E/SEC 103, Winter 2024

Management of Technology
Instructors Richard Murray (CDS/BE), Stu Feldman, Eric Schmidt Lectures: Mon/Wed, 1:30-2:55 pm Office hours: Wed, 3-3:45 pm, Annenberg lounge	Teaching Assistants Matt Kratz, Sabera Talukder Office hours: Fri, 1:30-3 pm, 213 ANB (tentative)

This is the course homepage for E/SEC 103, Winter 2024. This course is limited enrollment and auditors are not allowed. All students interested in participating must fill out a pre-enrollment survey. Names for students selected for the course will be given to the Registrar to be enrolled as long as there are no time conflicts. A wait list will be available in case any spaces open up.

Catalog Description

This course is intended for students interested in learning how rapidly evolving technologies are harnessed to produce useful products or fertile new area 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	3 Jan (Wed)	Class organization and logistics	RM
	5 Jan (Fri)	Optional brainstorming session	TAs
W2	8 Jan (Mon)	ES talk + project pitches Scaling Laws paper (Caltech only) Project pitches: 1 slide, 2 min each (+ 2-3 min Q&A)	SF, RM, ES
	10 Jan (Wed)	Quantifying Technological Progress (De Weck, Ch 4)	RM
W3	15 Jan (Mon)	No class (Martin Luther King Day)
	17 Jan (Wed)	Definite/indefinite thinking and optimism/pessimism (#Thiel, Ch 6)	ST
W4	22 Jan (Mon)	Case Study	RM
	24 Jan (Wed)	Systems Modeling and Technology Sensitivity Analysis (De Weck, Ch 11)	RM
W5	29 Jan (Mon)	Fermi problems	RM
	31 Jan (Wed)	TBD	RM
W6	5 Feb (Mon)	Case Study	RM
	7 Feb (Wed)	TBD	RM
W7	12 Feb (Mon)	Midterm presentations (day flexible)	SF, RM, ES
	14 Feb (Wed)	TBD	RM
W8	19 Feb (Mon)	No class (Presidents Day)
	21 Feb (Wed)	Project presentations (for feedback)	SF, RM
W9	26 Feb (Mon)	External Speaker (or Case Study)	RM
	28 Feb (Wed)*	External Speaker (or Case Study)	TBD
W9	4 Mar	External Speaker (or Case Study)	RM
	6 Mar (Wed)	External Speaker (or Case Study)	RM
Finals	11 Mar (Mon)	Final presentations	SF, RM, ES
	15 Mar (Fri)	Final report due

Grading

• 20% - Class participation
• 20% - Midterm presentation
• 30% - Final presentation
• 30% - Final writeup

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

1. **[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)
2. **[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.