Management of Technological Enterprises

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

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 examples 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
• Manage the interrelationships between technological trends, innovation, sustainability, organisational culture, organisational change, communication and leadership in technology based enterprises
• Establish, expand and manage an engineering consultancy, identify business opportunities, build and maintain client networks
• Apply the codes of ethics and professional conduct that govern the behaviour of engineering managers in a global and multicultural business environment
• Apply risk management principles to engineering practice
• Advise how knowledge management principles can be applied to ensure efficient engineering practice
• 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 1,000 word research essay, due in week 5 (20%)
• One 1,000 word personal learning journal and summary, due weeks 6 and 12 (20%)
• One 1,000 word company report, due week 12 (20%)
• One 500 word final presentation, due week 11/12 (10%)
• One two hour examination held in the examination period (30%)

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

Lucy C. Morse & Dan L. Babcock 2010 Managing Engineering and Technology, 5/E, Prentice Hall

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Ethical conduct and professional accountability
• Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
• Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.
• Professional use and management of information.
• Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.