PACE UNIVERSITY
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COURSE TITLE: |
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Technology Entrepreneurship
(CS 397N) |
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CREDIT HOURS: |
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4 |
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PREREQUISTES: |
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None |
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TEXTBOOKS: |
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1. T. Byers, R. Dorg, & Q. Nelson, Technology Ventures: From Ideas to
Enterprise, 3rd edition, McGraw Hill, 2011. 2. G. Altshuller (translators: Shulyak & Rodman), The Innovation Algorithm: TRIZ, Systematic
Innovation and Technical Creativity, 2nd edition, Technical
Innovation Center, 2007. |
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REFERENCES: |
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1.
2.
J. 3.
D. Weiss &
C. Legrand, Innovative Intelligence,
John Wiley & Sons, 2011. 4.
5.
Entrepreneur and
Inc Magazines. |
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SEMESTER: |
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Fall 2011 |
Course
Description: This is an interdisciplinary course designed to
provide students with technical innovative intelligence and entrepreneurial
mindset in information and computational technologies and algorithms as well as
to equip students with the tools appropriate to identifying real business
opportunities worthy of pursuit. Technology applications and industries will be
emphasized along with computing opportunities. The main concepts covered will
be teamwork, creativity and innovation; innovation algorithm; customer-driven
product identification and development; information technology based business
creation; market analysis; niche marketing and selling; and competitive
business plans. Two key components of this course will be a project to develop
a business plan for an information technology venture around a specific
product, system, process, or service wherein entrepreneurs will serve as
mentors to students and teams, and a business plan pitch, where industry
experts and entrepreneurs will serve as judges. The course will be supplemented
with up to three guest lectures as well as the review and analysis of
technology entrepreneur case studies.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Each student
and each team are expected to accomplish the following by the end of the course:
Objective
1
Can define a team as well as able to differentiate
between among the types of teams and between a real team and a working group;
know the behavioral characteristics of all teams and effective teams; and know
what distinguish great teams from other teams.
Outcomes
a.
Know the four
behavioral attributes of any team and demonstrate the two that are crucial to
effective teams
b.
Able to define a
team and its characteristics
c.
Know and can
demonstrate the three different types of complementary skills that are required
in a team
d.
Able to compare
and contrast a working group and a real team
e.
Able to show by
means of example a clear understanding of the expected performance from the
different types of teams
f.
Know the
functional characteristics of great teams as well as their distinguishing
performance features
Objective
2
Know the three sources of a person’s resistance to
teamwork; understand and able to describe and demonstrate the stages of team
development; effective cooperation code; charter guidelines; effective
communication; leadership; teamwork skills; decision making; conflict
management; and teamwork challenges and problems.
Outcomes
a.
Know and able to
explain the three sources of a person’s resistance to teamwork
b.
Understand the
stages of team development and can explain each stage impact on team
performance
c.
Able to
demonstrate the ability to engage in more productive and useful teamwork
operation with the help of team code of cooperation and charter guidelines
d.
Know the
different types of teamwork skills and can explain how to use them
e.
Know different
types communication, leadership, and decision making skills that needed for the
proper functioning of a team as well as how to use them
f.
Know the
techniques for managing teamwork challenges and problems as well as know how to
manage conflict management
Objective
3
Able to define, identify, and describe innovation as
well as demonstrate innovative thinking and innovative intelligence.
Outcomes
a.
Demonstrate the
ability to differentiate between creativity and innovation
b.
Can identify
innovative companies from non-innovative companies as well as can describe what
make some companies more innovative than others
c.
Able to
demonstrate innovative thinking within a team and in a project
d.
Able to
demonstrate innovative intelligence within a team and in a project
e.
Show evidence of
gain in the emotional and innovative intelligences through classroom behaviors
and class assignments
f.
Demonstrate the
ability of being able to apply the steps of the innovative thinking process.
Objective
4
Able to differentiate applied creativity (innovation)
from other types of creativity; know the levels of applied creativity; understand
the relative theory, basic concepts, and methods and procedures of inventing
the solution to a real world problem; know the innovation algorithm and its
operation; and understand the power of fantasy.
Outcomes
a.
Demonstrate clear
understanding of the methods and procedures an inventor follows in coming up
with a new system, product, service, or process
b.
Able to
illustratively explain the difference between applied creativity or innovation
from other types of creativity
c.
Understand the
role of heuristics in innovation and the different levels of creativity in the
innovation process
d.
Know some of the
different methods used to improve the trial and error method used typical used
by innovators/inventors
e.
Can illustrative
discuss or explain the relative theory of applied creativity and the basic
concept of technical contradiction relating to an invention
f.
Understand the
process involve in inventing a near-perfect or perfect machine
g.
Understand the
power of fantasy and its relevance to innovation and invention
h.
Know the
procedures in the innovation algorithm and how the algorithm works.
Objective
5
Know how to identify, select, describe, and
communicate an opportunity as well as develop the knowledge needed to use
intellectual capital and entrepreneurial processes to create and develop potentially
successful enterprise for wealth creation.
Outcomes
a.
Able to identify,
evaluate, decide, describe, and communicate an opportunity
b.
Demonstrate an
entrepreneurial mindset by displaying evidence of the commitment and behavior
of an entrepreneur as well as understand the role of the entrepreneur in the
economy
c.
Can describe and
discuss the difference between market value and economic value
d.
Can differentiate
among intellectual capital, human capital, social capital, and organizational
capital
e.
Show evidence of
a clear understanding of dynamic capitalism and dynamic disequilibrium in the
context of creative destruction
f.
Demonstrate the
knowledge and ability to innovate a process, service, product, or system in a
mature or declining market of the economy.
Objective
6
Develop the knowledge, understanding, skills needed to
manage risks, engage in creative product design, and innovate using creativity,
invention, and technology to effectively commercialize new systems, products,
services, and processes for customers.
Outcomes
a.
Able to
differentiate a firm's core competencies from core products and demonstrate the
ability to identify the presence or absence core competencies in the firm's business
model and sustainable competitive advantage.
b.
Show evidence of
being able to perform the analysis that matches a firm's strengths and
weaknesses with its opportunities and threats to find the most suitable purpose
for the firm.
c.
Know the central
role creativity plays in a firm's competitiveness and inventiveness, can
differentiate an innovation from a mere invention, understand the attributes of
an invention that influence the probability of it becoming an innovation, and know
the elements of an effective innovation strategy.
d.
Understand the
role that the technology entrepreneur plays in bringing a new technology to
market.
e.
Develop a
demonstrable clear understanding of the concepts of risk and uncertainty along
with the process for managing them while attaining economies of scale, scope
and networks.
f.
Demonstrate sound
knowledge of the design and development processes needed produced a robust,
usable, and modular systems, product, services, or processes.
Objective
7
Able to develop a sound marketing and sales plan that
enables identification of the targeted customer, implement the steps needed to
sell a system, product, service, or process and build solid customer
relationships, and set clear objectives, as well as understand the process for building
an innovative and competitive technology company, and can communicate it using
a business plan.
Outcomes
a.
Demonstrate a
clear understanding of the process involve in setting up a new technology
company.
b.
Show clear
evidence of knowing the factors and supporting elements involve in the creation
of a sustainable, sound, and saleable computing or information technology
oriented business.
c.
Using an
algorithmic framework, able to design and develop a competitive business plan
for, at least, a fictitious scalable information technology oriented business;
then communicate it to an unfamiliar audience.
d.
Can demonstrate
an unambiguous understanding of the importance of market research and the
process involve in conducting it.
e.
Know the elements
of the marketing plan and the process involve in getting the marketed system, product,
service, or process to a targeted, sustainable, and satisfied audience.
f.
Able to set and articulate
clear marketing objectives as well as implement the process involved in selling
a technology driven system, product, service, or process.
g.
Can explain with
illustrative examples the concept of branding and building solid customer
relationships.
h.
Demonstrate the
ability to develop and deliver a pitch for a new or fictitious financial or
information technology oriented business.
Objective
8
Know the different types of business ventures and what
is involve in building and leading them effectively as well as acquire
knowledge of the contemporary issues in financial and information technology entrepreneurship
and recent developments in the communication and information technology for the
financial industry.
Outcomes
a.
Demonstrate a clear
understanding of and can explain the implications of recent entrepreneurial
endeavors on
b.
Aware of and can
intelligibly discuss recent developments computing technologies for the
financial world.
c.
Can show or
explain how recent financial computing technologies may be augmented to support
and safeguard from misuse some contemporary financial products such as mortgage-backed
securities.
d.
Know the different
types of new business ventures and their individual importance to the economy
e.
Able to compare
and contrast the different types of new business ventures
f.
Understand and
able to explain the relative importance knowledge, learning, and design and
development to a 21st century organization
PROFESSOR’S
PROFILE
Professor:
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Dr. A. Joseph
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Office:
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Telephone: |
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212 346 1492 |
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Email: |
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Office Hours: |
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Tuesday & Thursday:
9:00 am – 11:00 am Tuesday: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm |
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Project (Business plan
& pitch): |
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40% (Pitch –10%) |
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Team/class participation: Coordinator/Reporter/observer (document): Journal (Due 9/20; 10/18; 11/22; & 12/6/11): Class Activity/Preparation & Performance (individual
and team): Collaboration and meetings with Mentors: |
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20% 0% 10% 6% (individual – 2%; team – 4%) 4% |
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Homework (due 1 week after
being assigned): |
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0% (No late homework is accepted.) |
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Midterm examination: |
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16% (Best 4 of 5) |
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Final examination: |
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24% |
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Team’s average performance
[bonus]: Above 86%: 76% -- 86%: 65% -- 75%: Below 66%: |
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10% (Maximum) 10% 6% 3% 0% |
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Extra credit assignment (optional): 10% (Due by week 12 and no later)
Note: Only for students who are otherwise
fulfilling all of the other course requirements. It is not intended to be a
substitute for any of the regular class assignments.
Note: All
exams and are cumulative; the journal grade is cumulative.
Above 92%
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A
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90% -- 92% |
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A- |
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87% -- 89% |
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B+ |
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83% -- 86% |
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B |
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80% -- 82% |
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B- |
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77% --79% |
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C+ |
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70% -- 76% |
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C |
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67% -- 69% |
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D+ |
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60% -- 66% |
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D |
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Below 60% |
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F |
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Note: Grade
is computed to the nearest whole number. |
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TOPICS AND
ASSIGNMENTS
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Week
#1 |
Teams and teamwork: Team definition; different types of teams;
behavioral characteristics of a team; functional characteristics of great
teams. Assignment 1: To be assigned |
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Week
#2 |
Team development, teamwork, and teamwork skills: Team development; resistance to teamwork;
effective cooperation code; charter guidelines; effective communication;
teamwork, leadership, and decision making skills; conflict management;
teamwork challenges and problems. Assignment 2: To be assigned |
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Week
#3 |
Innovation, innovative intelligence,
and innovative thinking: Define
innovation, innovative intelligence, and innovative thinking; creativity and
innovation; three critical intelligences (innovative, emotional, &
analytical); analytical intelligence paradox; characteristics and algorithm
of effective innovative thinking. Assignment 3a: To be assigned Assignment 3b: Project (due week 11) |
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Week
#4-5 |
Applied creativity (or innovation): Methods and procedures an inventor follows; levels
of creativity; methods of inventing; knowledge and innovation; technical
contradictions; fantasy and its relevance to innovation and invention; process
and operation of innovation algorithm. Guest speaker : Innovation; mentors:
meeting with teams/students Assignment 4: To be assigned |
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Week
#6 |
Economic growth, opportunity, and the
technology entrepreneur: Entrepreneur
and the entrepreneur’s challenge; economics and the firm; creative
destruction; innovation and technology; opportunity identification; opportunity
evaluation; concept summary; case study. Assignment 5: Read chapters 1 &2; do problems: chap 1 – 2 & 4; chap 2 – 2, 3, & 8. |
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Week
#7-9 |
Vision, competitive strategy, business
model, innovation strategies and risk/return: Vision; mission statement; value proposition;
business model; business innovation in challenging markets; core
competencies; sustainable competitive advantage; venture strategy; strength
and opportunities analysis; achieving sustainable competitive advantage;
alliances; matching tactics to markets; movers and follows; imitation; types
and sources of innovation; technology and innovation strategy; new technology
ventures; risk and uncertainty; risk versus return; managing risk; case study. Guest speaker: Design and development of a business plan Mentors: Meeting with students in week 8 Assignment 6: Read chapters 3, 4, 5, & 6; do problems: chap
3 – 7; chaps 3 to 6 – venture challenge |
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Week
#10 |
Business and marketing and plans: New business creation; business plan and its contents; marketing; marketing objectives and customer target segments; product and offering description; market research and customer development; brand equity; customer relationship management; personal selling and sales force; case study. Guest Speaker: Marketing and selling Mentors: Meeting with students Assignment 7: Read chapters 7 & 11; do problems: chaps 7
& 11 – venture challenge |
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Week
#11 |
Project submission and Pitch Observers: May include some mentors and guest speakers |
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Week
#12-13 |
Ventures, knowledge, learning, design,
and contemporary issues technology entrepreneurship: Ventures
(e.g., independent; corporate ; family own, franchising); corporate new
ventures; innovator’s dilemma; an organization knowledge; managing knowledge
assets; learning organizations; product design and development; product
prototype. Guest Speaker: Technology entrepreneurship (financial or
healthcare) Assignment 9: Read chapters 8 & 9; do problems: chaps 8
& 9 – venture challenge |
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Week
#14 |
Final
Exam |
NOTE: This course will be
supplemented with two or three guest lectures as well as case study assignments
and a project on contemporary issues in entrepreneurship and recent development
in financial technologies. There will be a second project on business plan.
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Note 1:
This course is structured around small collaborative teams in a cooperative
learning environment. A main objective of the course is to have heterogeneous
teams of mixed gender and of different academic, experiential, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds work
together to develop a business plan and business plan related modules.
Students will be encouraged to work together in their respective teams to
form effective and productive entrepreneurial enterprises that share the
learning experience within the context of the course to attain the course’s
objectives and their expected outcomes. Team members will be also encouraged
to help each other with learning difficulties as well as to spend the
required amount time necessary to get to know each other and develop trust in
each other. Each team member is expected to partake in the research, design
and development, and decision making of its team’s projects and is
responsible for the projects’ successful completion, submission, presentation.
Importantly, each team member is expected to meet regularly with the team’s
designated mentor to get advice and suggestions on the designing and
developing the business plan and its modules. A team may identify and consult
with an existing company in need of a solution to problem that is hampering
its growth. Each team member will be individually graded in proportion to his
or her contribution to the projects and presentation. Teams must budget their
available time to ensure that they can devote the necessary amount of time
needed to successfully complete the projects. |
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Note 2:
During the first class session, student background information will be
collected for the purpose of forming the teams and assessing students’
knowledge of the relevant subject area. Students will be placed in teams by
the second class meeting. These teams will be viewed entrepreneurial entities
analogous to enterprising small businesses and as such may assign itself a
class acknowledged and recognized name. |
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Note 3: To
ensure that each team completes the projects in a timely fashion, a strict
time schedule will be followed consistent with regular assignment submission
deliverables. There will be deliverable dates for each team to have specific modules
of its projects completed. |
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Teams:
Each team will consist of three to four students who will participate in the
necessary research, planning, design, and development of the team’s projects.
The ultimate business plant resulting from the projects must be done using a MS
Word in Times New Roman with font size 11 or 12 and the reference list must
adhere to the publication manual of the American Psychological Association. In
addition, each team is expected to maintain proper documentation of all
activities relating to the projects including the business plan with the
marketing and sales plans, and a financial statement in their journal. |
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Web support:
This course will be supported with Blackboard postings of instruction and
guidelines pertaining to the course as well as class presentations, small
business related news, team and class discussions, email correspondence about
the course, questions relating to individual projects, and miscellaneous
course related activities and information.
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Supplementary materials: There will be handouts in class
or web postings of current events and issues that affect Technology Entrepreneurship. Some books that may be helpful for
the course will be posted on Blackboard along with links to pertinent
websites.
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Entrepreneurship,
creativity, and innovation
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Who creates a new activity in the face of risk and
uncertainty for the purpose of achieving success and growth by identifying
opportunities and putting together the required resources to benefit from
them? |
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Creativity
is the ability to develop new ideas
and to discover new ways to of looking
at problems and opportunities |
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Innovation
is the ability to apply creative solutions to those problems and
opportunities to enhance or to enrich people’s lives. |
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What is your team’s name? |