EDAM | Doctoral Program | Spring Semester

• Introduction to the course: what is technology commercialization: going from idea to market.
• Technology assessment, product development and customer needs: How to turn a technology into a marketable product?
• Market scanning and data Collection: analyzing customers and competition.
• Market selection.
• Intellectual property strategy.
• Business models.
• Planning for commercialization: developing a go to market strategy.
• Funding technology development and commercialization.
• ‘Selling’ the idea to stakeholders.
• Implementing the plan: milestones and future growth.

• how to research and select the most promising market applications for an emerging technology;
• how to research markets, customers and competitors;
• how to identify and select an intellectual property protection strategy;
• how to identify and select a “go to market” strategy and a business model;
• how to assess funding needs and identify milestones in the development and commercialization strategy.

• Modeling of Decision Problems
  • objectives and alternatives
  • decision levels and analysis paradigms
  • quantitative and qualitative aspects in decision-making
• Problem structuring methods
  • SWOT Analysis; Cognitive and mental maps
  • Strategic options development and analysis; soft systems methodology
• Financial aspects of Decision-Making
  • time dimension
  • uncertainty and risk
  • multiple criteria
• Investment Projects Analysis: basics and practical issues
• Collaborative Project Management
  • general principles; assessment and selection of ideas
  • organizational issues; management structure; documents and information flows
  • CPM and extensions; resource management
  • project control and monitoring
  • collaborative issues; software packages for project management
• Advanced use of spreadsheets for supporting decision-making

• Acquaintance with managing tools and procedures most used in technological based businesses

• The context and content involved in study of complex socio-technical systems
• Methodologies for study of Engineering Systems
  • “Modern” Network Analysis
  • Agent-Based Models
• Hierarchies and other “structure” in complex socio-technical systems
• Macro-engineering and macro –ethics in research and practice in Engineering Systems
  • Engineering ethics and leadership
  • Engineering Philosophy and the use of higher-level abstractions in engineering
• Systems thinking (multiple perspectives, multiple levels, visual thinking, quantitative reasoning, narrative etc.)

• Capacity and methodologies to address complex engineering systems, with special emphasis in product development and manufacturing operations

• formulation of a research topic
• modeling engineering-economic systems for real-world applications (data analysis, systems modeling and judgment of importance)
• overview of research methods (the design and structure of research projects, development of constructs and measures, the selection and use of various quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and reporting)
• critical revision of the literature - Cases of real world applications of systems models used to demonstrate the art
• research strategy approaches
• project management - skills and methodologies
• research ethics
• data selection and collection
• data analysis
• research report writing and oral presentation

Capable of:

• creating, selecting and transforming a research idea into a research topic
• characterizing the “state of the art” and to define the research methodology
• modeling engineering-economic systems for real-world applications
• acquiring an overview of social science research methods and ethical issues in research
  - preparing scientific and technical reports
• writing and quote scientific material and bibliography

• Addressing forces driving lean / six sigma processes.
• Lean thinking
• Variance reduction and design of experiments
• Team-based Work systems
• In-station process control
• Total Productive maintenance
• Synchronous material flow,
• Value stream mapping,
• Knowledge and information flow,
• Pull-based systems,
• Enterprise alignment
• Addressing some of the important issues involved with the planning, development, and implementation of lean enterprises.
• People, technology, process, and management dimensions of an effective lean manufacturing company considered in a unified framework.
• Integration of lean principles/dimensions across the entire enterprise, including product development, production and the extended supply chain.

• Development of lean thinking skills
• Capability to use tools and techniques that support the design and the continuous improvement of lean manufacturing systems.

• Logistics and the integration of the supply chain (SC)
• Introduction and the actual business context. SC integration. The strategic role of supply chain management (SCM) for competitiveness. Developing and implementing customer service strategies. The key role of logistics processes and strategies in competitive SCs. Costing and key performance indicators.
• Overview of enabling information technologies
• Electronic Data Interchange. Standard identification EAN/UCC/EPC Global. Bar coding and laser scanning. RFID – Radio Frequency Identification. Web-based solutions for supply chain integration.
• Supply chain configuration
• SC mapping and configuration. Distribution channels strategy. Sourcing/procurement strategies Supply Chain focus. Mass customization and postponement strategies. Speculative stock location strategies. Product design for modularization.
• Supply chain tactics
• Traditional approaches. Collaborative strategies (VMI, CRP, SBO, JIT, ECR, CPFR, 4PL). The experience so far.
• Integrated planning of the supply chain
• Integrated planning Framework. ERP e APS tools. SC design. Demand planning. Inventory planning. Integrated tactical requirements planning (distribution, production, materials). Collaborative planning and forecasting.
• Detailed analysis of a particular industry’s supply chain for a given industry, detailed analysis and mapping of the SC (e.g. Automotive, healthcare, etc).
• Logistics operations managementThe role of transportation systems in the SC. Managing transport operations. The role of warehouse/depots/cross-docking platforms in the SC. Managing warehouse operations. Third party logistics.

• Developing an integrated view of the main supply chain issues and of the strategic role of SCM
• Developing skills in managing the various aspects of the SC
• Understanding the global trade-offs in terms of costs and customer service and of the need to align the logistics processes with business partners, i.e. clients and suppliers.

• Leadership styles and personal traits
• Leadership contexts
  • Leadership in a “Managerial Capitalist” Organization
  • Leadership in non-profits and government
  • The entrepreneur as Leader
• Aspects (duties of leaders) –relationship to narrative myths
• Systems thinking (multiple perspectives, multiple levels, visual thinking, quantitative reasoning, narrative etc.)
• Ethics and philosophy
• Organizational structures, communication and problem solving
• Team management and development: leadership in function of the objectives and the profile of the group
• Strategic leadership: definition of objectives, drawing of the organization and development of a culture of ethics and excellence
• Attitudes of communication and assertiveness
• Processes of negotiation and conflict resolution

• Capable of identifying and analyzing major issues involved and related to organizational leadership.
• Capable of developing and enhancing own leadership capacities.

• Comprehension of sustainability principles
• Comprehension of industrial ecology perspectives on technological activity and strategies
• Awareness of environmental evaluation theories and tools for product and product system design
• Proficiency with:
  • Life-cycle thinking
  • Life-cycle assessment methods
• Awareness of concepts and methods for evaluating material recovery systems
• Ability to address analyses with incomplete data
• Appreciation for multi conditional solutions

• Sustainable design strategies
• Life-cycle assessment
• Economic, environmental, and social impacts