This course focuses on the strategic management of technology-based innovation in businesses. The purpose is to provide students with concepts, frameworks, and examples that are useful in managing high-tech or R&D-intensive firms. The course examines how R&D processes may change the strategic direction of the firm and how they can be managed effectively.
The emphasis is on the development and application of conceptual models which clarify the interactions between competition, patterns of technological and market change, and the structure and development of internal firm capabilities. These models can provide the framework for deciding which technologies to invest in, how to structure those investments and how to anticipate and respond to the behavior of competitors, suppliers, and customers. The course should be of particular interest to those interested in managing a business for which technology is likely to play a major role, and to those interested in consulting or venture capital.
The course utilizes lectures, case analyses and independent readings. The case studies are drawn from a number of industries, ranging from semiconductor firms to open source software developers to pharmaceuticals and biotech.
The topics covered in this course are relevant to/for:
Consulting, Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, R&D, Product Development, High-tech, Biotech
