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Innovation Fitness Report
From the Handbook
Assignment 2: (70%): Innovation Fitness Report
You will carry out research to assess the “Innovation Fitness” of an organisation, at an
organisational, departmental or Divisional/Business Unit level. The 2,000 word report
(+/- 10%) will analyse how well the organisation manages innovation in rapidly
changing digital environments, and will include prioritised recommendations to
improve innovation performance.
You will develop a report which covers key elements including:
Introduction setting the overall context for the study
Identifying and critically reviewing relevant literature
Methodology, embedding core theories and material presented during the course
Data analysis, developing your own critical analysis of the results
Discussion section, drawing together key themes identified in the report and
recommendations for future actions to improve innovation management in the
digital era
Assignment 2
Innovation Fitness Report
To inform the report, you will undertake a quantitative Innovation
Fitness Test Audit at an organisational, departmental or
Divisional/Business Unit level which will generate insights regarding:
How well does the organization manage innovation STRATEGY
How well does it manage LEARNING
How well it develops and exploits LINKAGES
How well it manages INNOVATION PROCESSES
Are the elements of an INNOVATIVE ORGANIZATION in place
Option 1
If you have access to an organization
of over 10 staff
Public Sector or Private Sector
Any country: All material, data and
appendices must be in English
Assignment 2: Quantitative (Survey) Research
Carrying out the Innovation Fitness Test
The Innovation Fitness Test / Audit (Including Explanation)
– can be found at: https://www.johnbessant.org/toolsgi
Small adjustments to wording of questions can help – but
do not fundamentally change the questions
Assignment 2:
Quantitative Analysis phase
Move beyond general comments on
strategy, learning, linkages, processes
and innovative organisation
Look at the “outlier” results – very
low or high scores – and consider
why this might be the case
Compare your findings with
comparator organisations – if
possible
Assignment 2:
Qualitative research (interviews)
Additional research beyond the Innovation Fitness Test Audit,
including 3-4 qualitative interviews, is likely to strengthen the final
report and presentation
Good practice when planning (e.g. emails) and undertaking interviews:
Explain what you are doing, that data will not be retained beyond the
assignment by you, and that names and direct quotes WILL NOT be
attributed to individuals (in emails, and at the start of the interview)
Aim for a 45 minute interview. Record if you can – but no need for full
transcription. Video calls work well (Zoom, Teams etc.)
Design 8 – 12 OPEN questions – to help the interviewee to explore
areas beyond the Innovation Fitness Test. A good approach is 6 – 8
“must ask” questions, with some additional questions if you need
them
Assignment 2: Qualitative Analysis phase
Suggested approach – to help compare feedback on the
same theme from different interviewees
Question Interviewee A Interviewee B Interviewee C Synthesis of findings
from interviews
1. How do you think
that our organisation
manages innovation
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Option 2: If you do not have access to
an organisation
Use publicly available documents, FT,
Economist, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Public
Accounts etc. to conduct your analysis
Use Innovation Fitness Test approach
Guidance: Highlight key ideas + draw out key messages +
recommendations about the theme for managers in an organisation
Section Words Often Missed……
Introduction, explaining the purpose of the report,
and briefly introduce the organisation that you will
be assessing. Make sure the reader knows what is
coming up.
100
1-3 refs
High impact – visual – cover.
Contents page incl. list of tables + figures
Don’t get into lots of detail about your
organisation too early ….
Confirm that innovation is a complex process, that
requires capabilities across a range of themes –
including visuals.
Can use the same references as assignment 1, but
needs more detail.
Use references from the course texts (Tidd &
Bessant) as well as journal articles
600
16-32
refs
Say something (2-4 references) about each of
the 8 key elements of the simplified innovation
management process: Search; select;
implementation; value/business models;
innovation strategy; innovative organization;
linkages; learning
Reflect on how contexts are changing:
Sustainability; digitalization; ecosystems
Methodology: Explain the IFT, the interview phase,
OR secondary sources used, so that the reader
trusts your research process – and the quality of
your data – and your recommendations.
200
1 ref:
John
Bessant
Benefits of a mixed qualitative + quantitative
approach
How many questionnaires sent out, + received
back. Timing. Anonymity of interviewees.
Guidance: Highlight key ideas + draw out key messages + recommendations
about priority themes for managers in an organisation
Section Words Often Missed……
Findings: Explain what you found. Use infographics and
tables to draw attention to key aspects/areas for focus.
400: No refs
if generating
own data. If
using
secondary
sources –
explain
which
sources e.g.
FT
Results to 1 or 2 decimal places
Comment at the high level: Strategy; processes;
organization; linkages; learning
Comment on outlier (high and low) results
Use quotes
Use a table to bring together what has been learned
from the interviews
Discussion: Compare your findings with what you know
about managing innovation from the module, including
references to the literature. Make recommendations for
future actions to improve innovation management in the
digital era.
500
5-10 refs
Reflect on how context is changing the organization’s
priorities: Sustainability; digitalization; ecosystems
Recommendations: Delivered in a 4/5/6 columned table
works best
200
No refs
Priorities; which area of the business is responsible ;
“Next 12 months; 13 – 24 months…2”; explain how
the recommendations with the findings. Use colour
Literature review approach: Include the key elements of the innovation process,
including visuals. Most of research going to be from last 30 years.
Use Tidd + Bessant 2014 + 2021, Alan Brown, HBR, MIT SMR, CMR (+ others).
You can re-use the references and what you have written about ONE element in Assignment 1 in Assignment 2
Element Key themes: What is important: What
can be difficult
Literature sources (Using APA
referencing)
Search
Select
Agile implementation
Value capture + business modelling
Innovation strategy
Innovative organization
Proactive linkages (incl. ecosystems
here)
Learning: Evolving capabilities
Guidance: Examples of Recommendation Tables
Be persuasive ………..Seek implementation
Example A
Recommendation Objective Specific actions Resource/Budget Owner
Example B
Focus area:
Strategy; Learning;
Linkages;
Processes;
Organization
Prioritized
recommendations
Rationale Next steps Resource
allocation
Decisions to
progress
Example D (weaker)
Area for improvement Recommended
improvement action
Next steps Priority
Example C: Works very well
Challenges
identified
Prioritized
recommendations
Future Benefits Next steps Resource
allocation
Decisions to
progress
Report Writing
Guidance
Use tables to synthesise your thinking. They can be particularly useful when summarising the literature review
and recommendations. They help you “save” word count as well.
Recommendation tables: Consider having next steps, decisions, RAG (red/amber/green) or other practical
headings to help structure your recommendations
Use titles – in bold – to guide the reader through your document.
Use graphics, key frameworks and diagrams (visuals) from articles, to illustrate your writing.
Use bullet points, to write punchily and succinctly.
Use colour and white space to increase the impact of your document. An interesting visual on the cover can
increase the impact of a document.
Follow the guidelines on APA referencing:
https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/2107634/mod_resource/content/1/A%20Guide%20to%20Citing%2C%20Referencing%2
0and%20Avoiding%20Plagiarism%20V.3%20with%20short%20guide.pdf
Number of references: Build on the material on ELE (e.g. Strategic Innovation Management – Tidd & Bessant), and
consider 20 – 30 references
Knowledge source Where to find it
Module Reading List: Structured by theme https://rl.talis.com/3/exeter/lists/EE852
30E-D71E-C833-2ED2-
D5F665D717D7.html lang=en&login=1
Harvard Business Review In “Business Source Complete” in the
Library (Under “B” in the database
section)
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/
Sloan Management Review In “Proquest Business Premium
Collection” in the Library (Under “P” in
the database section)
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/
California Management Review In “Sage Journals” in the Library (Under
“S” in the database section). You will
need to search under “Management &
Organization Studies
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/
Strategic Innovation Management
(Tidd + Bessant 2014)
Chapters currently on ELE: Buy on
Amazon
McKinsey, BCG, PWC, Deloitte all have
useful things to say – but they are all trying
to sell something as well – so be wary. OK to
cite.
Online search!
Also give good examples of how to
design and write reports.
Word Count
2,000 words +/-10%
Guidance
The following content is NOT included in a final word count:
Front cover sheet
Abstract (if included)
Title
Contents page
Reference list
Bibliography
Footnotes (these should be used for references only; those containing large amounts of text will be treated as if they were
part of the main body of text.
Appendices
Words used in tables, graphs and other forms of data presentation (including titles of figures – which are required)
Equations
The following content IS included in a final word count:
Main body of text
In text quotations
In text references
Section headings
Footnotes containing large amounts of text