COURSE PM

TEK455

KNOWLEDGE-BASED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

7,5 higher education credits

Examiner: Ulf Petrusson

Formal information

Bowman Heiden, Course Manager (bo.heiden.@chalmers.se)

Christoffer Hermansson, Course Manager (christoffer.hermansson@gu.se)

 

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to give students both theoretical and practical capabilities in the development and management of knowledge-based business as a distinct form of business with its own unique competitive strategies and sources of competitive advantage based on distinctively different resources, capabilities, value propositions, business models, market positioning, value networks, and organizational behavior as compared to traditional, industrial-based business.

 

Organization

The course is built around a simulated company environment based on role-play pedagogy, connected to a lab. The lab is based on a number of different simulations of various length and complexity, in which the students solve practical problems. Combined with the simulations, there are a number of related lectures. These will serve as the theoretical foundation, together with the literature, that is needed in order to accomplish excellent results throughout the simulations.

 

Learning outcomes

Chalmers (TEK455)

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to):   1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the role of intellectual assets in knowledge-based utilization processes based on strategy and vision. 2. Explain and critically discuss relevant theoretical and practical frameworks as well models for establishing, organizing and managing knowledge-based operations. 3. Give examples of how knowledge-based businesses affect and drive transformation processes in the interface between industrial and knowledge-based business creation. 4. Establish and develop competitive business strategies tailored for an intellectual value chain. 5. Establish and implement value- and business goals and strategies for knowledge based start-up companies, innovations and markets. 6. Design and organize business activities for start-up companies with a focus on knowledge- and technology development. 7. Use relevant concepts and models, as well as acquired specialized knowledge (technology-specific and other) to evaluate how intellectual assets, property and capital affect and forms the basis for value creation in a knowledge-based economy. 8. Evaluate moral and ethical aspects in the implementation of tech-based innovation processes and business creation with a focus on sustainability.

Examination

The students are graded on their performance in managing the business challenges that occur as well as specific deliverables to company stakeholders in the simulation connected to assignments individually and in groups, in the form of written hand-ins and oral presentations. Active participation in the simulation is mandatory.

Examination Activity	Grade	Group/Individual
Assignments, Q1	1-50	30p Group 20p Individual
Assignments, Q2	1-40	20p Group 20p Individual
Assignments, Q3	1-30	30p Group

The students are examined by individual and group assignments in written and oral form through presentations and written reports.

A student has the right to request a change of examiner if failed twice on the same exam if this is practically possible. Such a request should be put forward in writing and addressed to the department.

 

Seminars

The seminars are given by individuals from Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, and guest lecturers with theoretical knowledge and practical experience within knowledge-based business development and management.

Attendance at the seminars is highly recommended, as most of the seminars will cover material that is not found in the course literature and will be needed to accomplish the assignments. Active participation by the students is critical to the learning experience.

 

Group Assignments

The group assignments will be presented and completed in connection to the business simulation. The assignments will be graded based on the group’s analytical and communicative capabilities in relation to the specific business context.

• Q1: 20p – Specified report (6 pages + Appendix)
• Q1: 10p – Unspecified report (3 pages + Appendix)
• Q2: 20p – Specified report (6 pages + Appendix)
• Q3: 15p – Specified report (3 pages + Appendix)
• Q3: 15p – Presentation (10 ppt slides + Appendix)

 

Individual Assignments

The individual assignments will be presented and completed in connection to the business simulation. The assignments will be graded based on the group’s analytical and communicative capabilities in relation to the specific business context.

•       20p – Specified report (Individual: 3 pages + Appendix)

•       20p – Specified report (Individual: 3 pages + Appendix)

 

Grades

The grading scale for the Chalmers course TEK455 is as follows:

0-39%% = U/F

40-59%% = 3

60-79%=4

80%> = 5

To receive a grade, the student must pass all the examination parts of the course.

 

Literature

1. BCG (2015), Crop Farming 2030: Reinvention of the Sector
2. Graff et al. (2003), The Public-Private Structure of Intellectual Property Ownership in Agricultural Biotechnology, Nature Biotechnology, 21, 9, 989, 995.
3. Chi-Ham et al. (2010), The intellectual Property Landscape for Gene Suppression Technologies in Plants, Nature Biotechnology, 28, 1, 32-36
4. Grant, Robert (2013), Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Wiley
5. Moore, Geoffrey (2013), Crossing the Chasm, Collins
6. Christensen, Clayton (2011), The Innovator’s Dilemma, Harper
7. Kotter, John (1995), “Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail”, Harvard Business Review, Mar/Apr 1995, Vol. 73 Issue 2, p59-67
8. Hoffman, R., Casnocha, B., & Yeh, C. (2014). The Alliance: Managing talent in the networked age. Harvard Business Press.
9. Dixit, A. and Pindyck, R. (1995), “The Options Approach to Capital Investments”, Harvard Business 
Review, May-June, 1995
10. Timothy A. Luehrman (1998), “Investment opportunities as real options: getting started on the numbers”, Harvard Business Review, July-Aug 1998
11. Pharmacyclics: Financing Research and Development (HBS: 9-201-056) Available at www.hbr.org (Product # 201056)
12. Method for Valuing High-Risk, Long-Term Investments: The "Venture Capital Method" (HBS: 9-288-006) Available at www.hbr.org (Product # 288006)
13. Osterwalder, A., Peigner, Y. (2010), Business Model Generation – A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
14. Berman, K., Knight, J. and Case, J. (2006), Financial Intelligence: A Manager's Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean
15. Drahos, Peter (1999), “Biotechnology Patents, Markets and Morality”. European 
Intellectual Property Review, 21(9), pp. 441-449

 

 Schedule

Date	Time	Topic	Room	Lecturer	Literature
21/03	13-14	Introduction to Knowledge-Based Business Development and Management	Vasa 7	BH/CH/ KSR	Everything you’ve read until now
	14-15	Introduction to AgroSciences	Vasa 7	BH	1, 2, 3
	15:00	Simulation: Q1 begins	Online
24/03	08-12	Knowledge-Based Business and Competitive Advantage	Vasa C	BH	4, 5, 6
25/03	15-17	Managing the Intellectual Value Chain –Visions, Strategies, and Capabilities	Vasa C	BH
28/03	13-17	Role-play	Online
31/03	08-12	Role-play	Online
01/04	15-17	Q1 Pre-Feedback	Zoom	BH/CH
04/04	13-17	Role-play	Online
07/04	08-12	Role-play	Online
07/04	12:00	P1 Hand-in	Online
08/04	08-12	Q1 Board Meeting	TBD	Board
	15-17	P1 Feedback	Vasa C
20/04	08:00	Simulation Q2 begins	Moodle
	13-15	Business Modelling: From an Industrial to an Intellectual Value Chain	TBD	BH
	15-16	Business Models in AgroSciences	TBD	BH	1
22/04	15-17	Role-play	Online
25/04	13-17	Role-play	Online
28/04	08-12	Role-play	Online
29/04	15-17	Role-play	Online
02/05	13-17	Role-play	Online
05/05	08-12	Role-play	Online
06/05	15-17	Role-play	Online
09/05	13-17	Role-play	Online
10/05	12:00		Online
12/05	08-12	Q2 Board Meeting	TBD	Board
13/05	15-17	P2 Feedback	Vasa C
16/05	08:00	Q3 Simulation begins	Moodle
	13-14	Valuation of High-Risk Projects	Vasa 7	BH
	14-17	Investment Opportunities as Real Option	Vasa 7	BH
19/05	08-12	Role-play	Online
20/05	15-17	Rhetoric and pitching	Vasa C
23/05	13-17	Role-play	Online
26/05	08-12	Role-play	Online
26/05	17:00	P3 Hand-in	Online
27/05	08-12	Q3 Board Meeting	TBD	Board
27/05	15-17	Award Ceremony	Vasa C	All

 

Faculty

BH	Bowman Heiden	GU/Chalmers
CH	Christoffer Hermansson	GU/Chalmers
UP	Ulf Petrusson	GU/Chalmers

 

Course evaluation

The course will be evaluated upon completion. The results of the evaluation will be communicated to the students and will function as a guide for the development of the course.

Contact

Please post all the course-related questions on the course’s page on Canvas or contact Bowman Heiden (bo.heiden@chalmers.se)