Graduate School Of Business (Sgsm)Research and Development ManagementWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 51260.1
Discipline: BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Student Contribution Band: 3
Level: 7
Credit Points: 10
About this Unit
This unit provides concepts, tools and techniques to enable business and technical managers to effectively manage research and development (R&D) activity in their organisations. Topics include the role and scope of R&D in business, the process of technological innovation -- the need for a conceptual approach, technological innovation as a conversion process, factors contributing to successful technological innovation, strategies for R&D -- the role of corporate planning, R&D as a business, resource allocation to R&D, selecting R&D strategy, strategy versus entrepreneurship, creativity and problem-solving -- the creative process, creative individuals -- main characteristics, creativity in innovation, techniques for creative problem-solving. An integrated approach, project selection and evaluation, financial evaluation of R&D projects, R&D program planning and control, organisation of R&D -- definition of organisation, the human resource, leadership style, industrial characteristics, organisation structures, technological forecasting for decision-making -- the need to forecast, the definition of technological forecasting, inputs to and outputs of the forecasting system, classifications and techniques of technological forecasting.