E/SEC 103, Winter 2025
Management of Technology | |
Instructors
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Teaching Assistants
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This is the course homepage for E/SEC 103, Winter 2025.
Catalog Description
This course is intended for students interested in learning how rapidly evolving technologies are harnessed to produce useful products or fertile new areas for research. Students will work learn about how technology and innovation leaders identify and shape emerging technologies and how technology can be harnessed and scaled to create new products and services. There will be a term project where students predict the future evolution of an exciting technology and explore the potential implications of that technology. The course is team-based and designed for students considering choosing an exciting research area, working in companies (any size, including start-ups), or eventually going to business school. Topics include technology as a growth agent, financial fundamentals, integration into other business processes, product development pipeline and portfolio management, learning curves, risk assessment, technology trend methodologies (scenarios, projections), motivation, rewards and recognition. Industries considered will include electronics (hardware and software), aerospace, medical, biotech, etc. Students will perform both primary and secondary research and present defensible projections based on their technology research.
Learning Objectives
- Teach students how to identify and analyze new technology areas/trends and explore the potential new applications of those technologies with potential for large impact
- Provide students with access to technology leaders in different fields who can provide new insights, ideas on how to manage technology, and help build students’ networks
- Identify new areas of research for potential investment by funding agencies and philanthropic organizations, with anticipated roadmap/path to impact
Lecture Schedule
Week | Date | Topic | Lecturer(s) |
W1 | 6 Jan (Mon) | Class organization, project frameworks
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RM, ST |
8 Jan (Wed) | ES, SF, RM, ST | ||
10 Jan (Fri) | Project pitch workshop (1-2:30 pm, 213 ANB) | TAs | |
W2 | 13 Jan (Mon) | Project pitches + What is Technology (De Weck, Ch 1)
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MK, ST, RM |
15 Jan (Wed) | ES talk, veteran presentation [Rescheduled] | ES, ST | |
W3 | 20 Jan (Mon) | No class (Martin Luther King Day) | |
22 Jan (Wed) | Quantifying Technological Progress (De Weck, Ch 4); Scaling Laws (ES notes), Zero to One Thiel, Ch 1-6 [skim]
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RM | |
W4 | 27 Jan (Mon) | Best practices for carrying out interviews (Fitzpatrick, Ch 3 and 8); Market Analysis (De Weck, Ch 7))
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MD |
29 Jan (Wed) | Fermi Problems; project updates
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SF | |
W5 | 3 Feb (Mon) | Techno-Economic Analysis; Systems Modeling and Technology Sensitivity Analysis (De Weck, Ch 11)
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LH |
5 Feb (Wed) | Patents and Intellectual Property (De Weck, Ch 5)
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RM | |
7 Feb (Fri) | Practice presentations (15 min + feedback; times TBD) | TAs | |
W6 | 10 Feb (Mon) | Midterm presentations (1:30-3:30 pm) | SF, RM, ES* |
12 Feb (Wed) | Midterm feedback | RM | |
W7 | 17 Feb (Mon) | No class (Presidents Day) | |
19 Feb (Wed) | External speaker (BG) | RM | |
W8 | 24 Feb* (Mon) | External speaker (YY) | TAs |
26 Feb* (Wed) | TBD | TAs | |
W9 | 3 Mar (Mon) | Project presentations to instructors (for feedback) | MK, ST, RM |
5 Mar (Wed) | External Speaker (JS) | RM | |
W10 | 10 Mar (Mon) | No class | TBD |
12 Mar (Wed) | Final presentations (1:30-4:00 pm) | SF, RM, ES | |
Finals | 19 Mar (Wed) | Final report due |
Grading
- 20% - Class participation: Based on participation in class, online, and team discussions
- 20% - Midterm presentation: Team-based score content + presentation; individual score based 1-page write up
- 30% - Final presentation: Team-based score content + presentation
- 30% - Final writeup: Team-based report + 2-page individual writeup on your contributions + summary of contributions from teammates
Collaboration Policy
This is a team-based class. Full collaboration is allowed and students are encouraged to discuss course materials, homework assignments, and projects with anyone that they choose. Course homework assignments are designed to be done as a group, but reports should reflect your individual understanding of the topic and/or your team's joint efforts, as appropriate.
Course Text and References
- [De Weck] Olivier L. De Weck, Technology Roadmapping and Development: A Quantitative Approach to the Management of Technology. 1st edition, Springer, 2022. Available via Springer Link (free Caltech download)
- [Fitzpatrick] Rob Fitzpatrick, The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers and Learn if Your Business Is a Good Idea When Everyone Is Lying to You, https://www.momtestbook.com, 2013.
- [Thiel] Peter Thiel, Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future. Crown Currency, 2014. Available from Apple, Amazon, and other sellers.