ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIB - 2012/2013
Module 4E4 - Management of Technology
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Leader:
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Dr T H W Minshall (thwm100@eng) |
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Timing:
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Lent Term
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Prerequisites:
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None
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Structure:
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Eight 2-hour sessions incorporating industry speakers.
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| Assessment: |
Material / Format / Timing / Marks
Coursework / Report / Start of Easter Term / 100 % |
AIMS
The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the ways in which technology is brought to market. It does this by focusing on key technology management topics from the standpoint of an established business as well as new entrepreneurial ventures. Strong emphasis is placed on frameworks and methods that are both theoretically sound and practically useful. It will provide students with both an understanding of the issues and the practical means of dealing with them in an engineering context.
LECTURE SYLLABUS
- Introduction: Technology in the business context
- Technology origins and evolution.
- How technology generates value.
- What are technology management processes and how are they used?
- Developing new technologies: Managing research and development (R&D) and intellectual property rights (IPR)
- How do you manage a portfolio of R&D projects?
- What are the key aspects of IPR, and how are they managed?
- How do you put a value on R&D projects and IPR?
- Making money from new technologies: How to choose the right business model
- What are the different ways in which an idea can be brought to market?
- Why do most innovations reach the market through new firms rather than established firms?
- How do new and established firms work together?
- Resources to bring ideas to market: 'Make versus Buy' (MvB) and strategic alliances
- Strategic context for MvB and partnering decisions.
- Tools and techniques to support MvB decisions.
- Working in partnership with other organisations.
- New product introduction (NPI) 1: Why is it so hard?
- Challenges in NPI.
- Balancing technology and market issues.
- People issues.
- New product introduction (NPI) 2: How to manage the process
- Structuring the NPI process
- New product life cycles, time-to-market and metrics
- Completing an NPI project on time and within budget
- Planning for the future: Technology strategy and planning
- Strategic technology management.
- Planning for the future by linking technology, product and market considerations - Technology Roadmapping (TRM).
- Scenario planning tools to help manage the uncertainties of the future.
- Technology management in application
- Company case studies of technology management – one start-up, one large corporation – delivered by senior managers from the companies.
- Review of module and guidelines for coursework.
OBJECTIVES
On completion of the course, students should:
- Have a thorough appreciation of how technology is brought to address market opportunities, and how technology management supports that process.
- Be able to assess and utilise appropriate technology management methods in different contexts.
- Understand the core issues of technology management and the practical means of dealing with them in an engineering context.
REFERENCES
Additional resources for this module will be available from Camtools. Details will be given at the start of the module
Please see the Booklist for Group E Courses for references for this module.
Last updated: June 2012
teaching-office@eng.cam.ac.uk
