Course overview

In a world of constant change, highly challenging economies, shifting geographical focus and fast-moving technological developments, it is clear that innovators, inventors, product designers and organisations bringing new products to the market will need to understand this complexity.

Our MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship will provide you with the knowledge and understanding to:

• Develop and launch new products and services
• Identify and generate new ideas and opportunities
• Create an environment that will facilitative innovation
• Understand entrepreneurship and the management of small enterprises

The understanding gained through your studies will differentiate you within the employment market. Indeed, research has revealed that many managers have little confidence in their ability to successfully manage innovation and product development. The insights you will gain from this programme will provide you with a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Our expertise

Portsmouth Business School has a long history of expertise in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship in terms of research and working with organisations on product development projects. Our Professor of Innovation and Management, Paul Trott, has published over 50 articles on innovation management and his book “Innovation management and New Product Development” is now in its 5th edition and is recommended reading for students all over the world.

This programme benefits from expertise within the University’s Centre for Enterprise, which supports students who are actively involved with entrepreneurial business activities. This Centre does this through its Enterprise Challenge competition with significant cash prizes, working with entrepreneurs, low cost office space for students and graduates to establish and develop their business to the point of trading and networking events.

Additionally we have teamed up with our colleagues in the Faculty of Technology who will bring their expertise in the “Managing New Product Development” unit which will build your understanding of the development of products, prototyping and other relevant aspects of technology.

Is this course right for me?

This course is available to UK and international graduates and is aimed at students seeking roles in organisations where innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity are key defining features. It also equips those of you who have a strong desire to be an entrepreneur with relevant management skills and knowledge to assist you in developing your own start-up business.

Find out more

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). If you are able to join us, we hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

Course content

The focus of this course is to develop understanding of entrepreneurship and the key issues involved in the management of innovation. It particularly examines these issues from the perspective of firms, but also other relevant standpoints such as government and academia. By taking a multidisciplinary perspective, the course incorporates the study of management, finance, human resources and marketing.

The course will provide a contemporary understanding of innovation management and entrepreneurship concepts, theories, models and analytical frameworks, and their application in the development of appropriate business policies and strategies through two key aspects:

The management of innovation

This aspect of the course aims to provide an understanding of:

• Key innovation and entrepreneurship management concepts and principles. In particular, how to manage product innovation and development at operational and strategic levels, and enhancing competitiveness through innovation.
• The processes involved in the development of new products and services, including the management of resources and key activities.
• Key internal and external factors influencing and facilitating innovation within organisations. Markets and customers, in the context of targeting products at markets and the influence of market changes on organisations.

Entrepreneurship

This aspect of the course will provide insights into:

• Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs in small to medium-sized enterprises and larger organisations, and the use of key tools in the development of new ventures.
• The management and development of new enterprises from both a theoretical and practical perspective (with particular focus on small enterprises).
• Financing business operations, with a particular focus on financial assessments within new product development and financing new business start-ups.

Units of study

Subjects studied will include:

• Innovation Management
• Entrepreneurship Theory
• Managing New Product Development
• Entrepreneurship Practice

Two of the main units have been designed in such a way that if you are working for an organisation, or plan to start up your own organisation, you are able to base some of the unit assessment on this if preferred.

The final element of the degree consists of a research methods unit, combined with a study/project (15,000-word dissertation). Those working in, currently running or wishing to start up their own company are encouraged to relate this project to their organisation or desired venture. You can therefore choose a work-related topic for your dissertation that focuses on relevant entrepreneurial, innovation or new venture-related issues. This individual project provides an opportunity to demonstrate an ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge within the relevant academic field and overcome genuine problems.

Teaching and assessment

The course will largely be delivered on campus, with part-time students taking half the number of units each term, which will be structured to require attendance at the University approximately one half-day each week.

The units will be primarily delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops. The course also makes use of a virtual learning environment, providing access to online resources.

Providing you with the ability to apply methods and techniques in real scenarios is a key part of the course. This includes research training, as well as developing communication, team-working and presentation skills.

The course uses both theory and practice-oriented teaching, based on case studies and real-world examples.

Career prospects

This course will enable you to pursue a broad range of management careers in the private and public sector. It is ideally suited to you if you are working, or looking to develop a career in a small business. The course is also suitable for students looking to undertake a research or consultancy role, as well as those looking to develop a career in academia.

Graduates from this course might expect to gain senior management roles in a range of functions including marketing, new product development, innovation, research and development, technology, engineering, project management, administration and the arts. More generally, it may be of interest to those wishing to work in business, manufacturing, healthcare and knowledge management.

At Portsmouth Business School we have regular discussions with employers and professional bodies to help ensure that all our courses are relevant to their business and recruitment needs.

Benefits to your career

We aim to:

• enhance your career prospects and prepare you for roles in innovation management, entrepreneurship, and the management of small enterprises
• develop your understanding of the value and contribution innovation can make to a variety of consumer, business, national and international markets and across industry sectors
• provide a challenging and demanding treatment of innovation management and entrepreneurship concepts, techniques and applications
• enable you to share experience and develop knowledge with others
• develop your professional and interpersonal skills, so that you can:
  • undertake independent research
  • access, evaluate, synthesise and present information from a variety of sources
  • construct and write reports, coherently evaluate alternatives and draw logical conclusions and supporting recommendations
  • select and apply relevant models to support high-quality decision making
  • present complex strategic arguments to individuals and groups
  • organise and control resources to meet output targets
  • analyse and interpret data and information from a variety of sources to identify and resolve problems facing innovation management and entrepreneurship

A Master's qualification immediately differentiates you in the highly competitive jobs market. In particular, it demonstrates a commitment to and expertise in this field, qualifying you for a wide range of management careers in the private and public sector. It is ideally suited to you if you are working or looking to develop a career in a small business. The course is also suitable for those looking to undertake a research or consultancy role, as well as those looking to develop a career in academia.

Graduates from this course might expect to gain senior management roles in a range of functions including marketing, new product development, innovation, research and development, technology, engineering, project management, administration and the arts. More generally, it may be of interest to those wishing to work in business, manufacturing, healthcare and knowledge management.

At Portsmouth Business School we have regular discussions with employers and professional bodies to help ensure that all our courses are relevant to their business and recruitment needs.

Facilities and features

• An extensive and friendly induction schedule will introduce you to the University, its learning resources and your programme.
• Each student has a Personal Tutor, responsible for pastoral support and guidance.
• Special Academic English for postgraduate students: this free, dedicated and professional help for those whose first language is not English is timetabled into your marketing programme.
• University support services include professional and friendly advice on careers, finance, disability and housing and a free counselling service is also available.
• A Student Centre incorporating Student's Union and student services.
• Excellent library facilities. The University Library is just a few minutes walk away from the Richmond Building. It is open in term time from 8am until midnight, seven days a week and provides extensive study and IT facilities. You will have 24 hour internet access to leading databases, bringing you a wealth of data and information, including academic and practitioner publications.
• Programme and unit handbooks provide information about the course structure, regulations etc.
• Written feedback is provided for all coursework assessments.
• Course and lecture materials will be available online via the Business School's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
• Extensive computer facilities including personal email accounts and access to the internet.
• Academically qualified and enthusiastic staff with relevant experience including research, consultancy and links with industry.
• Wide links with companies and organisations willing to provide guest speakers and live case studies.
• Access to online learning support facilities.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk