Overview

This course discusses how companies create new products that customers want while achieving their financial objectives. Learners begin by defining the product strategies necessary to ensure a company’s long-term growth. Learners then explore the different product development processes used by high-tech businesses today, such as Stage-Gate and Lean/Agile techniques. Learners conclude by illustrating the tools to build the high-performance teams that take the development process from concept through product launch. This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

Syllabus

Course Overview & Mechanics, What Makes a Great Product

This module introduces the course objectives, weekly topics, and provides a high-level view of the factors that make a product successful.

Innovation and Corporate Strategy

Products need to align with the company's strategy. In this module, we explore a company's mission and vision statements. When then link those to the business strategy, defined using two techniques: Porter's 5-Forces Analysis and the Business Model Canvas. We then wrap up with a discussion of the different types of product innovation - with Dean Kamen and Mike Biddle as two case studies.

Product and Technology Innovation, Roadmaps and Portfolio Management

In this module, we further explore different types of product and technology innovation, beginning with Christensen's model of the "innovator's dilemma". We then show the challenges when launching new products, particularly those that incorporate disruptive technologies. Product and Technology Roadmaps are product management tools that allow the team to see the long-term product and business strategy. Finally, the module ends with a few techniques on how to manage several different product development projects, a field known as Portfolio Management.

Identifying Product Opportunities

This module examines different techniques to identify product opportunities. Some of these we can see directly, as with Sir James Dyson's development of a new type of vacuum cleaner. We then look at a few different ways to develop innovative new products, from a market-pull approach to a technology-push approach, and everything in between. Finally, we go over your final project, one that you will have over the 3-course Product Development specialization.

PD Processes, Teams and Culture

In this lesson, we examine the many different types of product development processes, from the simple "Define-Build-Test" model to more sophisticated Stage-Gate methods, Agile/Sprint techniques, and the more recent "Agile Stage-Gate" model. Product development is a team sport, so we look at different types of teams - both good and bad, to identify the way to create high-performance teams for your product development effort. Finally, nothing can get done if innovation isn't part of the corporate culture, and we look at the Gore & Associates company to see what makes for a culture of innovation.