Reference no: EM131160938

Assessment Task 1:
Research and develop an innovation system

Performance objective
You must demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to design an innovation system for a small business.

Assessment description
Many business leaders can explain how quality is embedded in systems and processes. Despite its current ‘buzzword' status, however, too few can explain how ‘innovation' is integrated into business systems. In fact, when it comes to innovation, most businesses don't know where to start!

In this assessment task, you must research and design an innovation system that could be implemented in a range of small businesses. You will develop a research report and deliver a presentation to your fellow learners.

You will need to make sure that your innovation system is easy to explain, easy to understand and easy to implement. This is important because you will be implementing it in the next assessment task!

Procedure
Part A: Research report

1. Research and develop a profile of a great innovator, include:
? a description of the innovation/innovator
? the type of innovation (product, process, marketing or organisational)
? how their innovation led to benefits for their organisation
? challenges and problems faced by the innovator
? an explanation of how they developed the innovation with specific reference to idea generation and idea evaluation.

2. Research and identify innovation system features under the following headings (dimensions of innovation):
? a managed innovation process
? strategic alignment
? industry foresight
? consumer/customer insight
? core technologies and competencies
? organisational readiness
? Disciplined implementation.

3. Research the ways that organisational and team dynamics can effect workplace innovation systems. Explain:
? how different approaches to management and leadership can support or hinder innovation
? challenges and barriers to innovation within teams and organisations and ways of overcoming these.

4. Develop five to ten innovation principles, based on your research. Explain:
? why you chose these principles
? how you could apply and promote them in a business context.

5. Develop or outline at least two processes for idea generation and idea evaluation.

Part B: Presentation
1. Present the findings of your research report at a time designated by your assessor. Your presentation:
? should be of around 10 minutes in length
? must be delivered using presentation slides
? might include handouts, posters or other print-based aids.

Specifications
You must:

? submit a research report that:
? profiles a great innovator (business or person) that you admire
? references at least three sources of information on innovation systems
? identifies innovation system features under the ‘dimensions of innovation'
? explains the ways that organisational and team dynamics can effect workplace innovation systems
? identifies five to ten innovation principles and how they could be applied and promoted in a business context
? identifies at least two processes for idea generation and idea evaluation

? deliver a presentation of around ten minutes in length outlining the outcomes of your research

? submit your presentation notes and slides, and any handouts you developed.
Your assessor will be looking for:

? use of a range of sources of information on innovation systems; such as websites, publications, articles, documentaries and interviews

? use of clear language appropriate to the audience to promote and share information

? presentation of ideas and concepts using structure and language to suit the audience

? use of digital technology and applications to access and filter data, extract, organise, integrate and share relevant information

? ability to explain concepts and theories of innovation and how these link to innovation in practice

? ability to link innovation activities and concepts to business values.

Assessment Task 2:
Innovation system pilot project

Performance objective
You must demonstrate your ability to analyse the innovation system needs of a business, develop a plan for an innovation system and pilot the implementation of innovation projects through this system to meet organisational needs.

Assessment description
You will be acting as a consultant to a business. This could be one that you already work in, or another that you have access to. You will modify the innovation system you developed in Assessment Task 1 and pilot it in the business.

Before you commit to a business, validate the readiness of the business for an innovation program. Survey existing workplace systems carefully and identify how you will integrate innovation processes with existing business systems and processes.

Note: If you don't have a workplace that you can undertake this task in, you can use another type of non-business organisation such as a social club or sports club.

Procedure
1. Choose a business to work with.

2. Review current business practices against the seven dimensions of strategic innovation.

3. Modify the innovation system you developed in Assessment Task 1 to address the business' specific needs.

4. Scope out an area or department to run a pilot program and identify the program participants and key stakeholders.

5. Seek approval from your assessor to ensure that your nominated business is suitable for the implementation of an innovation system pilot.

6. Develop an implementation plan for the innovation system pilot.

7. Develop a communication plan that covers both participants and key stakeholders.

8. Consult with key stakeholders to obtain approval for the implementation plan. Where necessary, modify the plan in response to the feedback received from the stakeholders.

9. Communicate the project to all participants and stakeholders and lead the pilot of the innovation system for at least one innovation of any type (product, process, marketing, organisational).

10. Review the outcomes of the implementation with key stakeholders.

11. Write a project report as per the attached report outline (Appendix 1).

12. Submit all documentation (original and amended versions) as per specifications below. Keep copies for your records.

Specifications
You must submit:

? the outcomes of your review of current business practices against the seven dimensions of strategic innovation
? your modified innovation system
? an implementation plan for the innovation system
? a communication plan covering participants and key stakeholders
? a project report that conforms to the outline provided in Appendix 1.

Your assessor will be looking for:
? evidence of consistent monitoring throughout the project
? evidence of your involvement in all stages of the project
? interpretation and evaluation information that deals with complex ideas
? use of clear language appropriate to the audience to promote and share information, requirements and recommendations relating to the project
? communication skills to engage stakeholders, share information, mentor personnel and present the project to all participants
? consideration of how the innovation project will align with business vision and goals
? planning and sequencing complex tasks and workload, negotiating key aspects with others taking into account capabilities, efficiencies and effectiveness
? use of problem solving processes to identify, assess and respond to challenges and risks around innovation
? use of a range of digital technology and applications to access and filter data, extract, organise, integrate and share relevant information in effective ways
? consideration of the legislative framework that impacts on operations in the chosen workplace.

Assessment Task 3:
Workspace redesign

Performance objective
You must demonstrate knowledge of design requirements for workspaces that support innovation and work with a team to redesign a workspace.

Assessment description
You may have found that you encountered a barrier to innovation in the previous assessment task, namely, the physical environment.
A critical factor for enabling innovation is the design of workspaces. Innovative workspaces typically include:
? collaborative spaces
? social areas
? inspirational features (designs, interesting objects, posters).

And you don't need to build the Googleplex in order to foster innovation. Many improvements can be achieved on low/no budgets with simple reorganisation of workspaces.

In this assessment, you will work with a team to redesign a workspace so that it can support innovation activities more effectively. You will then present your findings to your fellow learners.

Procedure
1. Confirm a workspace with your assessor. It is suggested that you complete this task in the same business as Assessment Task 2; but you can use any place where groups of people work, including your place of learning.

2. Form a project team of three people (yourself and two stakeholders that use the workspace) that you will work with for the duration of this task.

3. With your project team, confirm a profile of the organisation in which the workspace is located; including:
? a description of the workspace
? a brief organisational profile
? organisational goals and objectives
? why innovation is important for this organisation.

4. Develop evaluation criteria. With your project team, brainstorm a list of at least five design points that foster innovation in a workspace. You can record the list on the attached workspace evaluation form.

5. Evaluate the workspace. With your project team, identify any physical challenges and barriers to innovation presented by the workspace and evaluate the chosen workspace against the criteria developed in Step 3 using a rating system (again, you can use the attached workspace evaluation as a starting point).

6. Identify solutions. With your project team, brainstorm solutions as a group that will address deficiencies in design points identified in your evaluation. Be sure to record:
? the rationale for each solution
? any inspiration/sources for these solutions (you can cite inspirations from the internet, magazines, site visits, etc.)
? any external assistance required to implement the solutions
? approximate costs
? sketches of the proposed changes (these may be hand-drawn sketches, computer-generated diagrams, photos or videos).

7. Present your findings during the scheduled session time. Your presentation:
? should be of around 10 minutes in length
? must be delivered using presentation slides
? might include handouts, posters or other print-based aids.

Specifications
You must provide:
? a presentation of around ten minutes in length outlining the findings and outcomes of steps 3-¬6 of the above procedure
? a copy of any material used to aid your presentation
? copies of any notes, sketches, photos and other papers or files generated throughout the course of your collaboration on the workspace redesign
? your completed workspace evaluation form.

Your assessor will be looking for:
? use of clear language appropriate to the audience to promote and share information, requirements and recommendations relating to the workplace redesign
? presentation of ideas and concepts using structure and language to suit the audience
? alignment of ideas for workspace changes to workplace goals and objectives
? collaboration and sharing of ideas with the project team
? an understanding of how the physical working environment could be modified to support creative thinking and innovation activities
? identification of physical challenges and barriers to innovation present in a chosen work space.

Attachment:- Assessment-Task-1.rar

Attachment:- Assessment-Task-2.rar

Attachment:- Assessment-Task-3.rar