Description
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialization
Revised June 2015
Alberta MBA Program Information
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialization (60 credits)
B LAW 658 – Intellectual Property and Law Commercialization
An overview of key legal concepts from a variety of jurisdictions related to intellectual property and
its commercialization. The course will follow a comparative case-based approach to explore formal
laws, institutions and business practices related to IP in technological innovation. Topics covered
may include copyright, trademark, industrial design, database protection, patent law, application
process and patent searching, and licensing strategies, with a special focus on the life sciences. The
course aims to provide students with the skills required to address legal issues arising from
technological innovation.
FIN 635 – Venture Capital
Covers the theory and practice of venture capital financing of entrepreneurial firms. Topics to be
discussed include, but are not limited to, the following areas: venture capital fundraising (labour-
sponsored venture capital corporations, limited partnerships and corporate venture capital)
characteristics of entrepreneurial ventures (including agency problems, firm valuation) at different
stages of development (seed, start-up, expansion, mezzanine, buyout, turnaround), the structure of
venture capital financial contracts (staging, syndication, forms of finance), restrictive covenants,
investment duration, and venture capital exits (IPOs, acquisitions, secondary sales, buybacks, write-
offs). Prerequisite: FIN 501 or 503.
MARK 612 – Marketing Research
Provides an examination of marketing research methodologies emphasizing the translation of
marketing problems into researchable form, research design, data gathering, data analysis, and
implementation of research results. Prerequisite: MARK 502. Credit will not be given for both MARK
612 and 620.
SMO 600 – From Science to Business: Translational and Entrepreneurial Challenges
This is a project-focused course on technology entrepreneurship and translation. At the core of the
course will be `real life' projects that require business development analysis and assessment. Based
on their projects, students will be expected to produce technology commercialization plans as a key
output for the course. In addition, the course will address key strategic and policy issues related to
enhancing technology entrepreneurship at the science-business interface. Topics covered include
open innovation systems, the challenges associated with the bridging the gap between science and
business, and the strategic management technology translation and entrepreneurship. Prerequisite:
SMO 659 or permission from the MBA Office.
SMO 601 – Innovation and Sustainability: The Cleantech Revolution
The clean technology and renewables course is a course designed to fit with three areas of graduate
study: technology development and transfer, strategy, and sustainability. In this course, we will begin
with an examination renewable energy industries (solar, water, wind, etc.) and clean technologies
focused on waste and recycling. Clean and green strategies will be identified and discussed, using
specific examples from our international clean technology research and database. At the end of the
course, students will present either a project with a local clean technology company project or a case
analysis of a key clean technology company of interest.
Revised June 2015
SMO 627 – Advising Family Business
In this course students will examine some of the most salient issues facing family businesses from
the perspective of a professional advisor. Case studies and recent research will be used to
demonstrate how to address fundamental challenges facing family businesses in practice (e.g.
communication, governance and succession issues, family conflicts and nepotism). From the
perspective of advisors, students will analyze the unique competitive advantages - and
disadvantages - of family businesses. Guest speakers who are advising family businesses or who
are family business members will share their unique experiences relative to working with, or in,
family businesses. The course will be highly interactive and students will be encouraged to discuss
how to best address the weaknesses of family firms while simultaneously building their strengths.
SMO 628 – Managing Family Enterprise
Designed to improve managerial knowledge and practice through improved recognition and
understanding of the significance of family firms and of the unique challenges they face. Designed
primarily for individuals who a) are members of a family with established business interests; b) might
find themselves working for family controlled firms; c) might find themselves working in a
professional capacity with family controlled firms in roles such as accountant, lawyer, banker or
consultant.
SMO 631 – New Venture Creation
This course concentrates on the development of a new enterprise and the management of an
existing small business. Casework and projects enable students to assess the opportunities, risks,
and capabilities necessary for entrepreneurial success. The course emphasizes managerial and
strategic problems during the early years of business formation and growth, including business
planning. The course emphasizes the interface between theory and practice.
SMO 642 – International Family Enterprise
International Family Enterprise provides an opportunity for students to investigate issues related to
family enterprise in international contexts. Using a combination of theoretical information, written
case studies, and presentations from guest speakers the course studies family firms from the
perspective of family, ownership and business. As well, since family business is a prevalent
organizational form throughout the world, the course allows students the opportunity to investigate
how non-family businesses can best deal with family firms in other countries. The course looks at
family firms operating outside Canada and the US, as well as Canadian family firms with
international operations and addresses the following general questions: What are the key
organizational and strategic issues for family businesses in other countries? How can we best
understand the combination of family, ownership and business issues in international family firms?
How can Canadian family firms best organize in order to compete internationally?
SMO 656 – High Technology Business Development
This course introduces students to the skills and components involved in the development of a high
technology based business. Emphasis will be on business development at the interface of science
and technology product development, including challenges facing new start-ups. Key business
development topics include product development, market creation, building a management team,
intellectual property, financing, ownership and exit strategy. Students will experience business
development through case studies, presentations and class discussions.
SMO 659 – The Strategic Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
This course addresses business principles at the interface of organization and technological change.
It is intended for future managers and entrepreneurs, and provides the strategic frameworks needed
to manage and profit from technological innovation. This course is designed in three parts, starting
with an examination of innovation in the context of historical patterns of technological change.
Second, it will address the organizational challenges in creating and managing innovation. To close,
the course will integrate this knowledge and introduce strategies for commercialization and business
development. Case studies and a final project will create opportunities to apply the frameworks.
doc_183282041.pdf
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialization
Revised June 2015
Alberta MBA Program Information
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialization (60 credits)
B LAW 658 – Intellectual Property and Law Commercialization
An overview of key legal concepts from a variety of jurisdictions related to intellectual property and
its commercialization. The course will follow a comparative case-based approach to explore formal
laws, institutions and business practices related to IP in technological innovation. Topics covered
may include copyright, trademark, industrial design, database protection, patent law, application
process and patent searching, and licensing strategies, with a special focus on the life sciences. The
course aims to provide students with the skills required to address legal issues arising from
technological innovation.
FIN 635 – Venture Capital
Covers the theory and practice of venture capital financing of entrepreneurial firms. Topics to be
discussed include, but are not limited to, the following areas: venture capital fundraising (labour-
sponsored venture capital corporations, limited partnerships and corporate venture capital)
characteristics of entrepreneurial ventures (including agency problems, firm valuation) at different
stages of development (seed, start-up, expansion, mezzanine, buyout, turnaround), the structure of
venture capital financial contracts (staging, syndication, forms of finance), restrictive covenants,
investment duration, and venture capital exits (IPOs, acquisitions, secondary sales, buybacks, write-
offs). Prerequisite: FIN 501 or 503.
MARK 612 – Marketing Research
Provides an examination of marketing research methodologies emphasizing the translation of
marketing problems into researchable form, research design, data gathering, data analysis, and
implementation of research results. Prerequisite: MARK 502. Credit will not be given for both MARK
612 and 620.
SMO 600 – From Science to Business: Translational and Entrepreneurial Challenges
This is a project-focused course on technology entrepreneurship and translation. At the core of the
course will be `real life' projects that require business development analysis and assessment. Based
on their projects, students will be expected to produce technology commercialization plans as a key
output for the course. In addition, the course will address key strategic and policy issues related to
enhancing technology entrepreneurship at the science-business interface. Topics covered include
open innovation systems, the challenges associated with the bridging the gap between science and
business, and the strategic management technology translation and entrepreneurship. Prerequisite:
SMO 659 or permission from the MBA Office.
SMO 601 – Innovation and Sustainability: The Cleantech Revolution
The clean technology and renewables course is a course designed to fit with three areas of graduate
study: technology development and transfer, strategy, and sustainability. In this course, we will begin
with an examination renewable energy industries (solar, water, wind, etc.) and clean technologies
focused on waste and recycling. Clean and green strategies will be identified and discussed, using
specific examples from our international clean technology research and database. At the end of the
course, students will present either a project with a local clean technology company project or a case
analysis of a key clean technology company of interest.
Revised June 2015
SMO 627 – Advising Family Business
In this course students will examine some of the most salient issues facing family businesses from
the perspective of a professional advisor. Case studies and recent research will be used to
demonstrate how to address fundamental challenges facing family businesses in practice (e.g.
communication, governance and succession issues, family conflicts and nepotism). From the
perspective of advisors, students will analyze the unique competitive advantages - and
disadvantages - of family businesses. Guest speakers who are advising family businesses or who
are family business members will share their unique experiences relative to working with, or in,
family businesses. The course will be highly interactive and students will be encouraged to discuss
how to best address the weaknesses of family firms while simultaneously building their strengths.
SMO 628 – Managing Family Enterprise
Designed to improve managerial knowledge and practice through improved recognition and
understanding of the significance of family firms and of the unique challenges they face. Designed
primarily for individuals who a) are members of a family with established business interests; b) might
find themselves working for family controlled firms; c) might find themselves working in a
professional capacity with family controlled firms in roles such as accountant, lawyer, banker or
consultant.
SMO 631 – New Venture Creation
This course concentrates on the development of a new enterprise and the management of an
existing small business. Casework and projects enable students to assess the opportunities, risks,
and capabilities necessary for entrepreneurial success. The course emphasizes managerial and
strategic problems during the early years of business formation and growth, including business
planning. The course emphasizes the interface between theory and practice.
SMO 642 – International Family Enterprise
International Family Enterprise provides an opportunity for students to investigate issues related to
family enterprise in international contexts. Using a combination of theoretical information, written
case studies, and presentations from guest speakers the course studies family firms from the
perspective of family, ownership and business. As well, since family business is a prevalent
organizational form throughout the world, the course allows students the opportunity to investigate
how non-family businesses can best deal with family firms in other countries. The course looks at
family firms operating outside Canada and the US, as well as Canadian family firms with
international operations and addresses the following general questions: What are the key
organizational and strategic issues for family businesses in other countries? How can we best
understand the combination of family, ownership and business issues in international family firms?
How can Canadian family firms best organize in order to compete internationally?
SMO 656 – High Technology Business Development
This course introduces students to the skills and components involved in the development of a high
technology based business. Emphasis will be on business development at the interface of science
and technology product development, including challenges facing new start-ups. Key business
development topics include product development, market creation, building a management team,
intellectual property, financing, ownership and exit strategy. Students will experience business
development through case studies, presentations and class discussions.
SMO 659 – The Strategic Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
This course addresses business principles at the interface of organization and technological change.
It is intended for future managers and entrepreneurs, and provides the strategic frameworks needed
to manage and profit from technological innovation. This course is designed in three parts, starting
with an examination of innovation in the context of historical patterns of technological change.
Second, it will address the organizational challenges in creating and managing innovation. To close,
the course will integrate this knowledge and introduce strategies for commercialization and business
development. Case studies and a final project will create opportunities to apply the frameworks.
doc_183282041.pdf