Coursework

The Certificate program is a year long program for PhD students and postdocs in science and engineering. The program provides an introduction to and hands-on experience in developing new business ventures designed to commercialize research. Students take five courses in technology management, innovation and entrepreneurship and participate in interdisciplinary practicums alongside MBA students and under the guidance of GSM faculty, investors and entrepreneurs.

Educational Objectives

Students acquire knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:

• Dynamics of innovation and entrepreneurship
• Innovation strategies and work practices
• Interdisciplinary teamwork
• Evaluating technology/market opportunities
• Product, process, and new venture design
• IP patenting and licensing strategies
• Writing and communicating business plans
• Building and managing interdisciplinary teams
• Modeling finance and investment strategies
• Rapid prototyping and testing strategies

Scott Lenet, DFJ Frontier, and Professor Andrew Hargadon
Business Development Clinic, MGT 298

Lecture Courses

MGT 251 Management of Innovation (Fall Quarter) Describes the processes of creativity and innovation and provides students with the means to craft interdependent innovation strategies, work practices and cultures for managing innovation in organizations.

MGT 244 New and Small Business Ventures (Winter Quarter) Emphasizes starting a new business venture or managing a small business during its formative stages.

MGT 250 Technology Management (Spring Quarter) Focuses on issues surrounding the development and introduction of new technologies in organizations and in the market.

Clinical Courses

MGT 298-I (Winter Quarter) Students learn to work closely in small, interdisciplinary teams to synthesize technical, strategic and marketing needs and resources into designs for new ventures. Topics include market research, financial modeling, prototyping and resource acquisition. Teams develop business models for a wide range of emerging technology and market opportunities.

MGT 298 (Spring Quarter) This course is focused on converting ideas into action--with the recognition that those actions will in turn improve the original ideas developed in the previous term.