6 ECTS credits
174 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1015731ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Business Technology and Operations
Educational team
Thomas Crispeels (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
109 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course gives an introduction to technology and entrepreneurship, two major driving forces in our free market economical system.

We start with an introductory course explaining the relevance of the subject. We then study the structure of industries; we introduce concepts as value chains, business ecosystems, standards and dominant designs, network effects and industry clusters; we study the different types of actors in a business ecosystem. We then focus on innovation; we refine our vocabulary on the subject and we study the way innovation permeate an economy: industry life cycles. We apply the concepts on a number of cases.

In the second part of the course we look at the subject from the perspective of the entrepreneur. We study how he develops a strategy in the context described above; how he mobilized resources, builds an organization. We study entrepreneurial marketing, as well as the human aspect of entrepreneurship: leadership, teams, organization. Next to this, we also cover Intellectual Property Rights, New Product Development and Technology Transfer.

In the practice sessions we study the business aspects of a number of technologies that will be covered in the remainder of the Bachelor training Business Engineering. We discuss the societal relevance of these technologies and their current state. A number of practice sessions will be devoted to case studies and applications of the concepts treated in the HOC.

In the framework of the the practice sessions, students will be asked to prepare some deliverables (answers to open questions, presentations...) as a way of preparing them for the exam.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Slides van cursus, Canvas
Digital course material (Recommended) : Lectuurlijst, Canvas
Additional info

All communication will happen through Canvas.

During the course, we try to attract relevant guest lecturers. Presence at guest lectures is mandatory.

 

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Course-specific learning outcomes:

  • The students understand the basic structure and dynamics of (high-technology) industries and understand how these concepts and industry structures are interrelated.
  • The students know the different types of actors active in business ecosystems and have insight in the role of governments in these ecosystems.
  • The students know the basic concepts of innovation and understand the role of innovation in the current economic environment.
  • The students understand how an entrepreneur conceives his/her strategy and how this strategy permeates the functional domains of a start-up (e.g. HR, finance, marketing, new product development…)
  • The students know and understand the workings of different types of start-up investors.
  • The students know and understand the basic concepts with regard to Intellectual Property Rights and can frame the importance of these rights for a company and research institute.
  • The students know, in general lines, the history and current status of a number of high-technology sectors.
  • The students are able to recognize and apply the basic concepts of the course to a specific technology or start-up case.

This course contributes to a number of general learning goals of the educational program ‘Bachelor Business Engineer’:

  • To know and understand the economic system and the role of markets, institutions, companies and individuals within this system.
  • To anticipate to changes in the market environment and to (internal and external) factors influencing the organization. To be able to propose possible coping strategies.
  • To be able to start an own company, alone or in a team, taking into account, a.o., business economic, organizational, commercial and juridical terms and rules.
  • To integrate technology insights into the management and functional domains of a company (marketing, human resources, finance…)
  • To be able to translate and apply economic and general knowledge to a specific challenge and to develop (novel) solutions.
  • To be able to communicate with all parts of an organization, especially with technology departments.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 90% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 10% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 90 which comprises 90% of the final mark.

    Note: Closed book

    In case the student was unable to attend the exam and has the right to take the exam in the same session, this 'make up exam' will be an oral examination for 100% of the score.

    During the course, the educational team will organize a Q&A session to give more information on the exam and present some example questions.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Team Assignment with a relative weight of 10 which comprises 10% of the final mark.

    Note: Team assignment Technology Museum, more information during HOC and on Canvas

Additional info regarding evaluation

During the course, a group assignment accounting for 10% of the final grade will have to be submitted and presented.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Professionele bachelor Bedrijfsmanagement met Afstudeerrichting Accountancy-fiscaliteit of Financie- en verzekeringswezen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Professionele bachelor Bedrijfsmanagement met Afstudeerrichting Logistiek Management of Professionele bachelor toegepaste informatica (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Professionele bachelor Bedrijfsmanagement met Afstudeerrichting Marketing (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Business Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)