Interdisciplinary Think Tank - Social Innovations
- Faculty
Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences
- Version
Version 1 of 28.03.2024.
- Module identifier
22M1124
- Module level
Master
- Language of instruction
German
- ECTS credit points and grading
5.0
- Module frequency
only winterterm
- Duration
1 semester
- Brief description
Students are familiarized with the problems, challenges, and specifics of NPOs. This is a practice-oriented seminar that is largely developed in collaboration with students. This think tank focuses on the area of social innovation and social entrepreneurship. The strategic management of nonprofit-organisations is not taught functionally in this module, but by encouraging students to experience and experiment with the topic themselves.
- Teaching and learning outcomes
Students undertake practice-oriented explorations of specific problems and challenges faced by NPOs in various fields of action (cultural, social, environmental, etc.) at the national, regional, and local levels, and analyze and address them with reference to the theoretical knowledge gained.
- Students develop analyses and solutions for practical problems in the third sector in topics of their choice.
- They focus in particular on theories and models of social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
- During the module, tools such as design thinking and the business model canvas are used to develop social innovation.
- Students set up their own social enterprise.
- Overall workload
The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").
- Teaching and learning methods
Lecturer based learning Hours of workload Type of teaching Media implementation Concretization 30 Seminar Presence - Lecturer independent learning Hours of workload Type of teaching Media implementation Concretization 35 Work in small groups - 40 Exam preparation - 30 Study of literature - 15 Peer-Feedback -
- Graded examination
- Project Report, oral or
- Project Report, written or
- Placement Report, written
- Exam duration and scope
Oral project report: approx. 10-30 minutes
Written project report: approx. 10-30 pages
Written project report: approx. 10-30 pagesThe requirements are specified in the respective lectures.
- Recommended prior knowledge
Module 1 and 2 of this special focus
- Knowledge Broadening
Students are aware of the importance of social innovation and social entrepreneurship, and their relevance to the NPO sector. They are able to relate this knowledge to the policy work of NPOs and the importance of this work for the social context.
- Knowledge deepening
Students understand the differences between nonprofit-organisations, social enterprises, and hybrid forms of entrepreneurship. They are familiar with the models and the steps involved in finding strategic solutions and establishing an appropriate enterprise.
- Knowledge Understanding
Students are able to analyze the prerequisites for NPOs to operate successfully under different framework conditions. They are able to use appropriate methods to arrive at innovative solutions.
- Application and Transfer
Based on their knowledge, students recognize, record, and analyse the activities of NPOs operating nationally, regionally, and internationally. Building on this, they are able to propose their own solutions and adapt and create social innovations, taking into account a systemic approach.
- Academic Innovation
Students use models and theories of social innovation, implementing them with practice-relevant methods such as design thinking.
- Communication and Cooperation
Students present their results orally or in writing, demonstrating the explanatory power of the results. They develop a narrative that aptly showcases the enterprise they have established and the social innovation they have arrived at.
- Academic Self-Conception / Professionalism
The module is designed to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset in students. It widens the horizon of thinking, and enables students to take responsibility for the learning process and to show initiative.
- Literature
Rajasekhar, D.; Manjula, R.; Paranjothi, T. (2020): Cooperatives and Social Innovation, Experiences from the Asia Pacific Region, Springer, Singapur
Kapitel 2 (Rajasekhar, D.: Concept and Theories of Social Innvoation, p. 15-30)
Portales, Luis (2019): Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneruship, Fundamentsals, Concepts and Tools, Springer SchweizAnheier, Helmut; Toepler, Stefan (2020): The Routledge Companion to Nonprofit Management, Routledge, New York (especially chapter 31 - 35
Osterwalder, A. / Pigneur, Y.: Business Model Generation: Ein Handbuch für Vision?re, Spielver?nderer und Herausforderer, Frankfurt 2011 Schwarz, S.:
Social Entrepreneurship Projekte, Wiesbaden 2014 Hackenberg, H. (Hrsg):
Social Entrepreneurship - Social Business: Für die Gesellschaft unternehmen: Für die Gesellschaft unternehmen, Wiesbaden 2011
- Linkage to other modules
This module is in concrete dependance of the first two modules of the focus.
- Applicability in study programs
- Management in Nonprofit-Organisations
- Management in Nonprofit-Organisations M.A. (01.09.2024)
- Person responsible for the module
- Birnkraut, Gesa
- Teachers
- Birnkraut, Gesa