Number: MBA 290C.1, EECS 201, IS 224, E298A
Title: Strategic Computing and Communications Technology
Course cross-listing or room share: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (listed as an EE course, but intended for both CS and EE graduate students), Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering. Satisfies core course requirement for the Management of Technology Program, although enrollment in MOT is not required.
Units: Three, taught each fall semester
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the
Time and place: 202 South Hall, TTh 2-3:30
Email: messer (at eecs.berkeley.edu) Office hours (259M Cory Hall): TBA |
|
Transamerica Professor of Business Strategy, Professor, Department of Economics Email: shapiro (at haas.berkeley.edu) Office hours (F681 Haas): TBA |
Factors strongly impacting the success of new computing and communications products and services (based on underlying technologies such as electronics and software) in commercial applications. Technology trends and limits, economics, standardization, intellectual property, government policy, and industrial organization. Strategies to manage the design and marketing of successful products and services.
Especially after several decades of advances in raw technological capability, we have a set of marvelously powerful and cost-effective technologies. With notable exceptions, the burning issue becomes “what do we do with them?” There are several aspects to this question.
The objective of the course is to understand these and related factors, then reference them back to the strategies of major players in the high technology industry. The scope of coverage includes hardware, communications, software, and information content, with an emphasis on the latter two areas. The course will actively involve the students in attacking these issues, especially through interactions among Business, Engineering, and SIMS students.
Students are expected to read assigned sections of the two textbooks. For the most part, materials in the readings will not be repeated in class, but rather the class will supplement these readings with other activities:
At the end of the third week, permanent groups will be assigned. These groups will conduct two projects:
Students will be assigned readings from two books (written respectively by the instructors). The tables of content (TOC, linked below) define the scope of the readings. From time to time other articles and Web sites will be assigned where they help preparation for a subsequent classroom discussion.
Both of the following books are available at the ASUC and Ned’s bookstores:
C. Shapiro and H. Varian, Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the
Network Economy, |
|
D.G. Messerschmitt and Clemens Syzperski, Software Ecosystem: Understanding an Indispensable Technology and Industry. MIT Press, 2003. [TOC] |