This is the first of a two-part series course (Part 1: R&D Projects Planning & Communication; Part 2: R&D Projects Management & Crisis Handling) designed for students with previous experience in R&D work. These two courses can be taken independently in no specific order.
The course starts by examining the underlying components of today’s business models. Knowledge obtained will be used to explore and to cross-examine the various methodologies regarding strategic planning of R&D projects with an emphasis on the effect of large changes on corporate operations. Students will be expected to use their prior R&D experiences as a basis for this course and to utilize the workshops and class discussions to analyze case studies within group teams. Strategic planning methodologies in a R&D environment as well as reviewing the rapid advancement of linking today’s R&D and business models will be investigated.
Due to the importance of communication skills in today’s R&D environments, presentation skills will be taught as a key component of this course. Students will be grouped and trained in and outside of the classroom on presentation skills. In class discussions, students will be evaluated by both the instructor and by classmates.
Students will learn to work in groups of four to six during the workshop sessions. The student must prepare in groups for the term project and on the homework assignments. Furthermore, the students will be asked to make a PowerPoint presentation on a pre-assigned section of two books entitled, “Open Services Innovation” and “A Guide to Open Innovation and Crowdsourcing” (References 1 and 2 below).” It is expected that the study and report of these books will provide the students with a new perspective in linking crowd intelligence with open innovation in today’s highly dynamic internet world.
To ensure that students gain the appropriate knowledge from the course, students will be required to analyze selected NSC research reports and analyze how these Taiwan local enterprises reform their business structure in the face of unpredictable economic environmental situations.