Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Business
Assignment Brief 1
Student Name/ID Number:
Unit Number and Title: Unit 8: Innovation and Commercialization
Academic Year: 2023/24
Unit Tutor/Assessor: Najmul Hasan
Assignment Title: Glide Cycles: How a Frictionless Innovation Engine Drove the Company Ahead
Issue Date: 13 January 2025
Submission Date: 23 February 2025
IV Name & Date: Christian Uchenna, 06-01-2025
Submission Format
The submission is in the form of an individual report. The report should be written in a concise, formal business style using single spacing and font size 12. It should include headings, paragraphs, subsections, and illustrations as appropriate. All work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. A bibliography must also be included, using the Harvard referencing system. Inaccurate use of referencing may lead to plagiarism issues. Plagiarism of up to 20% is acceptable for the submission to be valid.
The recommended word limit is 2,000 words; however, there is no penalty for going under or exceeding this limit. Learners must keep a backup copy of all work in progress and final assignments in case of IT failure or work being lost.
Please use Appendix 1 (Student Assignment Submission and Declaration) as the front page of your assignment submission.
Unit Learning Outcomes
LO1 Investigate how innovation is sourced and supported within different types of organizations.
LO2 Explore the processing of different types of innovation within organizations.
Transferable Skills and Competencies Developed
- Effective written communication.
- Ability to analyze and evaluate business data and sources of information.
- Using research for evidence-based decision-making.
- Digital literacy.
- Interpretation of information to evaluate theory and practice.
Vocational Scenario
Organisation:
You were recently hired as an assistant to the Lead Innovation Strategist at Glide Cycles, an award-winning mobility company producing electric skates, scooters, and bikes that “glide frictionlessly like you’re floating.” The CEO, Marco Lang, is a serial entrepreneur known for his invention of shock-absorbing in-wheel motors. Glide’s success is largely attributed to innovation and continuous product development.
Role:
As an assistant to the Lead Innovation Strategist, you will:
- Shadow the Lead Innovation Strategist to understand daily operations and innovation strategies.
- Identify external and internal challenges faced by Glide Cycles, especially risks from competitors.
- Evaluate steps necessary to maintain the company’s industry leadership, focusing on reputation, growth, and development risks.
Assignment Activity and Guidance
You are required to analyze how innovation is successfully developed and embedded in different organizations. Your report will:
- Explain the difference between invention and innovation.
- Critically analyze how innovation is successfully sourced and supported within different organizational environments and cultures.
- Compare how different types of innovation are processed within various organizations.
- Discuss the value and importance of innovation to organizations and how it can be embedded within Glide Cycles’ leadership and culture.
- Explain different forms of innovation and the four directions of organizational change.
- Discuss the 4Ps of innovation and how they support capability and management of innovation. Recommend which form of innovation Glide Cycles should adopt.
- Explore approaches Glide Cycles can use to process innovative ideas, including the innovation funnel and frugal innovation.
Recommended Resources
Books:
- Chesbrough, H. W. (2003). Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Christensen, C. M. (1997). The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Moore, G. A. (1991). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers. HarperCollins.
- Cooper, R. G. (2001). Winning at New Products: Creating Value Through Innovation. Basic Books.
Weblinks:
- Harvard Business Review – Innovation & Entrepreneurship: https://hbr.org/topic/innovation
- Stanford Graduate School of Business – Entrepreneurship and Innovation: https://stvp.stanford.edu/
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 Investigate how innovation is sourced and supported within different types of organisations | LO1 & LO2: D1 Critically analyze how innovation is successfully developed and embedded in different organizational contexts. | |
| P1 Discuss the ways in which different organizations source and foster innovation, using specific examples. | M1 Analyze the ways in which innovation is sourced and supported within different organizational environments and cultures. | |
| LO2 Explore the processing of different types of innovation within organisations | ||
| P2 Differentiate between different types of innovation and how they are processed within organizations. | M2 Analyze how different types of innovation are successfully processed within different organizational settings. |
APPENDIX 1
STUDENT ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION AND DECLARATION
Each student must complete the details below and sign a declaration confirming that the work is their own. This front page should then be submitted along with your assignment.
| Student Name: | Assessor Name: |
| Issue Date: | Submission Date: |
| Programme: | Unit Number and Title: |
| Assignment Title: |
Plagiarism Statement
Plagiarism is a serious form of cheating. It must be avoided at all costs. Students who break the rules, even inadvertently, may be penalized. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they understand correct referencing practices. Any use of sources must be appropriately referenced using the Harvard referencing system. If in doubt, consult your unit lecturer or course tutor.
Student Declaration
I certify that this assignment submission is entirely my own work and understand the consequences of plagiarism. I acknowledge that making a false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Student Signature (Type Name for E-Submissions):
Date:
Summary of Assignment Brief
Institution: London College of Business Studies
Programme: Pearson BTEC HNC/D Level 4/5 in Business
Unit: Unit 8: Innovation and Commercialization
Assignment Title: Glide Cycles: How a Frictionless Innovation Engine Drove the Company Ahead
Academic Year: 2023/24
Submission Date: 23 February 2025
Overview
This assignment focuses on understanding the role of innovation in business success, specifically through the case study of Glide Cycles, a leading mobility company known for its electric skates, scooters, and bikes. The objective is to analyze how innovation is sourced, supported, and processed within different organizational contexts.
Submission Format
- Individual report format.
- Formal business style with single spacing and font size 12.
- Must include headings, paragraphs, subsections, and illustrations.
- Harvard referencing system required with a bibliography.
- Plagiarism up to 20% is acceptable.
- Word limit: Recommended 2,000 words (no penalty for exceeding or going under).
Learning Outcomes (LOs)
- LO1: Investigate how innovation is sourced and supported in different types of organizations.
- LO2: Explore the processing of different types of innovation within organizations.
Skills and Competencies Developed
- Effective written communication.
- Analyzing and evaluating business data.
- Using research for evidence-based decision-making.
- Digital literacy and interpretation of information.
Vocational Scenario
Company: Glide Cycles
CEO: Marco Lang, an innovator in shock-absorbing in-wheel motors.
Your Role: Assistant to the Lead Innovation Strategist
- Understand Glide Cycles’ innovation strategies.
- Identify internal and external challenges.
- Evaluate risks and steps necessary for sustaining industry leadership.
Assignment Requirements
Your report must analyze how organizations successfully develop and implement innovation. Key points to cover include:
- Difference between invention and innovation.
- How innovation is sourced and supported within organizations.
- Comparison of different types of innovation and their processing within organizations.
- The importance of innovation and embedding it in Glide Cycles’ culture.
- Forms of innovation and the four directions of organizational change.
- The 4Ps of innovation and their role in capability and management.
- Approaches to processing innovative ideas (innovation funnel, frugal innovation, etc.).
Recommended Resources
Books:
- Chesbrough, H. W. (2003). Open Innovation.
- Christensen, C. M. (1997). The Innovator’s Dilemma.
- Moore, G. A. (1991). Crossing the Chasm.
- Cooper, R. G. (2001). Winning at New Products.
Weblinks:
- Harvard Business Review – Innovation: https://hbr.org/topic/innovation
- Stanford Graduate School of Business: https://stvp.stanford.edu/
Assessment Criteria
Your submission will be assessed on:
- LO1 (Sourcing Innovation): Discussing how organizations foster innovation using examples.
- LO2 (Processing Innovation): Differentiating and analyzing types of innovation.
- Distinction Level: Critical analysis of how innovation is embedded in organizations.
Plagiarism Policy & Submission Declaration
- Ensure all sources are correctly referenced using Harvard style.
- Avoid plagiarism; false declarations may result in malpractice penalties.
- Student declaration must be signed (or typed for e-submissions).
This summary condenses the assignment brief while maintaining key details to guide students in fulfilling the requirements effectively.