15.980J | Spring 2007 | Graduate

Organizing for Innovative Product Development

Syllabus

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Overview

This course introduces new product development. Topics include technology transfer, relations between science and technology, and the innovation process.

SES # TOPICS
1 Introduction
2 Technology transfer: Where and how do new product ideas originate?
3 Relations between science and technology
4 The technological gatekeeper: Care and feeding
5 Reward systems for engineers and scientists
6 The innovation process: How should we organize?
7

Examples of the use of physical space to accomplish organizational goals

Guest lecturer: Prof. Gunter Henn

8

Some examples: Steelcase; BMW FIZ; Skoda; Volkswagen’s Glass Factory

Guest lecturer: Prof. Gunter Henn

9 The downside of project organization: Conformity and the aging of project teams
10 The matrix: Curse or asset?
11 Physical space and its interaction with organizational space
12 Effects of geographical location on communication patterns
13 Student reports

Course Info

Instructors
As Taught In
Spring 2007
Level
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Written Assignments with Examples