Technological Business Fundamentals | Technological Leadership Institute
Many of the skills and techniques our students learn in class can be immediately applied to their own work, providing real-time value to the student and their employer.
Steve Webster, TLI senior fellow and Honeywell/Edson W. Spencer Chair in Technology Management, brings 31 years of corporate experience at 3M to his course, MOT 5001 – Technological Business Fundamentals. Over the next 14 weeks, he will provide a series of short posts that focus on one idea from the class.
Most weeks it will be about one subject discussed in class, adding insight from students as well as Webster’s own thoughts. Topics will include the dynamics of a technological enterprise, successful (and failing) strategies for such a business, and the role of each function in a company. Later in the term, the class turns to the basics of finance, and these posts will talk about how they are used in making decisions.
We hope you enjoy and look forward to comments.
Week 1: What is "Technological Business?"
Week 2: The Past Does Not Repeat Itself, It Rhymes
Week 4: The Best Way to Launch a Product: Analyze and Decide, or Learn By Doing?
Week 5: The Beating Heart of a Company
Week 6: The Practice & Theory of Influencing People
Week 9: Even Scarier than Halloween: Basics of Accounting and Finance
*Note: weeks correlate to the week of class
About the Author
Steven Webster
- Honeywell/Edson W. Spencer Chair in Technology Management
- Senior Fellow
Edson W. Spencer Chair in Technology Management
Steven Webster brings 31 years of experience with 3M to TLI’s graduate programs. Teaching primarily innovation classes and leading the Management of Technology minor program, Webster has expertise in new product development and commercialization; technology foresight, planning, and development; innovative organization and design and effectiveness; leadership development; global business; Six Sigma, display technology; consumer electronics, and communications technology.