COMENT 708A Business Analysis for Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Develops a cross disciplinary set of competencies for research commercialisation, entrepreneurship and technology ventures by drawing upon core concepts, models and knowledge from the disciplines of Accounting/Finance, Marketing, IP and Commercial Law. Emphasis will also be placed on linkages between the disciplinary concepts and methods and how they are applied in specific situations.

Course Overview

The main goal of the course is to enable students to identify issues, risks and opportunities that arise in the research commercialisation process. While gaining knowledge about tools and methods from various disciplines, students will develop the understanding of how to apply these skill sets for business analysis in the different stages of research commercialisation following pathways such as venture formation, licensing and partnering.

This is a compulsory course of the MCE and offers a unique perspective due to the interconnected nature of the different disciplines. It will also offer an opportunity to work with real case studies, both individually and in group, as well as to listen to guest speakers who will offer valuable insights into various industries and companies that might be of interest to students trying to learn about research commercialisation. The range of skills and tools gained through this course will benefit someone interested in a career as commercialisation manager, for example within a larger organisation or a tech transfer office.

Course Requirements

Restriction: COMENT 701, 702 To complete this course students must enrol in COMENT 708 A and B

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Identify and describe core tools of analysis and concepts from the disciplines of Accounting/Finance, Marketing, IP and Commercial Law with relevance for research commercialisation; (Capability 1)
Critically reflect on how to apply particular tools of analysis and concepts to research commercialisation according to a particular stage of research commercialisation; (Capability 2)
Effectively communicate issues related to business analysis in both oral and written forms to core stakeholders in the research commercialisation process. (Capability 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Individual Assignment Finance	15%	Individual Coursework
Individual Assignment Marketing	15%	Individual Coursework
Group Coursework	50%	Group & Individual Coursework
Assignments	20%	Peer Coursework
4 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3
Individual Assignment Finance
Individual Assignment Marketing
Group Coursework
Assignments

Workload Expectations

The class will meet for 20 x 3 hours lecture sessions. Class time will be used for a combination of lectures and applied discussions of case studies and examples. In addition to attending classes, students should be prepared to spend additional eight to ten hours per week on activities related to this course. These activities include carrying out the required readings and preparing for assignments.

Through our class time together, you will refine your conceptual understanding of the material in the readings and be provided with opportunities to demonstrate your application of the ideas and tools. In addition, relevant guest speakers will provide insights and perspectives into how these concepts are relevant to the business practice.

Compulsory 1 hour “backbone” sessions will be conducted after most Friday sessions (from 6-7pm). Each backbone session will cover topics and issues of more practical relevance in relation to the research commercialization process. Speakers for each backbone session will be announced at a later point.

The class will also incorporate one group project and two individual assignments.

Learning Resources

IP and Commercial Law:

For further references to intellectual property aspects the course we recommend Ian Finch (ed.), James & Wells Intellectual Property Law in New Zealand (3rd ed, Brookers, Wellington, 2017).

For further reference to other legal aspects covered in the course we recommend Jeremy Hubbard “Principles of Law for New Zealand Business Students” (5th ed, Pearson, Auckland, 2012).

Accounting and Finance:

For further references to aspects of finance and accounting you could reference:

Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation (Int'l Ed) Paperback by Stephen H. Penman

However, this text provides more detailed information than we will cover in class.

Other reputable introductory accounting and finance textbooks also cover many of the key concepts we will discuss in class.

You may also review “Fuel for your Business” published by the NZ Venture Capital Association. Copies of this resource should be available on short-loan at Kate Edgar.

Marketing:

These readings, from various sessions of the course, will be very useful for the early stages of the programme:

Suarez, F., Utterbach, J., Von Gruben, P., and Kang, H.Y. (2018). The Hybrid Trap: Why Most Efforts to Bridge Old and New Technology Miss the Mark, MIT Sloan Management Review, Spring, 52-57.

Pisano, G. (2019). How Big Companies Can Innovate Like Small Start-ups, Knowledge@Wharton Innovation, Jan.30, 1-9) (http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/how-big-companies-c…_source=kw_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-01-31)

Schilling, M. (2017). What’s Your Best Innovation Bet? Harvard Business Review, July-August, 86-93.

Almquist, E., Cleghorn, J., Sherer, L. (2018). The B2B Elements of Value, Harvard Business Review, March-April, 73-81.

Matzler, K., Bailom, F., von den Eichen, S., and Kohler, T. (2013). Business Model Innovation: Coffee Triumphs for Nespresso, Journal of Business Strategy, 34(2), 30-37.

Day, G. (2007). Is It Real? Can We Win? Is It Worth Doing? Managing Risk and Reward in an Innovation Portfolio, Harvard Business Review, December, 110-120.

Jarvenpaa, S. and Lang, K.R. (2005). Managing the Paradoxes of Mobile Technology, Information Systems Management, Fall, 7-23. (This is a classic article on the topic, quite interesting, and represents an issue not well covered in mainstream marketing literature)

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement

COMENT 708A : Business Analysis for Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship

Business and Economics

2020 Quarter Two (1204) (15 POINTS)