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Unit outline_

INFO4444: Computing 4 Innovation

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The computing field is changing very rapidly. Innovation is continual, with novel technology, novel processes, and novel business models. This unit prepares students for this aspect of their professional career, with a focus on understanding the complex relationships between innovation ideas and business value. The Business Canvas Model will be used to make systematic, the development of a case for business value. In particular, students will hear guest lectures from industry innovators, and they will learn about both successful and unsuccessful attempts to create business value from an innovative idea.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Computer Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
INFO3333
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
INFO4990
Assumed knowledge
? 

Students should have knowledge of several different aspects of computing at the 3000-level

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Josiah Poon, josiah.poon@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Ivan Chua, ivan.chua@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam hurdle task Final Exam
Closed-book exam consisting of multiple-choice, short- and long-form Qs.
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Assignment Assignment I
Individual research report (Innovation Frameworks)
15% Week 06 Due in Week 6
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
In-semester test Mid-Semester Exam
Closed-book exam consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer Questions
15% Week 08 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Assignment II
Group research report (Commercialisation)
20% Week 12 Due in Week 12
Outcomes assessed: LO9 LO10
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Assignment I: Individual research report on the application and discussion of innovation concepts and frameworks from week 1-3 based on a chosen emerging technology applied to a chosen industry. 

  • Mid-Semester Exam: Closed-book examination which consists of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Covers content from week 1-6.

  • Assignment II: Group research report on the application and discussion of commercialisation frameworks and concepts from week 7-10 for a hypothetical new product and company based on the same chosen technology but for a new industry in which the technology has not been widely applied and adopted.

  • Final Exam: Closed-book examination which consists of multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer questions. Covers content from week 1-12.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas

Assessment criteria

Result Name Mark Range Description
AF Range from 0 to 49 Absent fail
CA Range from 65 to less than 75 Credit (Aegrotat)
CN No mark Cancelled
CR Range from 65 to less than 75 Credit
DA Range from 75 to less than 85 Distinction (Aegrotat)
DF No mark Discontinue – fail
DI Range from 75 to less than 85 Distinction
DC No mark Discontinued not to count as failure
FA Range from 0 to less than 50 Fail
FR* No mark Failed Requirements
HA Range from 85 to 100 inclusive High Distinction (Aegrotat)
HD Range from 85 to 100 inclusive High Distinction
IC No mark Incomplete
PA Range from 50 to less than 65 Pass (Aegrotat)
PS Range from 50 to less than 65 Pass
SA* No mark Satisfied Requirements (Aegrotat)
RI No mark Result incomplete
SR* No mark Satisfied requirements
UC No mark Unit of Study Continuing
WD No mark Withdraw


 

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: Unit of Study Introduction; Definition of IT Innovation; Importance of Innovation to a Country; General Purpose Technologies; Overview of Emerging Technologies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Innovation Frameworks I: Dynamics of IT Innovation and Dominant Design Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 03 Innovation Frameworks II: Disruptive Innovation, Innovator's Dilemma, Value Chain & Value Network Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO6
Week 04 Introduction to open innovation and closed innovation Distributed Innovation I: Product Platforms, Web APIs Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO7
Week 05 Distributed Innovation II: Crowdsourcing, Free and Open Source Software, Open Data, Product Ecosystems, User Innovation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO7
Week 06 Intellectual Property Protection for Innovation: Methods and Strategies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO8
Week 07 Commercialisation I: Startup vs Traditional Companies, Customer Development Process, Lean Startup Methodology and Agile Development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO9
Week 09 Commercialisation II: Innovation Management, Value Proposition Canvas, Business Model Canvas Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO9
Week 10 Commercialisation III: Capital & Fundraising for IT Innovation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO10
Week 11 Innovation Ecosystem: Silicon Valley and Australia Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO11
Week 12 Organisational Cultures and Structures Supporting Innovation and Judging IT Innovation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO12 LO13
Week 13 Examination Review Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

There are no specific attendance and class requirements for this unit.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are specific prescribed readings for this unit. Recommended readings will be available on Canvas alongside lecture and tutorial materials.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Define innovation and differentiate between innovation and invention
  • LO2. Outline and discuss the importance of innovation to a country
  • LO3. Explain the concept of general-purpose technology and assess whether certain technologies are general-purpose technologies
  • LO4. Discuss and apply frameworks relating to the diffusion, adoption and maturity of innovation
  • LO5. Discuss and apply the concept of dominant design and any related framework(s), and evaluate the key drivers which contribute to the emergence of dominant design (or lack-thereof)
  • LO6. Explain key research on disruptive innovation and related concept(s), apply the Disruptive Innovation Model on specific case studies and discuss the concept of the Innovator’s Dilemma
  • LO7. Discuss, apply and evaluate open innovation, closed innovation and the eight open innovation methods
  • LO8. Outline and explain the different methods and strategies to protect the intellectual property of IT innovation
  • LO9. Discuss, apply and design the commercialisation process and business strategies for IT innovation, comprising of concepts and frameworks such as the customer development process, lean startups, agile development, value proposition canvas and business model canvas
  • LO10. Outline and evaluate the capital and fundraising pathways for IT innovation in Australia and abroad
  • LO11. Outline and evaluate the innovation ecosystems in Silicon Valley and Australia
  • LO12. Discuss and evaluate organisational cultures and structures that support innovation
  • LO13. Analyse, compare, contrast and judge IT innovation based on various methodologies

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

More information related to this unit will be provided in class or found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.