MGT 561 Management of Innovation & Technology Sam Houston State University College of Business Administration Fall 2003 6:00 - 9:00 Th  AB-1 Room 209 or 202
About the Course About the Instructor Links E-mail Assignments Syllabus Class Roster	Programming the Robot and Taking Measurements with the Digimatic Page last updated on 07/08/08

If we were to go back in time 100 years and ask a farmer what he'd like if he could have anything, he'd probably tell us he wanted a horse that was twice as strong and ate half as many oats.  He would not tell us he wanted a tractor.  Technology changes things so fast that many people aren't sure what the best solutions to their problems might be.   
     Philip J. Quigley, former CEO of Pacific Telesis, Readers' Digest, January 2000.

It's easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will soon be out of date.
     Roger Von Oech, creativity expert and writer, cited in BITS & PIECES, 2001.

On Managing Creative Technologists

You have to throw the rule book out.  The genius of R&D management is knowing when to let people free and when to hold them back.
    Thomas M. Connelly, Jr., Chief Technology Officer, DuPont, cited in Chemical and Engineering News, November 28, 2005.

Dreamers who can't imagine why something won't work are an incredible asset.
    Ian D. Jardine, Vice President of Global R&D, Thermo Fisher Scientific, cited in Chemical and Engineering News, December 11, 2006.

MGT 561 is a study of current topics in the management of creativity, innovation, technology, and quality assurance.  Guest speakers and experiential exercises will be utilized in addition to lectures, student presentations and class discussion of topics.
Prerequisites: Completion of MIS 388, MGT 380, and MGT 475 stem work.

Texts:    Robinson, A. & S. Stern.  Corporate Creativity.  San Francisco:  Berrett Kohler, 1997.
               Khalil, T.  Management of Technology.  Boston:  McGraw Hill, 2000.
               Allen, K.  Bringing New Technology to Market.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2003.
                http://www.shsu.edu/~mgt_ves/mgt481/lessons.htm    MGT 481 Lessons 3 & 4.
               NWA Quality Analyst.  Available on SHSU computer network.

Major Projects:    *  Hands-on research of a new technology. Presentation required.
                              *  Technology forecast for a selected technology.  Research paper & presentation required.

Dr. Sower is a Professor of Operations Management at Sam Houston State University where he has taught since 1990. He is a Senior Member of the American Society for Quality and is Certified as a Quality Engineer. He also is a member of APICS, the Academy of Management, DSI, and other professional organizations. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, an M.B.A. from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. in Operations Management from the University of North Texas. Dr. Sower is co-author of three books, author or co-author of 21 articles in refereed journals, 25 articles in refereed conference proceedings, and numerous presentations.  He is an active consultant in the quality and innovation management areas. He is a recipient of the Sam Houston State University's Excellence in Teaching (1996), Excellence in Research (2001), and Excellence in Service (2008) Awards.  He was named a Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation in 2005.  In addition to his academic experience, he has over 18 years of experience in process engineering, engineering management, and general management of a manufacturing operation.

Example exam question with graded answers:
    What is the meaning of life?
    Answer 1:    "I think..."   Grade = F Until you earn the stature of Plato or Socrates, "I think..." is insufficient.
    Answer 2:    "Plato said...; Socrates said..."  Grade = C  Mere regurgitation of facts.
    Answer 3:    "Plato said...; Socrates said...; A synthesis of their views and mine is..."  Grade = A  Reasoned argument.

21 August  I will hand out syllabus and introduce technology forecasting.  We will watch the video, The Business of Paradigms.  We will do the "paper cup exercise."

28 August  We will begin our discussion of Corporate Creativity.  Read at least half the book in preparation.  Be prepared to discuss informally your proposed technology forecast topic.  Your one-page paper on what you learned about yourself from the paper cup exercise is due.  Send me an e-mail indicating whether you want an e-mail link on the class web site.  Because of a family emergency, my office hours might be a little irregular this week.

The opening Womens Soccer match will be against SMU at 7:00 pm on 29 August at Pritchett Field.

4 September  Finish reading Corporate Creativity.  Read the articles handed out in class.  Be prepared to discuss how they relate to Corporate Creativity.   I will return your graded Paper Cup Exercise papers.  Be creative--try to find out what proportion of 3-M's employees are eligible for the 15% rule.
Because of a family emergency, my office hours might be a little irregular this week.
Initial guidelines for formal Technology Forecast Proposal due on 11 Sept.:

• Tight description of topic.
• Why this is a significant topic -- i.e. of what value will be a forecast of this technology?
  
• Identification of potential expert sources (as specific as possible) to interview.
• Evidence that sufficient resources (print, electronic, etc.) exist to do the forecast.

22 September  SHSU Volleyball vs Baylor at 7:00 PM in Johnson Coliseum.
26 September  SHSU Volleyball vs McNeese St. at 7:00 PM in Johnson Coliseum.
27 September  SHSU Volleyball vs Lamar at 7:00 PM in Johnson Coliseum.
27 September SHSU Football away game at UTEP at 7:00.

23 October  Access to your technologies is available Mon - Thurs. this week 8:00 am - 6:00 pm upon request.
Each group will present their technology project.  The presentation is formal and should effectively demonstrate all of the capabilities of the technology (including advantages/disadvantages).  Each group member must play a meaningful role in the presentation.  Send me an e-mail if you need anything other than basic computer/projector technology for your presentations. We will meet in our 209 classroom for the presentations.  
After the presentations, we will finish our discussion of Allen's book and provide brief updates on our technology forecasts.  It is important to provide encouragement to each other in times when e-mails are being ignored and to help celebrate when a key source agrees to provide information.  This type of work can be frustrating at times.  Think of the update time as a form of group therapy.  

24 October  SHSU Volleyball vs Northwestern State at 7:00 pm in Johnson Coliseum.
25 October  SHSU Volleyball vs Louisiana Monroe at 4:00 pm in Johnson Coliseum.
24 October SHSU Women's Soccer at 7:00 pm at Pritchett Field.
26 October SHSU Women's Soccer at 1:00 pm at Pritchett Field.
25 October SHSU Football away game at McNeese State at 7:00 pm.

30 October  We will meet in the Conference Room for class.  Read at least through Ch 8 in Khalil's book, Management of Technology.  Read Ch 2 & Ch 7 as background--we will focus our discussion on Ch 1, 3-6, and 8.  Be prepared to provide a 5 minute update on your project.

28 October at 11:00  David Robinson--Presidential Speaker Series in Killinger Auditorium at CJ Building.

31 October SHSU Women's Soccer at 7:00 pm at Pritchett Field.

6 November  Finish reading Khalil's book, Management of Technology.  Read the three articles handed out in class.  Prepared to critically assess the Sower/Fair article--You are now technology/innovation management experts--What is right/wrong with this paper?   Be prepared to provide a 5 minute update on your project.  You really need to have connected with a substantive source by now.

HOMECOMING:  8 November  Football against Northwestern State at 2:00 pm in Bowers Stadium.
                                 7 November  Volleyball against Nicholls State at 7:00 pm in Johnson Coliseum.
                                 8 November  Volleyball against Southeastern LA at 7:00 pm in Johnson Coliseum.

13 November  We will meet in Room 209 for the rest of the semester.
Review the lesson and slides on this site in preparation for our discussion of creative problem solving: http://www.shsu.edu/~mgt_ves/mgt481/lesson3/lesson3.htm  
Load NWA Quality Analyst to your SHSU account using the SHSU Program Installation Menu.
Find one article to discuss in class on the subject of creative problem solving.  
Read the following articles which are available in full text on-line through Business Source Premier:
Hughes, G. David, "Add Creativity to Your Decision Processes", The Journal for Quality and Participation, Summer 2003:  pp. 4-13.
Pylipow, P., & W. Royall, "Root Cause Analysis in a World-Class Manufacturing Operation", Quality, October 2001, pp. 66-70.
See what you can find about Kepner and Tregoe's approach to problem solving.  They wrote a classic book in 1965 titled, The Rational Manager, which proposed a systematic approach to problem solving that has stood the test of time.
Send me an e-mail with your vote about changing the time for the final exam.  The vote must be unanimous.
Download the PowerPoint presentation on Creative Problem Solving.

15 November  SHSU Symphony Orchestra at 3:00 in Killinger Auditorium in CJ Building.
15 November  Football against Northern Arizona at 6:00 pm in Bowers Stadium.

Looking ahead:
Our Final Exam is scheduled for11 December from 8:00 - 10:00 pm.  Think about whether doing it from 6:00 - 8:00 pm is feasible.
All written Technology Forecasts will be due on 20 November.  Half the class will do their oral presentations on that date; the other half will do their oral presentations on 4 December.  We will draw lots to see who presents on which date.  See oral presentation guidelines at the bottom of this page.

20 November  We will meet in Room 209 for the rest of the semester.  All written Technology Forecasts are due.  NOTE:  I will NOT return your Technology Forecast reports to you, so make two copies if you wish to retain one (recommended).  Regina, Carol, Mike, Ronnie, Allen will make their oral presentations.  Notify me ASAP if you need any additional presentation support.  Download Presentation Guide which I will use to grade your oral presentation.

4 December  We will meet in Room 209 for the rest of the semester.  I will provide feedback to Regina, Carol, Mike, Ronnie, Allen on their oral presentations.  Skip, Joel, Sean, Judy, and Pareen will make their oral presentations.  Notify me ASAP if you need any additional presentation support.

11 December  Final Exam is scheduled from 6:00 - 8:00 based on a unanimous vote of the class.  The exam will be held in Room 209.  I will return your graded Technology Forecasts when you turn in your exam.  You will need to leave your forecasts with me, so if you wish to retain the graded copy, bring another copy for me to keep.  I will provide feedback to Skip, Joel, Sean, Judy, and Pareen on their oral presentations.

Congratulations to Sabrina Knight, this year's winner of the SHSU University Women's $500 scholarship.

A bit of guidance on one appropriate format for your written technology forecast:
    Executive summary (purpose, topic, findings)
    Background information on your technology [include your metric (e.g. computer speed) and how it has changed over time past].
    Your forecast for 5 and 10 years in the future.  Include your metric from the previous section with your forecast added.
    Defense of your forecast (i.e. your methodology, who you talked to, why they are the right ones to talk to, etc.).  What/who are the drivers of the change you forecast?
    Summary and conclusions.
    References (cite ALL sources--including interview sources).
    Appendices with appropriate backup material that isn't included in the body of the report.

The Business Career Fair
 
 
 
 
 

Oral Presentation Guidelines:
0.  It is permissible for you to switch presentation dates with a colleague by mutual agreement.  Just let me know ahead of time if you do so.
1.  Remember that this is a formal presentation.  Appropriate dress is business casual minimum.  Your presentation should be well organized and rehearsed--not just an informal discussion of your topic.
2.  Provide me with a copy of all presentation materials (e.g. handouts, PowerPoints, overheads, etc.) prior to beginning your presentation.
3.  Plan on taking 20 minutes for your presentation with about 5 minutes for questions (total of 25 minutes).  Part of your grade will be based on how well you manage your time (i.e. going over will hurt your grade).  I will give you a signal when you have used 15 of your 20 presentation minutes.  We should have extra time at the end of class for informal discussion or more questions.
4.  We will do the presentations in Room 209 which has overhead, VCR, and Internet/SHSU Network connections.  The classroom computer has CD and 3.5" floppy drives.  Let me know a week ahead of time if you need additional technologies.  If you prepare electronic materials at home or work, be sure that they are compatible with the software available on the SHSU computer network.
5.  You have put a lot of work into this project.  At presentation time, relax and enjoy sharing what you have found with your colleagues.  This should be part of the reward for all that hard work.