OBS Business School Máster en Innovación y Emprendimiento

The structure, length and content of the Master’s Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship will allow you to achieve the set objectives. It has a modular, cross-disciplinary and sequential structure based on innovation and its implementation. The programme is divided into ten modules, plus a final cross-disciplinary project.

Other activities, like web conferences, are scheduled in addition to this main structure. The web conferences are meetings with entrepreneurs from a diverse variety of sectors in which they discuss their experience of leading projects. Lastly, the commitment of OBS to the final projects that emerge from this master’s degree programme is emphasised by the creation of the Entrepreneur Award which helps the promoters realise their ideas.

Curriculum (courses, subject modules)

Creating new business models

Business models is an area where technological advances are bringing the most innovation. New business models promoted by new organisations are changing the way that competition works in many sectors.

In this module we will see the links between the business model, corporate strategy and applied innovation. We will also put tools for analysing and building business models into practice. It is important that the business model is seen as a source for creating competitive advantages.

• Placing importance on strategy when structuring a business model. 
• The importance of innovation in the creation of business models.
• Being aware of the tools of the Business Model Canvas as a way of creating business models.
• Becoming familiar with the Value Proposition model, which is derived from the Business Model Canvas and focuses on the creation of value propositions.
• Open as management models.
• Practical examples of new models from various sectors and industries.

Innovation Strategy

This subject looks at the challenge of innovation in the business world from a multidimensional and progressive perspective. We will begin by looking at the environment of innovation and analysing the evolution of business life cycles and the creation of new competitive paradigms based on disruptive innovations. We will emphasise the cases of businesses that have adjusted well to these new paradigms, or that have had the will to lead the consolidation processes of said paradigms. In the second half we will focus on the internal perspective of innovation strategy, looking at the strategies of specific businesses and their execution stages, alongside the obstacles and catalysts of innovation within businesses. We will also look at the most common myths and bad practices. We will complete the module by analysing innovation in the customer-business-value chain relationship, which will require a review of the rise of new business models focused on the collaborative economy.

The main axis of this content is the analysis of examples of real-world companies which, for different reasons, stand out for their innovative strategy.

The main objective of this course is to provide participants with:

• A theoretical foundation that allows them to analyse business cases related to innovation from a reasoned perspective. 
• An understanding of the competitive analysis tools that are required to tackle innovation from a strategic perspective.
• A thorough understanding of the concept of multidimensional innovation in the business world from the point of view of the process and its execution.
• Advanced knowledge of the levers of innovation that executives can work with to drive innovation within their organisation
• A critical review of the key success factors of innovative companies from an international perspective.
• The ability to discuss innovation from a well-reasoned, open and engaging perspective, drawing on opinions from diverse fields and multiple applications.

Innovation management

Innovation is part of the stock portfolio of the 21st century. Individuals have never had to deal with such a dynamic environment as they do now. The speed of technological change and the globalisation of markets has repeatedly shaken the economy and had a critical impact on organisations. 21st century executives face a terrible conundrum: seek excellence in today’s products or processes, which will probably be obsolete tomorrow; or prepare for the immediate future with new and refreshed products and processes.

How can both lines of work be managed at once, how can one obtain excellence while operating in the old markets and simultaneously preparing rapidly for new competitive scenarios each day? The classic industrial organisation model seems to be doomed. The future belongs to companies that are quick to respond, liquid, re-combinable and able to anticipate change. However, we are still working with old-fashioned paradigms: hierarchy organigrams, divisions by function, large production runs, an obsessive search for efficiency, cost competitiveness…

These reasons explain why innovation is rapidly emerging as a new management concept. It combines the concepts of strategy, technology, marketing, organisational structure and financial planning. Innovation is the process that allows a company to continuously renew its sources of competitive advantage, strategic resources and differentiating positioning… All this positions it as a business process that belongs in the strategy field and, as such, must be managed with strategic thinking.

• Innovation and Competitiveness: The strengths of change / The innovation process / Innovative organisation / Strategy and Innovation.
• Organisational skills for innovation: analysis of creative skills, the ability to develop new products, the ability to redefine processes, and skills related to technology and knowledge. 
• Innovation Projects: analysis of the competitive environment in a given sector (automotive), project management from strategy to operations.
• Technological innovation: analysing a case of technological rupture and the issues organisations face. Understanding the dynamics of technological innovation. The case of the graphic arts: assessment of the meaning of technological rupture. The need for technological monitoring and change-management processes.

Process innovation

This module aims to familiarise students with a systemic vision of the implications that process innovations bring to business so they are able to integrate this knowledge into their practice. It also broadens the field of action that the Oslo Manual defines when discussing “Process Innovation”. Over recent years, the “agile philosophy” has been integrated into the management of innovation, especially in the computer software sector. However, these principles and values can be adopted by all sectors, as they allow for the development of projects that prioritise “time to market”; process innovation projects must also consider their “time to market”.

This module looks at the following:

• General concepts
• Process Innovation in the healthcare sector
• The process of innovation
• Economic analysis of process innovation
• Networks and their influence on process innovation
• Innovation processes in Public Administrations
• The influence of process innovation on innovation within companies
• Practical case

Innovation in Products and Services

The habits and needs of consumers have evolved over time, and they continue to do so. Their evolution forces the strategies and goals of business to evolve too.

From the arrival of social media to the need to adjust to the dominating environment of the financial crisis, among other things, the challenges that companies face give rise to new approaches in the management of creativity and the formulas for developing new proposals for products, services and even business models.

Customers might stay the same, but their behaviour, their wishes and their needs are constantly readjusting to ever-changing consumption trends. Therefore, we need to ensure that our strategy keeps up with these changes through transformation methodologies and innovative and differentiating tools that enable us to respond to these new needs and unfulfilled desires.

The objectives of this module are:

• Understanding the challenges and opportunities of the unstable, unpredictable and rapidly-changing environment we are currently in, and the relationship between said environment and the strategies and operations of companies in terms of their range of products and services.
• Gaining a thorough understanding of the management methodologies and tools that will allow us to make the most of market research studies and the activity of consumers, and also the ways we can fulfil their wishes and unsatisfied needs through observing and detecting actual problems.
• Learning about the basic concepts of the innovation value chain in situations where new products and services are developed. How companies need to use their resources to face the aforementioned challenges and the anticipation policies they need to make use of.

Product Management and Growth Hacking

• Clearly understand the roles of a Product Manager and the Growth team within a startup. What are the responsibilities of each one and their objectives.
• Know the competences and capacities necessary to execute these transversal and specialized roles.
• Know the main management techniques of a technological product
• Create growth models
• Implements a strategy of growth hacking

Talent Management

In the 21st century, talent is one of the differentiating elements in an increasingly globalised world. The majority of the jobs that will be most in demand ten years from now don’t even exist today, so the ability to adapt, innovate and reinvent yourself is going to be crucial.

By the end of the module, students will be familiar with the most differentiating abilities in the world of innovation, and will be equipped with a series of tools that will allow them to assess and understand them.

The objectives of this module are:

• Describing the most differentiating skills and abilities for developing businesses and new ideas in the 21st century.
• Briefly introducing the foundations of HR management based on professional skills related to activities such as recruitment, development and performance management.
• Presenting models that facilitate the assessment of the skills of professionals and help us to understand each individual’s team-working abilities.
• Acquiring the basic fundamentals of how motivation works in knowledge-based jobs and showing the differences between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation.

Essentially, the intention is that by the end of the module students will have acquired the ability to identify the most important skills related to the world of innovation while also being able to apply this knowledge to perform self-assessments and create improvement plans.

Business Plan and Startup Funding

Entrepreneurship must now be a fundamental part of the DNA of all companies that intend to grow, diversify and expand; otherwise, the marketplace will end up “swallowing” them. Large companies have developed costly programmes related to innovation with the aim of awakening the entrepreneurs hidden within their ranks who will help them get out of their comfort zone and be more ambitious. Main objectives:  

• What being an entrepreneur means. Profiles and required skillset
• How to structure a Business Plan.
• Funding process: Sources. Managing the process. Elevator Pitch.

Final Project

The main objective of the Final Project is enabling students to work on a project that will allow them to put into practice the knowledge they have acquired over the course of the Master’s degree. Beyond being just a mere academic or learning activity, it is an opportunity to link their training to the economic and business reality.

Admission conditions

Required diploma(s) :

• Bachelor

Tuition & Fees

Between 6500 and 6500 €

Employment opportunities & career impact

Employment opportunities :

Career Prospects of the Masters’s Degree

• Product Manager
• Innovation Consultant
• Innovation Manager
• General Director
• Creative Manager
• R&D Department
• Project Manager
• Marketing Director
• Operations Director

Application Deadlines

Master’s Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate

The people who pass the programme evaluation and comply with the academic requirements, established by the University of Barcelona (UB), will receive a UB qualification.

In order to obtain a UB qualification, you need to have a University Degree (Engineer’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree for four years or Bachelor’s Degree for three years). If you do not have a University Degree, once you have passed the different evaluations you will receive an extension diploma from UB.

Faculty profiles

El Claustro OBS, diseñado desde una perspectiva global, es una de las claves de la experiencia de aprendizaje de la Escuela, al combinar conocimientos empresariales reales con el rigor académico necesario para la formación integral del alumno. Todos los profesores son practitioners, profesionales en activo en destacadas empresas e instituciones, tanto nacionales como internacionales, con una amplia trayectoria tanto en la empresa como en la actividad formativa.

El profesorado de OBS está formado por más de 390 docentes y profesionales, con aproximadamente un 40% procedente de 25 países. Tanto la contrastada experiencia de los Directores de Programa a la hora de diseñar los contenidos como la tutela personalizada de nuestros profesores a lo largo del curso, con la garantía que da la titulación el valor práctico que las empresas requieren hoy en día.

Campus facilities & Student Life

Servicios de OBS Business School: OBS Experience

Uno de los objetivos principales de OBS Business School es garantizar el aprendizaje del alumno no sólo en el ámbito académico, sino también en otros aspectos que permiten que la experiencia de aprendizaje sea lo más enriquecedora posible. Por este motivo, desde OBS ponemos a disposición del alumno los siguientes servicios.

Eventos online

• Ciclo para Emprendedores

Programa de 10 sesiones que aborda los aspectos relativos al emprendimiento en una startup como la propia motivación para ser un emprendedor, las circunstancias internas y externas que se deben tener en cuenta, la creación de la idea y la importancia del equipo para que funcione, y la definición del modelo de negocio y su visualización, entre otros.

• Web Conferences

Conferencias online emitidas en streaming a través del canal de YouTube de OBS Business School y con una periodicidad mensual. El objetivo de estas Web Conferences es presentar al alumno la experiencia y el conocimiento de profesionales y expertos en temas relacionados con nuevas tendencias, actualidad tecnológica, nuevos modelos de negocio y, en definitiva, la innovación dentro del Management actual. Para ello desde OBS se invitan cada mes a expertos, profesionales y directivos de todos los ámbitos del sector de los Recursos Humanos.

Portal de Empleo de OBS Business School

El Portal de Empleo sirve como punto de encuentro entre alumnos, antiguos alumnos, empresas colaboradoras y otros colectivos empresariales interesados en profesionales formados en la Escuela. Dentro del Portal, tenemos la actividad del Servicio de Carreras Profesionales, la cual se centra en tres puntos:

• Servicios de asesoría: Orientar y desarrollar las carreras profesionales de alumnos y antiguos alumnos de OBS.
• Contacto con empresas: Facilitar a los alumnos el acceso a empresas reclutadoras a través de presentaciones corporativas, del Foro de Empleo Online, la participación en Graduate Programmes y otras actividades profesionales.
• Herramientas para la búsqueda de empleo: OBS Business School pone a disposición de todos sus alumnos, tanto la bolsa de empleo online como el directorio de empresas reclutadoras, con la idea de facilitar la búsqueda de un primer empleo o una mejora profesional a nuestros alumnos.

Foro de Empleo Online

Celebrado anualmente, en el Foro de Empleo Online multinacionales de distintos sectores ponen a disposición de los alumnos de OBS las mejores ofertas laborales disponibles para trabajar tanto en España como en el resto del mundo.

En la pasada edición, durante 7 días cargados de oportunidades laborales, 28 empresas nacionales y multinacionales esperaron a los mejores alumnos de OBS. Entre ellas se encontraban multinacionales como Accenture, Adecco, Banco Mediolanum, Beiersdorf, Carrefour Property, Decathlon, Dell, Deloitte, Desigual, EY, Grupo Planeta, Leroy Merlín, Grupo Meliá, MSD, Nestlé, Novartis, Philip Morris International o Samsung, entre otras muchas. Además, también tuvimos el placer de contar con empresas centradas en el mercado profesional latinoamericano, como Unión Andina o Voyer Internacional.

Eventos presenciales

Con el objetivo de seguir brindando mayores herramientas para el desarrollo profesional, en OBS también organizamos una serie de eventos presenciales en diferentes países como oportunidad de establecer networking y compartir conocimientos y experiencias con otros compañeros y alumnos.

Durante el año 2015 se llevaron a cabo varios eventos como el Workshop sobre Liderazgo Optimista en Bogotá, dirigido a los alumnos y antiguos alumnos de la Escuela o las Inauguraciones de Curso de OBS celebradas en diferentes países y retransmitidas también de forma online. Además, el pasado mes de febrero de este nuevo año se celebró la reunión anual del claustro de profesores que contó con más de 100 asistentes.

Además, el pasado mes de julio se celebró la Graduación de los alumnos del curso académico 2018-2019 de OBS Business School, una oportunidad para conocer y felicitar personalmente a los estudiantes que pudieron asistir y también para recordar a aquellos que no pudieron hacerlo, y es que a pesar de que teníamos graduados de todas partes del mundo, pudimos contar con la asistencia de alumnos de hasta 26 países distintos.

Biblioteca Digital de Management

El alumno de OBS tiene acceso a la Biblioteca Digital de Management, con más de 13.000 volúmenes y suscripciones a publicaciones de revistas como Times, a su disposición.