Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Leadership

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Leadership is comprised of three core units. These units are generally broken down into ten to twelve smaller, bite-sized modules for you to complete. If you choose to study all three units at once over a typical term duration of 12 weeks on a full-time basis, this equates to six months of full-time study for all units. After enrolling, you'll have access to all three units, and you can work through these in any order. 

Assessments

Assessments are completed at your own pace - no deadlines or due dates. Your assessments will range from portfolio activities, online quizzes, case studies and video presentations.

Unit information

You must complete the following units:

• BUSN20022 Disruption, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (6 credit points) 
• BUSN20031 Social Innovation (6 credit points)
• BUSN28002 Innovation Project (12 credit points)

Unit overviews

Disruption, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

This unit examines the dynamics and interconnectedness of business disruption, innovation and entrepreneurship. ‘Disruptive innovation’ theory is considered the most influential business idea of the 21st century. The phrase was originally popularised by Clayton M. Christensen and colleagues in 1995. Ultimately, it denotes an innovation that generates a unique market and value proposition capable of disturbing established markets and value networks by displacing conventional market leaders, products and coalitions. Disruptive innovations are evident in both established and advanced economies at either end of complex markets. Nevertheless, while an innovation is revolutionary, it may not necessarily be disruptive. Entrepreneurs who bring disruptive innovations to the market are not necessarily disruptors. Business environments created by market leaders do not tend to encourage the pursuit of disruptive innovations or entrepreneurial initiatives. Primarily, this is because these products or services are initially unprofitable and divert scarce organisational resources from competing with existing competitors. Disruptive processes often require longer lead times to get to market than conventional approaches. In addition, the associated risks are higher than is evident for incremental approaches to innovation. Once deployed to the market, disruptive innovations achieve a faster penetration and higher impact into established markets. You will be challenged to conceive of environments where disruptive innovations and entrepreneurship can flourish. Case studies will be used to provide exemplars of entrepreneurs generating market value.

Social Innovation

This unit deals with how organisations and individuals confront the challenges of intransigent social problems. A basis for social innovation theory and practice will be explored. Social innovation solutions often work where traditional solutions fail, because social problems have become inured to traditional solutions. Social innovation solutions are designed to be relatively low-cost, sustainable, and disruptive. You will be introduced to design thinking and collaborative ways of using an eco-system approach to resolve complex problems by offering ways of providing social benefit. An introduction will be provided to the concept, practice and impact of measurement in a social innovation context. A grounding in empirical evidence will be provided to support effective change initiatives. A case study analysis approach will used to enable you to develop the ability to assess and design solutions to enduring global social issues. Social innovation’s value is usually available to society rather than to individuals or individual organisations. A sophisticated understanding of how social innovation fits into the role of transformative global leadership will be provided. Finally, you will become equipped and adept at applying problem-solving skills, active/participatory research skills, and the notion of fast prototyping to ‘live test’ solutions.

Innovation Project

This unit enables you to design and lead innovative projects that have a social impact. You will research a social issue or problem and apply your innovation knowledge and expertise to design a project proposal that addresses this issue. You will then implement the proposed project and evaluate its social impact. You will draw upon your area of specialisation and advanced knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurship, applying what you have learned in a practical and real-life context to address social change. The project will be designed in consultation with an organisation or social change group. You may focus on challenges within your existing workplace, or professional life or be involved in one of CQUniversity's social innovation initiatives.

Credit transfer information

If you have already completed a study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

Majors and minors are not applicable to this course.

This course has no residential schools.