Objectives and competences
In this course students:
Acquire holistic approach to analysis and understanding of problems.
2. Understand the systemic problem solving on all levels and in everyday practice.
3. Enhance their theoretical knowledge in the field of various topics of innovating. .
4. Gain the ability to apply their theoretical knowledge of systemic support to innovating in practice.
5. Develop the need for cooperation with different specialists with awareness of interdependencies and develop capacity for productive team work on their case studies.
Content (Syllabus outline)
1. Introduction into success with system thinking for more holistic understanding of innovative problem solving
2. Cooperation of specialists, relation between specialization and holism in open innovation systems
3. Chaos, complexity and possible solutions in earlier phases of innovating
4. Hierarchy and codependency in processes of creativeness and innovating
5. Relatedness of the systems theory to the sustainable development, social responsibility and innovation management
6. Ethical values in processes of managing innovativeness
7. Building a model of innovative society
8. Case studies of systematic encouragement of innovative process in economies.
Learning and teaching methods
- lecturing by discussion;
- AV presentation;
- case studies;
- team work
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Development of knowledge and understanding:
Students:
1. Acquire specific knowledge in the field of systemic support ot innovating.
2. Have a detailed knowledge of theories in the field of systemic thinking in innovating.
3. Learn to recognise interconnections in systems.
4. Develop the skills to interpret the created innovative results with systemic thinking.
5. Learn how to analyse and synthesise different approaches.
6. Are able to pursue further analysis regarding systemic support to innovating.
7. Can demonstrate awareness of wider social and environmental ethical issues and ethics of independence in innovating
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Cognitive/Intellectual skills:
Students:
1. Understand and apply critical analysis and theory development in the area of system theories and their usability in solving real professional problems, with minimum guidance.
2. Get the ability to search for and synthesize new information from the field of systemic support to innovating in literature and praxis.
3. Synthesize different knowledge and procedures and are aware of importance of use of professional literature.
4. Can select appropriate techniques for problem solving and are able to evaluate the importance and significance of data.
5. Can identify all important aspects of problem (object) from different most important view points.
Key/Transferable skills
Students:
1. Further develop skills and expertise in the use of knowledge in a specific working area.
2. Upgrade the ability to become an autonomous learner.
3. Upgrade the ability to work in pairs and groups.
4. Further develop their communication skills in an effective manner to effectively and professionally communicate.
Practical skills:
1. Get practical experience in the field of systemic support to innovating.
2. Are able to act autonomously with defined guidelines and certain level of supervision.
Readings
Obvezna študijska literatura (Compulsory textbooks):
Ženko Zdenka. Zapiski predavanj in drugo gradivo objavljeno v UM e studij. / Lecture notes and additional sources in UM e studij.
Matjaž Mulej in soavtorji (2000): Dialektična in druge mehkosistemske teorije, podlaga za celovitost in uspeh managementa. Maribor. UM EPF
Dodatna študijska literatura (Additonal textbooks):
Drugi novejši mednarodni in domači viri / Other newer international and Slovenian sources
Mulej Matjaž in soavtorji (2013). Dialectical systems thinking and the law of requisite holism concerning innovation, (Exploring unity through diversity, vol. 3). Litchfield Park: Emergent Publications.
Ženko Zdenka in soavtorji. General Systems Theory completed up by Dialectical Systems Theory. Systems research and behavioral science, ISSN 1092-7026, 2013, vol. 30, iss. 6, str. 637-645.
Additional information on implementation and assessment - in class participation (10%);
- case study (30%);
- theoretical written exam (60%).
Note:
- Written exam can be replaced with two tests (each up to 30%) written during the semester.
