This is a Related Course of the MOT program.
Note: MBA 290T-3A and MBA 290T-3B (and the respective cross-listed engineering courses ENG 290-3 and ENG 290-5) when taken in sequence are intended to be the 'capstone' strategy and general management course for students interested in pursuing careers in the global wireless industry. MBA 290T-3A/ENG 290-3 meets September 1 through October 15 while MBA 290T-3B/ENG290-5 meets October 20 through December 8.
No other technology in the history of this planet has proliferated as quickly to as many people as the mobile phone.
Within twenty-five years of the first commercial deployments, worldwide mobile phone subscriber population (roughly 4 billion) and annual unit shipments (roughly 1 billion) have far exceeded those of fixed-line phones, television sets, personal computers, and fixed-line internet connections.
Yet, despite this explosive growth, there are significant and unique challenges in creating a commercially successful wireless service as many innovators and entrepreneurs (whether in a start-up or an established company) have discovered in recent years. The strategic choices made regarding how an innovation is introduced into the market and the nature of the innovator's role in relation to the rest of the ecosystem matter. In this course, students will examine both successful and unsuccessful case studies of new wireless services to understand the key ingredients to creating successful businesses in the wireless industry.
This course is fundamentally about strategy and general management but we will draw from a variety of disciplines including public policy, law, marketing, economics, finance, and engineering to identify the key issues, analyze the potential options and understand the consequences of the decisions made by management.
Learning Objectives:
View the wireless industry through the eyes of the general manager/CEO of a wireless firm (whether a start-up or an industry giant).
Understand how to evaluate strategic options and their consequences.
Understand the perspectives of various industry players and be able to anticipate how they are likely to behave under various circumstances.
FAQ:
1) How does this course differ from other courses at Haas?
- Some courses teach functional skills you will need in the future: accounting, marketing, corporate finance, product management, etc.
- Some courses present tools and frameworks for analyzing situations: economics, strategy, game theory, innovation, entrepreneurship, etc.
This course applies concepts from many of your prior courses as well as introducing some potentially novel/unfamiliar concepts to a specific context: the wireless industry, past, present, and future.
Our goal is to gain an in-depth understanding of one specific industry to the point that when presented with a specific case, you will be able to analyze the situation with nearly the same rigor and depth as the general manager/CEO in the case. In fact, in some cases, you will be analyzing the situation together WITH the real-life general manager/CEO in the case.
2) I already have years of experience in the wireless industry. Is this course useful for me?
Yes, you are one of the core constituencies for this course. You will gain much broader and deeper insight into how the industry functions, the perspectives of key players in the industry, how key players interact with one another, and the strategic issues/dilemmas facing management. You will also view your prior experience and the issues you encountered with a new perspective.
3) I am starting my own wireless company. Is this course useful for me?
Yes, you are another one of the core constituencies for this course. You will gain insight into how to build those critical first relationships with key players in the industry, how to anticipate how various players will likely react to an innovative new wireless service, and how to build a large-scale sustainable business around this innovation.
4) I am not an engineer. Will I be able to keep up?
In many cases, yes. Although we will cover many wireless technologies in case studies, this course is NOT intended to serve as a technology tutorial. This course focuses on general management and strategy in the wireless industry. We will delve into the technology only to the extent necessary to understand the choices facing the general manager. Supplementary technology tutorials will be provided as reference in some cases.
5) I am not a business major. Will I be able to keep up?
Prior exposure to microeconomics, accounting and finance is helpful. Supplementary reading is provided to those who are not familiar with accounting/financial terminology (e.g. how to read a financial statement).
6) Why are there two courses? Should I take the first course or the second course?
You will benefit the most from taking the two courses in sequence, effectively taking a 4-unit course (although they will still count as two distinct courses for grading purposes and for those satisfying the requirements for the MOT certificate).
7) How has the course/instructor been rated in the past?
Here's student feedback from the Spring 2008 wireless course offered by this instructor:
"Most classes have either breadth or depth - this is one of the only classes at Haas that has had both and I feel privileged to have taken it."
"Best professor at Haas hands down."
"He's taught the two best classes I have had at Haas."
8) Still have questions? Email the instructor: rezam at haas.berkeley.edu
Links:
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Wireless Services (Part A)
Course Syllabus (pdf)
 |
ABOUT | |
|
|
FACULTY | |
