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School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


MN50420: Technology strategy and organisation

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 20%, EX 80%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The unit aims to examine the nature and role of technology strategy in creating value for the innovative organisation.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course students will understand:
* How an effective technology strategy creates and captures value.
* The co-evolution of technologies and industries - and how competitive forces are modified over the life-cycle.
* How technology can destroy or enhance organisational capabilities.
* The role of entrepreneurial action in technology strategy: from start-up firms to multi-national organisations.
* The role of standards and their impact on competition.
* How political and cultural forces profoundly influence the creation and execution of technological options.
* How a range of practical tools (scenario planning, real options, etc.) can be used to develop practical technology strategies.

Skills:
Intellectual skills:
* a systematic understanding of the macro and micro-economic factors that determine technology strategy. (T/F/A)
* the ability to apply subject-specific knowledge into a range of practical and complex situations. (T/F/A)
* the ability to interpret and make critical judgements on academic research and apply to practical situations. (T/F/A)
* the ability to rapidly acquire, synthesise and analyse data, information and situations; to evaluate relevance and validity, and to synthesise it in the context of topical business problems. (T/F/A)
* evaluate the current technological status of an organization and/or industry and conclude meaningful implications for specific organisational objectives (F)
* operate effectively both independently as well as within teams and assume leadership roles where appropriate (F)
Transferable/Key skills:
* an openness and capacity to continue learning with the ability to reflect on earlier knowledge and practice and integrate the new with past experience and effectively apply it to the present situations (T/F)
Personal/Interpersonal:
* an ability to manage and work in international teams with an awareness of issues such as culture and gender, to identify learning/working styles and to use these to the benefit of the individual and the team (T/F/A)
* the facility to communicate, especially through written and oral presentations, preparation and production of effective business reports (A/T/F/).

Content:
Although some organisations are obviously 'high-tech' or 'technology intensive', it is increasingly difficult to find any organisation whose core mission is not dependent upon the effective use of some form of technology. In other words, far from being an 'add on' component, technology needs to be addressed as an integral part of strategic and organisational processes.
After briefly covering the fundamentals of strategic management, the course introduces a range of perspectives on technology strategy. The pragmatic emphasis throughout is on applying conceptual models to help students explore the interactions between broad patterns of technological and market change, specific competitive forces and internal firm resources.
This unit will be based upon three broadly thematic sections. The first will cover the nature and content of technology strategy. It will make explicit connections to broader business strategy concepts and delineate the key dimensions of a technology strategy. This section will also cover patterns of technological evolution (S-curves) and historical/socio-economic perspectives.
The second section will cover the organisational and industrial context for technology strategy. Industrial themes will include appropriability, IPR issues, the emergence of standards, etc. Organisational themes will include the impact of structural, cultural and political factors on adaptation, selection, development and deployment of technological capabilities.
The final section will address the enactment of technology strategy. It will use a range of case studies to understand the practical aspects off translating policy into appropriate resource commitments and managing corresponding change processes.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

MN50420 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering School of Management
  • TXXX-AFM13 : MSc Innovation and Technology Management (Full-time)
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MN50420 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • RSCM-AFD02 : Doctor of Engineering (EngD) in Digital Media (Full-time)

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.