Course 2015-2016 a.y.

Go to class group/s: 22

EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OB  |  SECS-P/08)

Course Director:
GIANMARIO VERONA

Course Objectives

This course develops students' understanding of how firms use technology to position themselves strategically, from the perspective of a director of business development. For this purpose, we rely heavily on real business cases, dealing with firms, characterized by international scope and strategy, which have faced the challenges of managing innovation and technology strategy. We begin with an understanding of how technological systems evolve, with particular emphasis on the emergence of standards, and then turns to understanding networks, such as the Internet. We explore how firms develop new products, how they can leverage the knowledge of consumers in the innovation process, and which organizational structures are best suited to foster or hamper innovation. The last part of the course is dedicated to understand how these issues can be translated to low-tech contexts characterized by pervasive innovation. Also, we deal with some hot topics in the strategic management of innovation and technology.

Course Content Summary

Introduction
Technology and Management

• Part 1. Fundamentals of Technology Strategy:
• Industry, Core Competences and Complementary Assets.
• Patents and Norms.
• Dominant Designs .
• The Role of Complementarities and Network Externalities.
• Adoption.
  

• Part 2. Reaction to Technological Discontinuities:

• Inter-temporal Dynamics of Technology.
• Disruptive Innovations.
• Institutional failure.
• Dynamic Capabilities .
  

• Part 3. Building the Innovating Organization:

• Product development: organization and design.
• QFD and six sigma.
• Selection of innovative projects.
• Corporate entrepreneurship: The ambidextrous organization .
  

• Part 4. Emerging Themes and industries:

• Entertainment industry.
• Fashion and Design.
• Open Innovation.
• Review and Conclusions.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

For non attending students:

Written exam based on the material for non-attending students.

For Attending students:

The course is case-based. Class interaction and participation are evaluated. Students deliver two assignments throughout the course.

A final written exam evaluates students’ overall understanding of the topics.

The final grade is computed as follows:

• Class participation (20%).
• Individual Assignments (40%).
• Written exam (40%).

Textbooks

For non attending students:

• G. Verona (Ed.). Cases and Readings on Technology and Innovation Strategy. Egea 2015.
• S. Shane. Technology Strategy for Managers and Entrepreneurs. Prentice Hall (except for chapters 13-14-15).

For Attending students:

• G. Verona (Ed.). Cases and Readings on Technology and Innovation Strategy. Egea 2015.
• Handouts distributed throughout the course.

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Last change 27/03/2015 12:44