MG305      Half Unit
Innovation and Technology Management

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

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The focus of this course is on how innovative technologies are managed and their consequences. It includes technological innovation in areas such as telecoms, hi tech industries, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, space technology, financial technologies. Aspects covered are how new industries are created, how existing industries can be transformed by new technologies, linkages between technological development and the creation of wealth, and implementation success and failure of technological systems. Topics include: technology and entrepreneurship, technology strategy, R&D management, patents and intellectual property, disruptive, radical and incremental innovation, technology policy. Economic, systems, managerial and sociological approaches will be compared using a variety of case studies.

15 hours of lectures and 13.5 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

In its Ethics Code, LSE upholds a commitment to intellectual freedom. This means we will protect the freedom of expression of our students and staff and the right to engage in healthy debate in the classroom.

Classes are based around reading and discussing selected journal articles and case studies from the course study pack on Moodle. Formative feedback is provided on class participation.

In addition, students will present an essay plan in preparation for the final case-based essay, on which formative feedback will be provided.

• J Howells, The Management of Innovation and Technology, Sage, 2005;
• J Fagerberg, D.C. Mowery, and R.R. Nelson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of innovation (Series Oxford Handbooks in Business and Management), Oxford University Press, 2006;
• D MacKenzie, Knowing Machines: Essays on Technical Change, MIT Press, 1998;
• M Bauer (Ed), Resistance to New Technology: Nuclear Power Information Technology and Biotechnology, CUP 1995;
• M Biagioli (Ed), The Science Studies Reader, Routledge, 1999;
• H Collins & T Pinch, The Golem at Large: What you should know about technology, Cambridge University Press, 1998; 
• D Mowery & N Rosenberg, Paths of Innovation: technological change in 20th century America, Cambridge University Press, 1998;
• J McLaughlin, P Rosen, D Skinner & A Webster, Valuing Technology: organisations, culture and change, Routledge, London and New York, 1999; 

Course participation (10%)

Essay (90%)

For detailed assessment information, including all deadlines and timings, please see the relevant course Moodle page. Assessment timings will be available at the start of each term.