Assessment Guide BM632 Managing & Developing Innovation & Creativity BM632 PR1: Film presentation (10 minutes) with a written report (1200 words) Assignment Brief: Local Innovation Challenge (Individual Challenge). For BM632 Assignment, You are required to explore and propose an innovative idea that supports the growth, sustainability, or impact of a local independent organisation within your town centre. This could involve an existing small business, a charity, a not-for-profit organisation, or a completely new venture that you design.
The objective is to identify a clear gap, challenge, or unmet need within the local market and develop a creative, practical solution that demonstrates both originality and commercial or social viability. Your final submission (presentation video) should clearly communicate and “pitch” your idea, showcasing both your innovation thinking and professional communication skills.
Note: You must focus on independent organisations, local initiatives, or your own original idea. Large chains or franchises are not permitted.
What You Need to Do Define the Opportunity
Identify and clearly explain a specific local issue, customer need, or business opportunity. This may relate to:
Supporting independent local businesses through new offerings
Addressing sustainability or environmental concerns
Improving customer experience or accessibility
Creating a new start-up concept
Enhancing ethical or community-focused practices etc.
Conduct Research
Support your idea with relevant evidence, including:
Secondary (desk) research such as reports, articles, or market data
Primary research where appropriate (e.g. surveys, interviews, observations)
This research should justify the need for your proposed solution.
Generate and Select Ideas
Use creative thinking techniques to develop multiple potential solutions.
Evaluate these options and select the strongest idea based on:
Feasibility
Potential impact
Alignment with the identified problem/opportunity
Provide clear justification for your final choice.
Apply Innovation Frameworks
Demonstrate your understanding of innovation processes by applying at least one recognised model, such as:
Innovation funnel models (Tidd and Bessant, 2020)
Design thinking frameworks (Utley and Klebhan, 2021)
Show how your idea evolves through this process.
Use Problem-Solving Tools
Incorporate appropriate techniques to analyse and refine your idea, such as:
Brainstorming or mind mapping
Cause-and-effect analysis
Creative modification tools (e.g. SCAMPER)
Explain how these tools contributed to your development process.
Implementation Plan (12 Months)
Develop a structured plan outlining how your solution could be introduced over the next year. Include:
Key milestones and stages
Required resources (financial, human, physical)
Stakeholder involvement and collaboration
A clear timeline
Strategic and Project Considerations
Demonstrate your ability to think like a project manager or junior executive by including:
Basic business or operational planning
Stakeholder mapping and engagement strategies
Strategic considerations relevant to your idea
Risk and Innovation Audit
Evaluate potential risks and barriers to success. Consider:
Market demand and readiness
Legal or regulatory factors
Resource constraints
Community acceptance or participation
Suggest ways to mitigate these challenges