VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Open- and User Innovation
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:52
Abstract
The course introduces the students to the long-standing tradition of actively involving users of technology and other knowledge-intensive products in the development and production process, and through own cases they develop an entrepreneurial understanding of product development under distributed, user-centered, or open innovation strategies.
Objective
The course includes both lectures and exercises alternately. The goal is to understand the opportunity of user innovation for management and develop strategies to harness the value of user-developed ideas and contributions for firms and other organizations. The students actively participate in discussions during the lectures and contribute presentations of case studies during the exercises. The combination should allow to compare theory with practical cases from various industries. The course presents and builds upon recent research and challenges the students to devise innovation strategies that take into account the availability of user expertise, free and public knowledge, and the interaction with communities that span beyond one organization. Performance assessment will be: a written group essay based on the open/user innovation case that participants will research and present during the block seminar (including the slides). Each group will have to hand in a 15-20 page essay, details on the required format and the content will be distributed during the course. Active lass participation is required.
Content
This course on user innovation extends courses on knowledge management and innovation as well as marketing. The students are introduced to the long-standing tradition of actively involving users of technology and other knowledge-intensive products in the development and production process, and through own cases they develop an entrepreneurial understanding of product development under distributed, user-centered, or open innovation strategies. Theoretical underpinnings taught in the course include models of innovation, the structuration of technology, and an introduction to entrepreneurship.
Resources
Lecture Notes
The slides of the lectures are made available and updated continuously through Moodle.
Literature
Relevant literature for the course includes slides and reading assignments. Papers will be made available through a corresponding Moodle group.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 60
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Open- and User Innovation
Block course
The Kick-off event will take place online via Zoom, on September 16, 2026 at 3pm. The link will be communicated shortly before.
Please note that this lecture was previously offered as a service course under the number "351-0555-00 Open- and User Innovation".
From HS 2026 onwards, it will be offered under a new course number: "363-1206-00 Open- and User Innovation", as an MSc elective course.
Students who have already completed the course under the previous number may not register again.
|
No time listed | 23 h semesterly |
Offered In
-
-
Core Courses (The Core Courses in the Master’s program Mechanical Engineering listed below are indicative and include courses designed by the Department at the Master's level. With the approval of the tutor, students may also select Master's-level courses offered by other departments at ETH. These courses will be marked as non-regular in the LAG, but their categorization as Core Courses is possible if included in the approved LAG.)
-
-
Management, Technology and Economics Master (Welcome and Introduction to MSc ETH MTEC 14 September 2026, 14.00 - 16.15, Room HG E 1.1)
-