This course examines both traditional and new approaches for achieving operational competitiveness in service businesses. The course addresses strategic analysis and operational decision making, with emphasis on the latter. This seminar is intended for students interested in consulting, entrepreneurship, venture capital or general management careers that will involve significant analysis of a service firm's operations. The goal of this course is to provide students with the key knowledge managers need to know regarding information technology and how it is used for competitive advantage in business today. Topics include fundamentals of computer hardware and software, data and knowledge management, telecommunications, electronic commerce issues, system building and system failures, computer security and control, and social and ethical issues.
Material is presented within a strategy framework for the Internet economy.
The course comprises a blend of technical and managerial content, is both lecture and case based and includes a term project in an area of interest to the student. The strategic deployment and management of innovation and technology for competitive advantage constitute the focal theme. This theme is examined through an integrative framework that pulls together the various functional perspectives of operations, research and development, design, marketing, finance and engineering. The course addresses the technology-strategy connection in light of technological change and its management. It covers the process of developing, selecting, implementing, improving, transferring and managing product and process innovations, its role within the firm and its interface with operations.