theonline.mba
← Back to TEC 301

TEC 301 · Unit 1 of 6

Innovation Foundations

Technology, Innovation and Digital Business

Start unit · 5 lessons →

Learning objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

  • Apply frameworks from \
  • Apply the frameworks in "Innovation Foundations" to a real management decision
  • Make progress on your Technology, Innovation and Digital Business applied project applied project

Why this matters

Innovation Foundations is essential to Technology, Innovation and Digital Business. Lessons build fluency with anchor-company examples, worked problems, and assessments on the unit page.

Lesson

Unit overview

Complete all 5 lessons in order. Each lesson follows the program authoring standard: conceptual prose, worked examples, practice problems, and managerial judgment prompts. Finish unit exercises and the knowledge check before marking the unit complete.

Connection to applied work

This unit feeds directly into Technology, Innovation and Digital Business applied project. As you read, capture notes, examples, and data you can reuse in that deliverable. Strong students finish each unit with a draft section of their project, not just highlights.

Practice

  1. Write a one-page summary of this unit in your own words without looking at the lesson.
  2. Find a real company example (public filing, news article, or personal experience) that illustrates the main concept.
  3. Draft one paragraph recommending an action a manager should take based on this unit.
  4. Add at least three terms from this unit to your course glossary.

Knowledge check

Answer these without notes before marking the unit complete:

  1. What is the central idea of "Innovation Foundations"?
  2. What mistake do beginners most often make when applying this material?
  3. How does this unit help you complete Technology, Innovation and Digital Business applied project?
  4. What is one decision you face this month where this unit applies?

Key takeaways

  • Apply frameworks from \
  • Business concepts only matter when they change a decision.
  • Your TEC 301 assessment (Innovation, digital economics, platforms, transformation, and technology governance.) rewards applied understanding, not memorization.

Unit assessment

Complete each section below. Score 80%+ on the quiz to finish this unit's assessment.

40% applied project35% knowledge checks25% reflections

Exercises

Apply what you learned in this unit with structured practice.

ExerciseApplied practice: Innovation Foundations45 min
Complete a focused practice exercise on **Innovation Foundations**. 1. Choose a real company, product, or situation you know. 2. Apply one core framework from this unit to analyze it. 3. Write your analysis in 300–500 words with a clear recommendation. 4. Cite at least one credible source.

Deliverable

300–500 word analysis document saved to your portfolio under TEC 301.

Rubric

  • • Framework applied correctly (not just named)
  • • Specific evidence from a real example
  • • Clear recommendation with tradeoffs acknowledged
  • • Professional writing with source citation
ExerciseDrill: Innovation Foundations30 min
Work through the practice problems in the unit lesson without looking at notes. Then check your work against the lesson and write a short reflection: - What you got right - One mistake you caught - One concept to review before the next unit

Deliverable

Problem solutions + 150-word reflection in your TEC 301 workbook.

Rubric

  • • Attempted all practice items before checking answers
  • • Honest reflection on errors
  • • Identifies a specific review action

Case analysis

Analyze a case using frameworks from this unit.

CaseCase analysis: Innovation Foundations60 min
Analyze a real business case through the lens of **Innovation Foundations**. Choose a public company event, HBR-style case, or documented decision. **Deliverable structure:** 1. Situation summary (150 words) 2. Analysis using this unit's frameworks (400 words) 3. Recommendation (150 words) 4. Risks and what would change your mind

Deliverable

2-page case write-up in your portfolio.

Rubric

  • • Case facts are accurate and sourced
  • • Analysis uses unit frameworks explicitly
  • • Recommendation is justified with tradeoffs
  • • Risks are specific, not generic

Knowledge quiz

Check your understanding before marking the unit complete.

1. Nexa classifies a faster Manhattan WMS connector as primarily which innovation type?

2. Nexa routing v4 shows diminishing gains per R&D dollar. What is the best interpretation?

3. An early-majority retailer demands three references before signing. Which diffusion attribute is weakest if Nexa has none?

4. A horizontal AMR startup wins small warehouses with a simpler offer. For Nexa this is best described as:

5. Nexa overweighted H3 flagship autonomy while field incidents rose. What portfolio fix is most appropriate?

6. Which pairing correctly distinguishes architectural from component innovation at Nexa?

7. Nexa's digital twin simulation initiative is primarily aimed at which curve challenge?

8. A competence-destroying innovation internally at Nexa would most likely require:

Next unit: Digital Economics →