MOØ237 Public sector innovation and green innovation

Contents and structure

MOØ 237  Innovation in public sector and green innovation is one of two elective courses aimed at the master's thesis, where the students prepare an academic research proposal partly based upon thematics from their elective course. The course is mainly organised as seminars where students present and discuss literature and preliminary drafts of their proposal. In addition, the course includes lectures, business visits and guest lectures.

The course deals with responsible innovation practices within the public sector and in the transition towards sustainable energy or green innovation in all sectors.  Based on an overarching notion of responsible innovation, the course will provide an overview of current research on public and green innovation, providing students with a background knowledge for conducting masters theses within these fields.

Public innovation is about organizing innovation, change and entrepreneurship in the public sector. Public innovation may include a range of topics such as new technology and digitalization, service innovation and social entrepreneurship, new forms of organization and interaction across sectors, public-private collaboration, citizen involvement and collaboration with civil society. Much research on innovation and entrepreneurship is 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. The course will offer insights into the central concepts and forms of innovation relevant to the public sector. Furthermore, it deals with 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 and the notion of responsible innovation.  

The second part of the course deals with the challenges of the ongoing transition from fossil to sustainable energy sources. Energy is the backbone of our economy and the energy systems of he world are in flux. Drivers of changes are a combination of the need for more affordable and reliable energy, technological innovations and the challenges of climate change. Based upon a historical review of energy politics in Norway, the curse provides insights on the evolution of the conflicting demands between energy production, nature protection and climate change, providing a perspective on the current challenges of the shift from fossil to sustainable energy sources.  What regulatory mechanisms are favourable for realising a shift from fossil to sustainable energy sources and how can this shift be reconciled with various political, economic, social and environmental concerns? 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

 On completion of the course, the student should have advanced knowledge of:

• The notion of responsible innovation
• Various forms of innovation in the public sector,
• Current government actions plans for public innovation in Norway
• important issues, challenges and dilemmas in public innovation practices.
• Drivers and barriers for the shift from fossil to renewable energy sources
• Historical development of the Norwegian energy sector and its impact for climate change and other environmental issues

Skills:

On completion of the course, the student can

• Carry out data collection with the necessary skills for conducting critical research on public innovation practices and green innovation.
• Be able to identify key drivers and barriers for public sector innovation and green innovation
• Be able to analyse, evaluate and report on innovation processes
• Be able to apply the notion of responsible innovation to current innovation practices.

General competence:

On completion of the course, the student can

• contribute to the organisation and management of public sector innovation and green innovation.
• be able to disseminate current knowledge on how to facilitate and organize for responsible innovation and to identify challenges.
• communicate relevant topics to both specialists and non-specialists.
• know when further knowledge is needed and where such knowledge can be found

Entry requirements

Students must be admitted to the Maters' programme in Innovation and Management at HVL.

Recommended previous knowledge

Completion of the first and second semesters of the Master's programme in Innovation and Management

Teaching methods

The most important form of work is active participation in seminars with self-study and student presentations. The seminar form will be supplemented by lectures, company visits and invited guest lecturers. The course will be taught in Norwegian unless non-Norwegian speaking students also partake in the course, in which case lectures will be offered in English. Submissions and exams can be delivered in Norwegian or English. 

Compulsory learning activities

Each student must give an oral presentation of an academic research article / book chapter or masters' thesis in the seminar. In addition, students are expected to present drafts of their academic research proposals and comment upon the drafts of fellow students. 

Course requirements are valid in the examination semester and 3 following semesters. 

Assessment

One term paper (academic research proposal) in the form of a written group assignment (max. 2 students pr group). 100 % of the final assessment . Grading scale is A-F, where F is fail. 

Length of term paper: . Appr. 20 pages (+/- 10%), 12 pt, 1,5 line spacing.

Examination support material

All sources are  allowed

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