NG4S906 - Product Innovation and Entrepreneurship 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: NG4S906
Module Title: Product Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Information and Electronics
Faculty Sub Group: Electronics
Module Leader: Ali Roula
Module Team: Sivagunalan Sivanathan, Kang Li, Alexandre Oleon, Hammad Nazir
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100163 - electrical and electronic engineering
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Jul 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to equip engineers and scientists with the skills involved in bringing innovative high-tech products to commercial success by taking students through the product life cycle steps from the initial research and innovation, to managing the technical aspects of design and production and finally providing students with the tools necessary for entrepreneurial and commercial success. The knowledge gained will be used in the integration of the various areas of expertise acquired in other parts of the MSc scheme through the use of multi-disciplinary case studies and assignments.

Content Summary

Product innovation and adoption models:
• Importance of research and development in competitive technology sectors.
• Innovations models: phase gate model, open vs closed, individual vs organisational, technology push vs market pull, user innovation, evolutionary innovation, disruptive innovation.
• Intellectual property, its protection, licensing and strategies.
• The product life cycle and its environmental and societal impact. Product diffusion models, BASS model analysis.
Product Management:
• Defining product specifications. Quality Function development for translating customer requirements into final products.
• Product investment Appraisal: Net Present Value, Accounting Rate of Return, payback period, Product Portfolio management: Expected Commercial Value analysis.
• Make and buy decisions - Subcontracting decisions and vendor assessment.
• Overview of contracts, copyright and patent laws.
• Design constraints, product environmental footprint, eco-design, regulatory constraints, WEEE and EuP directives, EU’s Integrated Product Policy.
• Benchmarking - establishing and updating development targets to reflect external trends.
• Agile Project management in technology product development: Introduction to SCRUM, sprints, burndown charts.
• Project organisation and leadership. Cross-functional integration and concurrent engineering management approaches. Product cost reduction methods and value engineering.
• Design Controls: Design and contract review, Configuration control, IS09000 requirements and implications, The management of computer integrated development systems.
Entrepreneurship:
• The role of the entrepreneur and entrepreneurial team in high-tech ventures.
• Evaluation of the market viability of new technology-based venture ideas and market definition; Strategies for high-tech product positioning, marketing and operations; resources(e.g., people, financing etc.) required for starting up and operation of a new venture and how to acquire them.
• What financiers seek in high-tech business proposals, Development and Presentation of a high-tech proposal.
• Operational and capacity issues of start-up and development of a technology based venture, choosing an Exit Strategy.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 48
Independent Study 86
Directed Study 42
Problem / challenge based learning 24
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply high-level management skills necessary to support the design, manufacture and marketing of technologically innovative products while abiding by the legal, socio-environmental and regulatory constraints.
LO2 Acquire and synthesise knowledge and expertise in entrepreneurial and management processes to identifying, developing and marketing new products.
LO3 Function effectively as a member or leader of an innovative team and evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 Presentation of a business proposal including business plan, market research, socio-environmental impact and investment pitch. 15 N/A 50 No 50
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 A concentrated inquiry into a particular business innovation problem. 0 2000 50 No 50

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1
Case study 1

Reading List

Hallam, Cory R. A, and William Flannery.?Engineering the High Tech Start Up: Fundamentals and Theory, Volume I. New York: Momentum Press, 2018. Print.

Chouteau, Marianne, Joe¨lle Forest, and Ce´line Nguyen.?Science, Technology and Innovation Culture. 1st edition. London: ISTE Ltd, 2018. Print.

Meredith, Mantel(2011), Project Management, A Managerial Approach, Wiley, ISBN 0-471-01626-8

Burns, P(2010), Entrepreneurship and Small Business: Start-up, Growth and Maturity, Palgrave, Macmillan, ISBN: 978-0230247802

David Smith(2009), Exploring innovation, McGraw-Hill Education, ISBN: 978-0077121235

Swanson, J.A. and Baird M.L. (2003), \\\"Engineering Your Start-Up: A Guide for the High-Tech Entrepreneur\\\", Professional Publications, Inc., ISBN: 978-1888577914

Augustine, S.(2005), Managing agile projects, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 978-0131240711