly topics
data can come from surveys, interviews, or third-party sources
think about alternative explanations, unmeasured variables, and response biases
key evaluation criteria for research report is solid evidence about managing innovation
format of paper should model a data-driven article from the readings, such as Special
boundary roles in the innovation process or Interpretive barriers to successful product
innovation in large firms
Online Forum: What can we learn about "managing the innovation process" from your final paper? (be sure to include which weekly topic you selected and readings you cited)