Technology and Innovation

We are a multidisciplinary group of globally recognised scholars with core expertise in digital and other technology-based innovations. The group’s work is underpinned by the long established Cass Learning Laboratory (Professor Clive Holtham), Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice (Professor Sara Jones), and the newly established Centre for Healthcare Innovation Research (Professor Harry Scarbrough).

Research

Our research covers the whole spectrum of topics in technology and innovation, including:

  • Digital technologies and strategic and organisational innovations
  • Bridging the innovation-execution gap in the digital economy
  • Creativity and how digital technologies can support it
  • Global innovation management and the innovation process
  • Digital technologies impact on the development of science- and technology-intensive products
  • Digital transformation of health and social care
  • Digital technologies for teaching and learning
  • Impact of digital innovations on competition

Our research has been published in leading journals including Academy of Management Discoveries, Academy of Management Perspectives, British Journal of Management, Communications of the ACM, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Harvard Business Review, Information Systems Research, Human Relations, Journal of Operations Management, Management Science, MIS Quarterly, Organization Studies, and Research Policy. We collaborate with leading academics from science, engineering and medicine, and engage closely with business leaders and policy makers through applied research, consultancy and executive development programmes.

We welcome PhD applications both in the full-time and executive programmes.  Interested candidates are encouraged to contact members of the group for an informal discussion.

Teaching

Our research informs our growing teaching portfolio. Our group has contributed to the development of innovative and successful Masters in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership, and our members teach courses across all levels including digital technologies and business innovation, creativity, design thinking and technology and innovation management.

Our pedagogic research has informed a highly innovative approach to management learning which we have applied across our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.  Our teaching of the practice of management on our new cluster of BSc courses in Business Management, on the previous Management and Business Studies undergraduate courses, and on the MSc in Management, prepares students to deal with an uncertain and fast-changing business environment by setting students a range of challenges.  We have developed a large-scale business simulation, Millcaster Global Industries, within which first year undergraduates address issues characterised by the term VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity).  Examples of our teaching include:

  • Digital Technologies and Business Innovation - core module for the Bayes Full Time MBA and Executive MBAs programmes
  • Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship pathway (in collaboration with Bayes’ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group)  within the Bachelor degree in Business Management
  • Technologies in Creativity and Innovation - core module for the Masters in Innovation Creativity and Leadership run by the Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice
  • Business Economics – core module for Bayes Executive MBAs programme examining the economics underlying platform-based competition
  • Management Lab and Business Skills – core module for the BSc Business Management addressing key management concepts, relating these to contemporary business challenges, and providing a base for students to develop their own interests beyond the curriculum
  • Virtual Organisation – elective module for final year undergraduates which addresses the intersection between technological innovation and changing patterns of work
  • Technology and Innovation Management – core module for the BSC in Business Management focusing on technology based innovation as a source of economic development and competitive advantage.

Recent research projects and industry engagement

Our group has been very successful in winning substantial external research funding from a variety of sources, including ESRC, EPSRC, ARHC, Innovate UK, the EU and from industries.  Our recent research projects include:

  • SCAMPI: Self-Care Advice, Monitoring, Planning and Intervention [2017-2020], Funded by EPSRC 
    Total funding £943,000
    Sponsored by EPSRC
    Prof. Neil Maiden (Principal Investigator) and Prof. Feng Li (Co-Investigator)

  • INJECT – Innovative Journalism: Enhanced Creativity Tools [2016-2019]
    Total funding €1M
    Sponsored by EU H2020 Innovation Action
    Prof. Neil Maiden (Project Coordinator and Principal Investigator)
  • DCHub –The Digital Creativity Hub [2015-2017]
    Total funding [£5M + Co-Funding from Business Partners]
    Sponsored by RCUK and 80 Business Partners
    Prof. Feng Li (Business Theme Leader)
  • Boosting Resilience – Survival Skills for the New Normal [2017-2019]
    Total funding £460K
    Sponsored by Arts Council England
    Dr. Sara Jones (Principal Investigator)
  • NEMOG – New Economic Models and Opportunities for Digital Games [2013-2016]
    Total funding £1.2M
    Sponsored by EPSRC & ESRC Joint Programme
    Prof. Feng Li (Business Theme Leader)
  • CareVBook ­– Digital Apps to Capture and Assess Care Experiences [2016-2018]
    Total funding £240K Sponsored by Innovate UK – KTP Programme
    Prof. Neil Maiden (Principal Investigator)

Some of our thought-leadership projects are sponsored by industries.  Recent examples include:

  • The Future of Video [2015-16]
    Professor Feng Li in association with Imagen Ltd and FTI Strategy Consulting & Research

More information on our group’s research projects is available on the personal pages of our experts.

Technology and Innovation Experts