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. A few field trips to the software and hardware centric parks are arranged for the real-life validation of classroom understanding in the practical business world.
Course Schedule and Handout(click the course title and case study title in blue ink to download):
9.11: Course Introduction
9.18: Conceptual View of Technology Evolution and Disruptive Technology; Case Study and Discussion: "Which Company and/or which Technology will be on your Top List for the next 10-year"
9.25: Disruptive Technology Evolution in the Past 50 Years and Its Impact on the Industry and Business; Case Study and Discussion: "Taiwan's Value Chain Disruption in ICT Industry"; "Technology Pioneers of Early-Stage"
10.02: Field Trip : Nankang Software Park
10.09: Double Tenth National Holiday (no class)
10.16: Lifestyle Addiction and Technology/Business Co-Evolution; Case study and Discussion: "Entertainment and Beverage of your Choices"
10.23: Technology in Food Industry and Business; Case Study and Discussion: "GMO Food and Technology"
10.30: Culinary Technology and Reinvention of Food Recipes; Case Study and Discussion: "Digitized Your Favorite Recipe"
11/06: No Class Today: Class Moved to 11/7 for Field Trip to Hsinchu Science Park and Taiwan High Mountain
11/13: Datafy Everything: What's Next in Digital Life; Case Study and Discussion: "Datafy your Job/Professional/Career Path"
11/20: Data Driven Decision Making for Business and Consumers: from products to solutions and answers; Case Study and Discussion: Data Science and Machine Learning
11/27: Field Trip: NeiHu Technology Park
12/04: Project Consultation
12/11: Project Presentation and Discussion I
12/18: Project Presentation and Discussion II
12/25: Christmas Holiday (no class)
1/01: National Holiday (no class)
1/08: Wrap-Up