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Course syllabus - Trendspotting in Theory and Practice

Scope

7.5 credits

Course code

INO127

Valid from

Autumn semester 2023

Education level

First cycle

Progressive Specialisation

G1N (First cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements)

Main area(s)

Innovation Technology

School

School of Innovation, Design and Engineering

Ratified

2023-01-19

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

    • Ratified date: 2025-04-01
    • Latest update: 2025-05-27

    Articles

    Holopainen, M., & Toivonen, M.,

    Weak signals: Ansoff today

    s. 198-205

    URL: Link

    Futures, 44(3),

    Milshina, Y., & Vishnevskiy, K.,

    Potentials of collaborative foresight for SMEs

    s. 701-717

    URL: Link

    Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 30(6),

    Saritas, S.

    The Big Picture trends, drivers, wild cards, discontinuities and weak signals

    URL: Link

    Futures : the Journal of Policy, Planning and Futures Studies, 43(3),

    Hines, Andy

    Evolution of framework foresight

    ISSN 1463-6689

    URL: Link

    Foresight, VOL. 22 NO. 5/6, pp. 643-651, © Emerald Publishing Limited,

    Malmelin, Nando; Pihlajamaa, Matti; Komonen, Pauli

    "Building a future-proof company Four cornerstones of transformative corporate foresight" in The European Business Review

    URL: Link

    .,

    Gordon, Adam; Rohrbeck, Rene; Schwarz, Jan

    Escaping the Faster Horses Trap: Bridging Strategic Foresight and Design-Based Innovation

    Technology Innovation Management Review, (Volume 9, Issue 8),

    Rohrbeck, R.; Gemünden, H. G.

    Corporate foresight: Its three roles in enhancing the innovation capacity of a firm.

    This is a preprint. Final article can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2010.06.019

    Technological forecasting and social change, 78(2), 231-243.,

    Cunha, M.P.E.; Palma, P.; Costa, N.G.

    Fear of foresight: knowledge and ignorance in organizational foresight

    Futures, 38, pp. 942-955,

    Kononiuk, A.; Sacio-Szymańska, A.; Gáspár, J.

    How do companies envisage the future? Functional foresight approaches

    21-33

    URL: Link

    Engineeering Management in Production and Services, 9(4),

    van der Duin, P.; Trott, P.; Marzi, G.

    Tomorrow is already here: Exploring how corporate foresight can contribute to ambidexterity

    pp.187-200

    URL: Link

    Strategic Change, 33(3),

    Miscellaneous

    Ytterligare läsmaterial kommer att distribueras via Canvas.

    Additional reading material will be distributed via Canvas.

    .,

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide basic skills in trendspotting and contextual analysis with relevance for innovation and development.

Learning outcomes

After completed the course, the student shall be be able to:
1. explain basic concepts, methods and models in trend spotting and contextual analysis,
2. plan and carry out systematic scanning- and analysis work, as well as consider ethical aspects in the work,
3. explain and discuss the function of trend scanning in innovation and development processes,
4. evaluate the quality of sources and assess their relevance regarding reliability in decision-making,
5. reflect on and discuss the importance of trends and tendencies for innovation and development.

Course content

Theoretical concepts, models and methods
Relationship between pre-understanding and images of the future
To evaluate the quality of sources
Methods for signal scanning, analysis and foresight reporting
Open and collaborative signal scanning
Ethics in contextual analysis and innovation
Contextual analysis as a basis for decisions in innovation- and development processes

Requirements

General entry requirements

Examination

Assignment (INL1), 1 credit, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G), (examines learning outcomes 1 and 5)
Assignment (INL2), 2 credits, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG), (examines learning outcomes 2 and 4)
Assignment (INL3), 3 credits, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG), (examines learning outcomes 3 and 5)
Exercise (OVN1),1,5 credits, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G), (examines learning outcome 2 and 4)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Three-grade scale

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps 4 credits with INO106 Trendspotting in Theory and Practice, 4 credits with KIT463 Trendspotting, 4 credits with KIN463 Trendspotting, 4 credits with INO101 Trendspotting, 4 credits with INO115 Contextual Awareness for Innovation and 4 credits with INO238 Foresight for Innovation.