Course information

MF2051 R&D Strategy and Organization 6.0 credits

F&U Strategi och organisering

About course

Course information

Course development and history

Administrate

The course is comprised of a set of lectures and exercises. Moreover, students will perform a larger project totaling 2 hp, where they get the opportunity to apply the literature that has been introduced throughout the course. The project concerns an analysis of an R&D intensive company’s strategy and organization related to development, and to come up with recommendations regarding what the company should do. The lectures and exercises will focus on the following domains:

  • Different theories and frameworks related to strategy
  • Strategy on different levels in a firm, e.g. corporate, business and R&D strategies.
  • Product portfolios and product strategies.
  • Organization theory and organization design.
  • Organizing R&D.

Offering and execution

Course offering missing for current semester as well as for previous and coming semesters

Course information

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents *

The course aims at introducing different theories and frameworks related to strategies and organization, with specific focus on Research and Development (R&D). Specific emphasis is put on the understanding of company’s strategy and organization related to development, and to come up with recommendations regarding what the company should do. Interaction between R&D, organization and strategy is central for understanding the context in which product innovation takes place. The course gives an important contextual understanding within

Intended learning outcomes *

After having taken this course, students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

  • Be familiar with how theory regarding strategy and organization has evolved over time.
  • Be able to apply basic concepts, theories and analytical frameworks related to strategy and organization.
  • Be familiar with different ways of organizing firms, and how these structures relate to corporate and business strategy.
  • Understand the pros and cons of different ways of organizing R&D.
  • To know about different integration mechanisms that can be used when organizing R&D.
  • Be able to analyze the interplay between R&D and different corporate and business strategis and their implications for how firms should organize development activities.

Course Disposition

No information inserted

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites *

The course is open for students studying year four or five.

Recommended prerequisites

The course is open for all students, but is primarily aimed for students taking the Master’s track Product Innovation.

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

Grant, R.M. (2010),Contemporary strategy analysis, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK.

Scientific papers and extract from books.

Examination and completion

Grading scale *

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination *

  • PRO1 - Project, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • TEN1 - Examination, 4.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Other requirements for final grade *

To pass this course requires approved assignment, written and oral presentation (PRO1; 2,0 hp) and approved written examination (TEN1;4,0 hp).

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Mats Magnusson

Further information

Course web

Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.

Course web MF2051

Offered by

ITM/Machine Design

Main field of study *

Mechanical Engineering

Education cycle *

Second cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted

Contact

Susanne Nilsson (suni@kth.se) (0734444375)

Ethical approach *

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.