EC261-5-SP-CO:
Management of New Technology

The details
2023/24
Economics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
16 August 2023

 

Requisites for this module
EC111 or IA151 or IA153
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA 9L11 Management Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L108 Management Economics,
BA L190 Management Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BA L192 Management Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 5M00 Management Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC L109 Management Economics,
BSC L191 Management Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L193 Management Economics (Including Year Abroad),
MECNL133 Management Economics,
MECNL134 Management Economics (Including Placement Year),
MECNL135 Management Economics (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

The module investigates important economic issues facing firms that compete in high technology industries such as computers, electronics, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. The course emphasises how new technological knowledge is created, copied, protected, bought and sold in order to acquire sustainable competitive advantage. Attention is paid to the interaction between the management of technology and the overall competitive strategies of the firm, as well as to some institutional agents, like Science Parks, supporting innovation, technology transfer and adoption. While mainly deploying the standard methodology of economics, the course often takes the perspective of the firm and asks which strategies are likely to improve its profitability, in both the long and short run. This approach is reinforced by the use of case studies illustrating the type of technological decisions facing managers in a variety of industries.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:



  • To develop the basic economic tools (theory and empirical) to understand the behaviour of firms that compete in highly technological industries such as computers, electronics, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to:



  1. Have an understanding of the application of economics model-building methodology to the challenges of management of technology.

  2. Formulate a general conceptualization of the process of creating, developing and diffusing new technologies.

  3. Have developed an understanding of the challenges to public policy in this area.

  4. Develop and demonstrate their written communication skills by completing the term paper for the course.


Employability skills


The module provides students with the following employability skills:



  1. Academic skills (literacy, numeracy, ICT skills, communication skills) are enhanced through essay writing, mathematical problem solving and the use of ICT equipment.

  2. Students are encouraged to carry out research and information gathering for term papers and as background reading.

  3. External awareness is promoted through real world case studies.

  4. Personal development planning (target setting and time management) is also promoted.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour Lecture per week, some of the contact hours may be used for classes.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Assignment  02/05/2024  100% 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
25% 75%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
25% 75%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Emma Duchini, email: e.duchini@essex.ac.uk.
Lectures: Dr Emma Duchini
For further information, send an email message to ueco (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Giancarlo Ianulardo
University of Exeter Business School
Lecturer in Economics
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 27 hours, 27 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Economics

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