2014 MGB070 Soochow University

MGB070: Technology and Industry/Business

Course Objective:

This course intends to provide a global and bivalent view on the evolution of technology and industry, and business in our modern history, to date, and into the future. Learner in this class should be able to: 1. Develop a solid understanding of how technology impacts business/industry and vice versa.  2. Comprehend how the value chain being configured for technology intensive industry and business. 3. Understand why technology revolution and evolution, and innovation so disruptive and competitive throughout our modern history and civilization progresses. 4. Foresee value chain evolution and commoditization opportunities. 5. Possess entrepreneurial mindset, if any, to build a technology-driven business from scratch. 6. Apprehend the drivers of performance and change in industries in which science or advanced technology play a critical role; these challenges may arise as part of investment or portfolio strategies, consulting work, or the assumption of operational roles.

Course Introduction:

This course seeks to make sense of the establishment of various industries across the globe, the evolution of innovation and technology strategies and policies in various countries and regions, the historic and current roles of governments in shaping markets for both high-technology and conventional industries, and the impact on business strategies of recent developments in early-stage capital markets. Our general approach views technological innovation and competition as dynamic processes that reflect choices and policies made by firms and governments. Modern technologies develop in markets that are international in scope, often imperfectly competitive, and subject to influence by a variety of economic and political stakeholders. We will use an eclectic mix of practical, historical, and theoretical perspectives throughout the course in examining these issues.

This course is targeted at people who recognize that understanding more about technology and business will give them an advantage in managing across these sectors, and they are open to learning about technology. A background in science or engineering is not a prerequisite for this class. 

The tentative course outline are illustrated below; however, the course is designed to be progressive with the interaction and establishment in the class. The handout materials are mainly for higher-level overviews prepared specifically for our discussions. For more specific case in a typical class day has a theory reading and a case. Many of the theory readings are landmark papers from the literature of management research. The last month of the course work, the case reading and discussion sessions will be more specifics for learner's interest, in which topics will be surveyed in the beginning of the class.

 Course Schedule: Click the bolder title to download handout materials