Two years ago, I joined the first cohort of an M.Sc. in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, offered by the Hellenic Open University (HOU). The M.Sc. is exclusively taught in English. You can follow the links above to get a description of the M.Sc. and the available courses (or “thematic modules”, as they are called).
In this post, I want to share share some information about the case studies and companies we studied. Understanding how specific companies succeeded in their journey despite fierce competition is crucial for both innovation management and entrepreneurship. The selection of the companies by the teaching staff says a lot (to me) about the quality of the program. With no further ado, here are the nine thematic modules I enrolled in and the case studies we covered:
Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice (IME50). Case studies: Faber-Castell, Timberhub, and capsule endoscopy.
Strategic Innovation Management (IME51). Case studies: Garmin response to disruption by smartphones, TUI Group, and a (fictional) boutique hotel chain.
New Venture Creation and Business Planning (IME52). Case studies: Drybath, Venture Capital firms, and Cinobo.
New Product Development (IME53). Case studies: Toyota Production System, SAM100 (Semi-Automated Mason), and supersonic flights beyond Concorde.
Managing Innovative Projects (IME54). Case studies: Concorde, Digital Transformation Strategy of Greece (2019-2023), and a (fictional) car manufacturer.
Technology Commercialization (IME55). Case studies: Austria vs. Switzerland patents based on World Development Indicators (WDI), intellectual property in modern washing machines, Impossible Foods, and EMI CT scanner.
Design Thinking (IME60). Cases studies: Samsung, Apple, and Nike.
Digital Transformation (IME61). Case studies: Heineken, Greek ecosystem 2022-2023, and a (fictional) payment company specialized in public transport services.
The Human Factor in Innovation (IME63). Case studies: The role of Human Resource Development (HRD) in fostering creativity and innovation, fostering career adaptability of individuals through learning, and Bob Trunzo of TruStage.
Please bear in mind that the case studies may change with every new cohort, so these might not be the ones you will face if you enroll. But, hopefully, you get an idea of what to expect. If you need further information, either contact me before enrolling or select me as your mentor in the HOU platform afterward.