Management of Technological Enterprises

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject uses case studies to explore strategic decision-making, organisational design, culture and change, communication, leadership and the capturing of enterprise knowledge in technological businesses. The management of people, the mentoring of technical professionals, codes of ethics, the interface with customers, consumer behaviour, the development and maintenance of business networks, engineering consultancy practices, and the development of technology markets are considered. Students will be given an overview of various legal aspects regarding occupational health and safety, contract law, negligence, professional liability, the Trade Practices Act and intellectual property with reference to technology businesses

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Conduct a strategic analysis of a technological enterprise regarding core technical and organisational competencies, competitive forces, and competitive advantage
• Link business strategies such as collaboration, joint ventures, diversification, integration and outsourcing, with organisational design, organisational structure and technological forecasting
• Understand the interrelationship between technological trends, innovation, organisational culture, organisational change, communication and leadership in technology based enterprises
• Understand technology-push versus market-pull forces in acceptance of technological products and change
• Establish, expand and manage an engineering consultancy, identify business opportunities, build and maintain client networks
• Understand the codes of ethics and professional conduct that govern the behaviour of engineering managers in a global and multicultural business environment
• Understand in sufficient detail the law of contracts in order to instruct lawyers, to manage contracts and to negotiate contracts with clients
• Have sufficient knowledge of the Tort of Negligence, the Trade Practices Act and professional liability to manage a technology business effectively
• Be familiar with legislation on Occupational Health and Safety relevant to different managerial levels
• Understand international intellectual property legislation in order to instruct patent lawyers, to manage intellectual property in a technology business, and to integrate intellectual property into a wider commercialisation strategy

• One 2-hour examination, end of semester (50%)
• One 2500 word (or equivalent) written assignment (50%)

Hurdle Requirement: A pass must be achieved in the examination component in order to pass the subject

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
• Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large