Outline

Overview

In this unit, students learn to transform creative ideas into impactful, sustainable strategies that drive innovation and digital transformation across industries and society. Blending innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking, the unit adopts a challenge-based, experiential learning approach, where students explore how open, social and digital innovation—enabled by emerging technologies—can be harnessed to address real-world business and societal challenges. Students apply tools such as design thinking and lean startup to incubate, validate, and pitch ideas for business and social ventures. Through a hands-on, collaborative approach, they learn to build innovative, viable strategies by integrating opportunity discovery, creative ideation, and business model generation into a cohesive process. By the end of the unit, students will be able to design, test and communicate innovation strategies that generate both commercial and social impact. The unit builds creative confidence, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving - equipping students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to innovate across startups, corporations and other organisational contexts in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	DMBA6001
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Lena Gan, lena.gan@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Portfolio or journal	Individual Project Opportunity discovery and human-centred insight portfolio	30%	Week 04 Due date: 30 Aug 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 09 Sep 2026	2000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Innovation Sprint Students work in interdisciplinary teams to develop and prototype an innovative product, service, process, or organisational solution	40%	Week 08 Due date: 27 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 07 Oct 2026	5000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation of the Group assessment + Q&A Individual Strategic Reflection of the Group Assessment + Q&A	30%	Week 09 Due date: 18 Oct 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 28 Oct 2026	15 minutes (7 min oral pitch+8 min Q&A)	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Portfolio or Journal: Students to document their end-to-end design thinking process. This requires evidence of primary user research, synthesis of latent needs into actionable problem statements, and a reflective record of how user feedback informed strategic iterations.

Students will deliver a curated digital portfolio of research data, synthesis artifacts, and iterative logs.

Written work: In interdisciplinary teams, students develop an innovative product, service, or process solution. The submission must include a detailed strategic rationale for the chosen technology, a visual prototype or operational blueprint, and an implementation feasibility analysis.

Presentation: Students to provide a critical analysis of their contribution to the team project, applying team-development frameworks to evaluate their performance. This is followed by a Q&A as a structured reflection.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per University policy

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Innovation & creativity	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 01	Innovation & creativity	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 02	Innovation Strategy in turbulent environments	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 02	Innovation strategy in turbulent environments	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	Innovation and customer co-creation	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 03	Innovation and customer co-creation	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	Open innovation and crowdsourcing	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 04	Open innovation and crowdsourcing	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	Digital technologies, platforms and ecosystems	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 05	Digital technologies, platforms and ecosystems	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Sustainability, social innovation and social entrepreneurship	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 06	Sustainability, social innovation and social entepreneurship	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	Business model innovation	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 07	Business model innovation	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 08	Entrepreneurial pitching and storytelling	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 08	Entrepreneurial pitching and storytelling	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 09	Strategic venturing and corporate innovation	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 09	Strategic venturing and corporate innovation	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 10	Making corporate-startup collaboration work	Self-directed learning (2 hr)
Week 10	Making corporate–startup collaboration work	Workshop (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply innovation theories and frameworks to solve real-world business and social challenges, and create sustainable value
LO2. identify customer needs, market trends and opportunities to formulate innovative solutions
LO3. apply design thinking and lean startup methodologies to develop and validate creative ideas with commercial or social impact
LO4. analyse customer and market insights to refine value propositions and business models for innovation that is novel, feasible, and viable
LO5. collaborate in diverse teams to incubate, develop, and pitch innovative solutions clearly and persuasively to key stakeholders.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit is being offered for the first time in 2026.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

DMBA6006: Innovation and Creativity: Ideas to Impact

Semester 2, 2026 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links