MBA 571: Management of Innovation is a foundation for managing innovation and technology in a changing, competitive environment with global implications. It requires today’s manager to understand, assess, utilize, and develop technological innovations. Technological innovation is viewed as a strategic rather than tactical component in adding value to products and services and creating sustainable competitive advantages. The course takes an integrative rather than functional (i.e., R&D) perspective. Discussion and workshops focus on topics related to technology evolution process, dominant design, threats of disruptive technologies, innovation and business models, organizational architecture and innovation, technology strategy, open vs closed innovation, and development of technological capabilities via global R&D and technical acquisition. Throughout the course, selected evolving industries (i.e., Wi-Fi, genetic engineering, telecommunication, computer, consulting) and their future evolutions are studied.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To develop an awareness of the range, scope, and complexity of the phenomena, issues, and problems related to managing technological innovations.
- To build a framework for managing technological innovations.
- To explain the skills and knowledge useful in appraising and managing technological innovation.
- To offer methods of assessing and auditing the innovative capabilities of a business organization.
- To acquire knowledge in the evolving industries and innovations that affect organizations.