Strategy and innovation management 2025 - 2026
Exam
What is important to know?
Mandatory papers and lectures (NOT recommended papers and everything
before the break in session 1)
Anything in these can be included in the exam
But more specifically:
About articles:
Understand main findings & make linkages
Understand line of reasoning hypotheses
Digital, closed-book.
10 (sub-)questions, one overall question per lecture. +-70 Points total to be
obtained (around 10 per lecture).
Questions have an upper word limit (generally between 100 and 300 words
maximum)
1) Weekly lectures
2) Weekly debates (in groups)
3) Essay based on the debate (in group
Written exam(60%): min 5.5
Group exam(20%)
Weekly debate(20%)
Het totaal cijfer moet minstens een 5.5 zijn
During the essay it could be both sides, cover all relevant arguments
, - The groups need to prepare their arguments in advance by searching for articles that
give support to their position.
- The groups will be evaluated on the strength of their arguments, on the manner that
they present their position, and on the way they are able to rebut the arguments (i.e.,
find counterarguments) of the opposing group.
The standard structure of each debate is the following:
• A brief introduction by the lecturer
• A vote where the students indicate their initial stand on the statement
• First group presents their arguments (in favor): 6 minutes
• Second group presents their arguments (against): 6 minutes
• First rebuttal (both groups): 2x2 minutes
• Second rebuttal (both groups): 2x2 minutes
• A vote where the students indicate their final stand on the statement
4.3 Assignment
All the groups need to deliver a final report based on their debate. This final report should have
the structure of a literature review paper. The following paper can be taken as a useful model:
“Bogers, M., Afuah, A., and Bastian, B. (2010) “Users as Innovators: A Review, Critique, and
Future Research Directions,” Journal of Management, 36 (4): 857-875.” In the essay, the
students need to develop the arguments and theories that they used during the debate.
However, while writing the report the groups should not take a partial view of the problem and
should present an overall and neutral description of the existing literature.
,Requirements
The maximum number of pages for the body text of the final paper is 10 (Times New Roman,
Size 12, line spacing: double). This excludes the title page, preface, abstract, index, references,
and appendices.
Structure
The essay should include the following sections. Number of pages per section is an indication
(10 pages). maximum overall is the only hard limitation).
Title page (1 page; not included in page limit)
Provide an attractive and informative paper title, your group number, the names of all members
including your student numbers, and a statement that each group member contributed to the
assignment. Provide a 150 word abstract that summarizes your report.
Introduction (+-1-2 pages)
The introduction chapter (Section 1 in your essay) introduces the topic to the reader.
Make sure that you include the following:
1) provide a sound motivation of the topic;
2) explicitly explain the gap that the essay intends to cover in the literature;
3) explain the research question and the goals of the essay (e.g. actionable advice for
managers, recommendations for practitioners or avenues for future research) as well as the
audience targeted by the essay (e.g. practitioners, policymakers, scholars);
4) provide a preview of the methodology used and the main results;
5) explain how the remaining of the essay unfolds.
Literature review (+-1-2 pages)
Provide a short literature review of articles that have also studied your research question.
Perhaps there are other literature reviews covering similar topics. Perhaps there are related
articles providing general overviews. Explain how this related work compares to your essay and
how you advance the literature.
Methodology (+-1-2 pages)
Explain clearly how the literature review is carried out. It might be a good idea to adopt standard
practices in other literature reviews. For example, you could carry out an objective search by
restricting to a set of predetermined journals. In such a case, how do you choose the subset of
relevant journals and which keywords are used to come up with a final list of articles within such
journals? Alternatively, you could carry out a more subjective search based on articles that
seem particularly relevant given your topic. Explain how the selected list of articles is treated
and analyzed to address the research question stated in the introduction. Justify your choices.
Results (+-3-5 pages)
Provide an overview of the main findings stemming from the literature review. This section
should not just be a summary of articles. It should have a clear purpose and direction aimed at
answering the research question stated in the literature review. The arguments should be sound
, and well grounded. Decide how to best present the analysis to answer the research question. It
could be a good idea to include a table summarizing the main findings.
Conclusion (+-1 page)
Give a short summary of your findings and highlight the implications that your study provide.
What do your findings mean for theory and what does it imply for practitioners.
References
Please use APA-style referencing.
Appendix
In the Appendix you have to include a brief discussion of the cooperation process in your
student group and how each group member contributed to the assignment (max. 1 A4 page).
Also, include all the tables and figures in the appendix
About the Group Report
• In the report, you are expected to adopt a more balanced perspective
and address a neutral research question (RQ), such as:
– How do working-from-home and working-at-the-office influence creativity and
innovation?
– How do intrinsic and extrinsic rewards stimulate creativity?
• The report should take the form of a literature review that synthesizes
existing knowledge. This involves:
– Identifying consistent empirical findings – areas where the literature shows
clear consensus (e.g., similar effect across studies).
– Highlighting mixed or contradictory findings – and discussing potential
moderators or boundary conditions that may explain these inconsistencies.
– Pointing out methodological shortcomings – such as limitations in research
design, data types, or measurement approaches – and identifying avenues for
future research (e.g., new and promising research methodologies).
ber of points attained out of the maximum possible number of points (60 in this case).
1. Good use of literature
2. Arguments are sound and MECE (mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive)
3. High-quality slides (lean, polished, visually appealing, well structured)
4. Good time management (all minutes used without running into extra time)
5. Clarity of presentation and capacity to engage the audience
6. Ability to respond adequately to the other group
5.2 Assignment
The groups need to deliver a final report related to the presentation (see 2 for the deadlines).
The
Exam
What is important to know?
Mandatory papers and lectures (NOT recommended papers and everything
before the break in session 1)
Anything in these can be included in the exam
But more specifically:
About articles:
Understand main findings & make linkages
Understand line of reasoning hypotheses
Digital, closed-book.
10 (sub-)questions, one overall question per lecture. +-70 Points total to be
obtained (around 10 per lecture).
Questions have an upper word limit (generally between 100 and 300 words
maximum)
1) Weekly lectures
2) Weekly debates (in groups)
3) Essay based on the debate (in group
Written exam(60%): min 5.5
Group exam(20%)
Weekly debate(20%)
Het totaal cijfer moet minstens een 5.5 zijn
During the essay it could be both sides, cover all relevant arguments
, - The groups need to prepare their arguments in advance by searching for articles that
give support to their position.
- The groups will be evaluated on the strength of their arguments, on the manner that
they present their position, and on the way they are able to rebut the arguments (i.e.,
find counterarguments) of the opposing group.
The standard structure of each debate is the following:
• A brief introduction by the lecturer
• A vote where the students indicate their initial stand on the statement
• First group presents their arguments (in favor): 6 minutes
• Second group presents their arguments (against): 6 minutes
• First rebuttal (both groups): 2x2 minutes
• Second rebuttal (both groups): 2x2 minutes
• A vote where the students indicate their final stand on the statement
4.3 Assignment
All the groups need to deliver a final report based on their debate. This final report should have
the structure of a literature review paper. The following paper can be taken as a useful model:
“Bogers, M., Afuah, A., and Bastian, B. (2010) “Users as Innovators: A Review, Critique, and
Future Research Directions,” Journal of Management, 36 (4): 857-875.” In the essay, the
students need to develop the arguments and theories that they used during the debate.
However, while writing the report the groups should not take a partial view of the problem and
should present an overall and neutral description of the existing literature.
,Requirements
The maximum number of pages for the body text of the final paper is 10 (Times New Roman,
Size 12, line spacing: double). This excludes the title page, preface, abstract, index, references,
and appendices.
Structure
The essay should include the following sections. Number of pages per section is an indication
(10 pages). maximum overall is the only hard limitation).
Title page (1 page; not included in page limit)
Provide an attractive and informative paper title, your group number, the names of all members
including your student numbers, and a statement that each group member contributed to the
assignment. Provide a 150 word abstract that summarizes your report.
Introduction (+-1-2 pages)
The introduction chapter (Section 1 in your essay) introduces the topic to the reader.
Make sure that you include the following:
1) provide a sound motivation of the topic;
2) explicitly explain the gap that the essay intends to cover in the literature;
3) explain the research question and the goals of the essay (e.g. actionable advice for
managers, recommendations for practitioners or avenues for future research) as well as the
audience targeted by the essay (e.g. practitioners, policymakers, scholars);
4) provide a preview of the methodology used and the main results;
5) explain how the remaining of the essay unfolds.
Literature review (+-1-2 pages)
Provide a short literature review of articles that have also studied your research question.
Perhaps there are other literature reviews covering similar topics. Perhaps there are related
articles providing general overviews. Explain how this related work compares to your essay and
how you advance the literature.
Methodology (+-1-2 pages)
Explain clearly how the literature review is carried out. It might be a good idea to adopt standard
practices in other literature reviews. For example, you could carry out an objective search by
restricting to a set of predetermined journals. In such a case, how do you choose the subset of
relevant journals and which keywords are used to come up with a final list of articles within such
journals? Alternatively, you could carry out a more subjective search based on articles that
seem particularly relevant given your topic. Explain how the selected list of articles is treated
and analyzed to address the research question stated in the introduction. Justify your choices.
Results (+-3-5 pages)
Provide an overview of the main findings stemming from the literature review. This section
should not just be a summary of articles. It should have a clear purpose and direction aimed at
answering the research question stated in the literature review. The arguments should be sound
, and well grounded. Decide how to best present the analysis to answer the research question. It
could be a good idea to include a table summarizing the main findings.
Conclusion (+-1 page)
Give a short summary of your findings and highlight the implications that your study provide.
What do your findings mean for theory and what does it imply for practitioners.
References
Please use APA-style referencing.
Appendix
In the Appendix you have to include a brief discussion of the cooperation process in your
student group and how each group member contributed to the assignment (max. 1 A4 page).
Also, include all the tables and figures in the appendix
About the Group Report
• In the report, you are expected to adopt a more balanced perspective
and address a neutral research question (RQ), such as:
– How do working-from-home and working-at-the-office influence creativity and
innovation?
– How do intrinsic and extrinsic rewards stimulate creativity?
• The report should take the form of a literature review that synthesizes
existing knowledge. This involves:
– Identifying consistent empirical findings – areas where the literature shows
clear consensus (e.g., similar effect across studies).
– Highlighting mixed or contradictory findings – and discussing potential
moderators or boundary conditions that may explain these inconsistencies.
– Pointing out methodological shortcomings – such as limitations in research
design, data types, or measurement approaches – and identifying avenues for
future research (e.g., new and promising research methodologies).
ber of points attained out of the maximum possible number of points (60 in this case).
1. Good use of literature
2. Arguments are sound and MECE (mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive)
3. High-quality slides (lean, polished, visually appealing, well structured)
4. Good time management (all minutes used without running into extra time)
5. Clarity of presentation and capacity to engage the audience
6. Ability to respond adequately to the other group
5.2 Assignment
The groups need to deliver a final report related to the presentation (see 2 for the deadlines).
The
