Professors
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Understand the structure of the High-Tech sector.
- Evaluate R+D and innovation projects and understand their different management options.
- Understand how an innovation process works.
- Understand how project teams fit into a particular organization.
- Propose specific organizations to manage technology enterprises.
- Understand how Intellectual Property (IP) works
- Make an informed opinion about new products commercialization options.
- Identify innovation risks in specific situations.
This course seeks to assist you in:
- Understanding the role of R+D+I in the Knowledge Economy.
- Managing Research and Development and Innovation as a Business Process.
- Managing in Large Organizations vs. managing in Small Organizations.
- Reviewing all the Sources of Innovation (in addition to R+D).
- How to take decisions regarding Innovation projects (accepting or rejecting projects).
- Distinguishing between Idea Generation vs. Idea Application.
- Understanding the role of Open Innovation.
- Understanding the Technology Diffusion processes. The Three Horizons model.
- Learning about Technology Readiness.
- Organizing R+D+I teams, and their relationship with the companys organization.
- Understanding the basic Intellectual Property concepts.
- Understanding National and Regional Innovation Systems.
- Understanding how Technology Transfer takes place in the Digital Economy.
The course is divided in the study of 11 different topics, each covering a different viewpoint of how Technology Intense Organizations may be managed. For each topic, a combination of the following will be used:
- Lectures - There will be 11 lectures, from October to December. At each lecture a topic will be introduced.
- Weekly Assignments - Assignments will be given BEFORE each topic is presented. Therefore, students are not expected to provide a right or wrong answer for each assignment, but are expected to think about the main issues of each topic.
- Class discussions - Many cases will be discussed through the course. Maximum benefit for the student will be obtained only if each case has been prepared by previously doing the corresponding weekly assignment.
- Readings - A list of recommended books and papers will be provided. In addition, other sources may be referred during the course.
- Videos - When available, relevant videos will also be viewed, as additional materials for the class discussions.
The Course grade will be based on the following point breakdown:
- 50%: Attendance (10%), weekly assignments (20%), class activities and quizzes (20%).
- 25%: Midterm Exam
- 25%: Final Exam
For those students deciding to go for a retake exam, the final course grade will be computed as follows:
- 50%: Attendance, weekly assignments, class activities and quizzes, as computed during the course.
- 50%: Retake Exam
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
- Schilling, M.A., Strategic Management of Technological Innovation, 5th edition, Mc-Graw-Hill, 2017
- Tidd, J., and Bessant, J. Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change, 7th Ed. Wiley 2020
SPECIFIC INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION REFERENCES
- Moore, G.A., Inside The Tornado, Capstone Publishing Ltd., 2001
- Christensen, C.M., The Innovator's Dilema, Harvard Business School Press, 1997
- Christensen, C.M, Raynor, M.E., The Innovator's Solution, Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation, 2003
- Geroski, P., The Evolution of New Markets, Oxford University Press, 2003
- Chesbrough, H.W., Open Innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology, Harvard Business School Press, 2003
INNOVATION EXAMPLES
- Lynn, G.S., Reilly, R.R., Blockbusters, Harper Collins, 2002
- Battelle, J., The Search, Penguin Group, 2006
- Smith, D.K., Alexander, R.C., Fumbling the Future, William Morrow & Co. 1988
OTHER REFERENCES
- Surowiecki, J., The Wisdom of Crowds, Random House, 2004