BAD 84285 Fall 2010 Datta

BAD 84285

Technology Management and Strategy[1]

Dr. Pratim Datta

Note: Syllabus and Schedule subject to amendment and change

This course explores the basis of competition in high-technology industries.  It introduces conceptual frameworks based on cutting-edge research in economics and strategy.  The frameworks may seem abstract at first, but students who master them will gain an in-depth understanding of how high-technology industries work and how to develop strategies for managing firms in such industries.  Students will learn how to develop and apply such frameworks in their research.

The focus of this course is on the strategic issues around how a firm should manage its technology. Strategic issues include understanding the technological and competitive landscape, incentives to innovate, alternative commercialization paths for a new technology, ways to compete in the high-tech marketplace, resource allocation and R&D investment decisions, and managing factors that hinder or promote the diffusion of a new technology.

This is a challenging but ultimately rewarding course.  You will be expected to understand the key theoretical and empirical results in research articles published in strategy and economics journals.  However, you are not expected to derive mathematical models.  The main goal is to relate these readings to what steps a manager or high-tech entrepreneur should take to develop a technology strategy for his/her organization.

There are three major aspects to this course: 

Productivity impact of technology, patterns of technical change, diffusion of innovation and knowledge spillovers. 

Relationship between technology and market structure and strategies for competing in high-technology markets. 

Technology KM and R&D capabilities.  The ideas presented in the course are integrated through case studies and an in-class negotiation exercise. 

Applying Technology Strategy for research

Readings: Week 1: Innovation characteristics

Innovation Versus Complexity: What Is Too Much of a Good Thing?

by Mark Gottfredson and Keith Aspinall, HBR, November 2005

Match Your Innovation Strategy to Your Innovation Ecosystem by Ron Adner, HBR, April 2006.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4:

Week 5:

Week 6: Presentations

Week 7: Midterm 1

Week 8: Research Topic Assignment

Week 9: Research Topic Commitment and Discussion

Week 10:

Week 11:

Week 12: Midterm 2

Week 13:

Week 14: Paper and Presentation