Strategic Management of Innovation and Technologies

Catalog description

New technologies are turned into innovations and create value for consumers only when they are successfully commercialized. Brilliant technologies can sit for years or even decades in the ivory tower. A successful commercialization of certain technologies does not only require deep understanding of the features of the technologies, but also well-developed frameworks to understand the dynamics of the technologies, the industries that the technologies will be applied to, market potential responses to the technologies and other firms who are interested in collaborating or competing to commercialize the technologies. These frameworks help managers to design the optimal strategy for different types of technologies and innovations (including incremental, disruptive, radical, and sustainable innovations) under dynamic market environments. The course covers several concepts, frameworks and tools through case-based learning methods that illustrate how different innovations and technologies are strategically managed and commercialized. Analyzing the successes and failures detailed in the cases will provide students the knowledge and analytical skills needed to develop comprehensive strategies to manage new technologies. This course is writing-intensive so be prepared to horn your business writing skills along the way. Strategic Management of Innovation and Technologies is a case-based learning course, where the learning is student-centered, with faculty acting primarily in the role of facilitators. Active learning happens in this course because students are engaged in actively analyzing cases and applying newly learned frameworks to the cases. The course leverages the University's course content management system (CMS) to define weekly learning objectives, support electronic delivery of assignments and provide robust video content from managers, inventors and venture capitalists, who provide additional insights into the process of technology commercialization. Because the course is structured within the CMS system, it could be offered at any location with very little revision. The companies and cases that are the focus of the class are easily adapted by using different case studies, companies and course mentors.