MGMT 4901

Core: Applied Innovation and Entrepreneurship

We caught up with Dr. David Roach to hear more about the Minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation's Capstone Course, a core course within the Minor.

What will a student learn in the capstone course? 

MGMT 4901 is intended to link both theory and practice while building on what students are learning in other courses like new venture creation and an introduction to design thinking. Students will be challenged to identify opportunities; develop innovative concepts and manage the process for successful entrepreneurial outcomes.

Please share 1-3 specific highlights about the course that may be of interest to a student. 

MGMT4901 is designed in steppingstones with each module building on the previous week’s work. First, we explore how to determine if an idea is commercially or socially viable, through individual student assignments. Then, we build upon this body of knowledge as a class, allowing all students access to the learnings from their peers. The goal is to mimic industrial best practices. In the workforce, individuals receive access to all the information from across the organization to assess and move forward promising ideas. We challenge students to operate in a similar fashion, while working on their group projects.  

How might the capstone course tie into a student’s existing program (major) or career plans?  

No matter your field of study, at some point in your career you’ll likely participate in an innovation or entrepreneurial project or be asked to make a business case for a new product or service. Without some entrepreneurship training or background, many people simply do not have the skill base to accomplish this. My goal is that students participating in this course leave with the ability to manage innovation and entrepreneurial business processes and develop skills to better participate in these activities.