CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

Case School of Engineering

Course Syllabus
Fall 2016
Course Number:
Course Title:
Class Day & Time:
Class Location:
Instructors:

Office Hours:

IIME 430A
Product and Process Design, Development & Delivery
Cohort 1: Mondays from 8:30am-11:15am
Cohort 2: Thursdays from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Nord 400
Manoj Jhaveri, Managing Partner, Ten09 Consulting (Cohort 1)
Dr. A. M. (Andy) Zynga, CEO, NineSigma (Cohort 2)
Manoj Jhaveri email: mxj297@case.edu
Andy Zynga: amz67@case.edu
By appointment as needed

Course Description: Product and process design (PPD) are integrated activities in business, and
this course develops an integrated approach to the understanding and practice of the complex
relationships among customers, designers and manufacturers that define PPD. The course is built
around a capstone project emphasizing different aspects of the product and process design. Case
studies are used to illustrate and understand PPD successes and failures.
Objectives
IIME430A will provide students with a strong theoretical foundation, while IIME430B will dive
into special topics and more real world applications.
The learning objectives of this two semester course include:

Basic understanding of the various processes, terminology and tools associated with the
design and development of new products
Detailed exploration of several approaches and methodologies to PPD
Application of business and engineering tools and concepts from other MEM courses
including:
o Leadership skills including shared vision, conflict resolution, team dynamics and
change management
o Project management skills to frame the opportunity and outline a project plan
o Marketing concepts from idea generation to post-launch customer feedback
o Economics and accounting related to decisions on moving forward with the
product design and development
o Sustainability and continuous improvement of the manufacturing processes
o Supply chain integration and distribution channels
o Presentation skills to various audiences and business writing for specific purposes
Business research skills and the application of research to product design decisions
Enhancement of critical thinking skills using readings, discussing current product design
issues and case studies, as well as the project itself
Value creation by the project teams for the sponsoring companies

This is a two semester capstone course where a team of about 3-5 students will be assigned to
complete specified deliverables related to either a new product design, business model

IIME 430A Product and Process Design, Development & Delivery

innovation or market assessment. Throughout the two semesters students will learn various
concepts and tools to apply to the project. Representatives from a local company will provide the
concept for the product or process design and will stay involved throughout the two semesters.
Grading for this course is based largely on meeting the project deliverables and creating value for
the sponsoring companies. Student teams will meet with company representatives at least twice a
month by phone or in person to stay on task to meet company objective(s).
Course Materials

Strategic Management of Technological Innovation, Fourth Edition by Melissa A

Schilling (Required)
Market-Based Management, Sixth Edition by Roger Best (Required)
HBR and other articles, will be provided via Blackboard
Relevant current events, with information derived from various news sources may be part
of weekly in-class discussions as well.

Educational Support
The course faculty is available to meet to discuss requests for academic accommodations after
the student has registered with the Office of Disability Resources (ESS, Sears 470). Please meet
with the faculty by the end of the first day of class in order to allow sufficient time to develop
accommodations. Accommodations cannot be provided retroactively.
Academic Integrity
All students in this course are expected to adhere to University standards of academic integrity.
Cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be
tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, consulting with another person during an exam,
turning in written work that was prepared by someone other than you, making minor
modifications to the work of someone else and turning it in as your own, or engaging in
misrepresentation in seeking a postponement or extension. Ignorance will not be accepted as an
excuse. If you are not sure whether something you plan to submit would be considered either
cheating or plagiarism, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification.
Evaluation Methods
Project and Presentation
Class participation and attendance
Final Exam

50%
20%
30%

The grading for the final project report and presentation of the semester will be based on the
following criteria

Performance (how well the team met the stated objectives and the quality of deliverables)
Peer review (your teammates assessment of your effort),
Engagement with instructors about the project
Company Evaluation (input from the company representatives on the quality of the
work).
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IIME 430A Product and Process Design, Development & Delivery

Class participation will include discussions in class and using electronic means. In class
participation will be informally assessed at the end of each class.
Class attendance is expected. Professional protocol applies. You MUST notify the professors
BEFORE missing a class and the reason for the absence. Grades will be impacted if you miss
class without prior discussion with the professors or with no valid excuse.
Grading Scale:
Grade
A
B
C
D
F

Percent
90.0 - 100
80.0 - 89.9
70.0 - 79.9
60.0 69.9
< 59.9

Overview of Class Schedule:

<see table below>

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IIME 430A Product and Process Design, Development & Delivery

Date
8/29/2016
(Cohort 1);
9/1/2016
(Cohort 2)

9/5/2016 and
9/9/2016
9/12/2016
(Cohort 1);
9/15/2016
(Cohort 2)
9/19/2016
(Cohort 1);
9/22/2016
(Cohort 2)
9/26/2016
(Cohort 1);
9/29/2016
(Cohort 2)
10/3/2016
(Cohort 1);
10/6/2016
(Cohort 2)
10/10/2016
(Cohort 1);
10/13/2016
(Cohort 2)
10/17/2016
(Cohort 1);
10/20/2016
(Cohort 2)
10/24/2016 and
10/27/2016
10/31/2016
(Cohort 1);
11/3/2016
(Cohort 2)

Class
Instructor introductions
Course overview, syllabus review and discussion of capstone projects
Basic terminology; importance of innovation strategy and management
Readings:
Chapter 1 (Schilling)
You Need an Innovation Strategy, HBR, June 2015
Managing Your Innovation Portfolio, HBR, May 2012
Labor Day Holiday no class for Cohort 1 and Cohort 2
Market segmentation and segmentation strategies
Competitive position and sources of advantage
Readings:
Chapter 5 and 6 (Best)
Industry dynamics of technological innovation
Readings:
Chapter 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Schilling)
Formulating technological innovation strategy
Readings:
Chapter 6, 7, 8 and 9 (Schilling)

Project reviews (detailed schedule TBD)

Organizing for innovation; managing the NPD process and teams
Readings:
Chapter 10, 11 and 12 (Schilling)
The Ambidextrous Organization, HBR, April 2004
The Ambidextrous
Organization
Topic
TBD (Potential
Guest Speaker)
Readings:
TBD
The Ambidextrous Organization
Fall Break no class for Cohort 1 and Cohort 2
Strategic marketing; offensive and defensive strategies
Readings:
Chapter 11, 12 and 13 (Best)

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IIME 430A Product and Process Design, Development & Delivery

11/7/2016
(Cohort and
Cohort 2)

Visit to Nottingham Spirk (http://nottinghamspirk.com/) Based in

Cleveland, this business innovation and product design firm offers a fullservice vertical innovation process, from research to product design to
prototyping to consumer testing.

11/14/2016
(Cohort 1);
11/17/2016
(Cohort 2)
11/21/2016 and
11/24/2016
11/28/2016
(Cohort 1);
12/1/2016
(Cohort 2)
12/5/2016
(Cohort 1);
12/8/2016
(Cohort 2)

Cohort 1 timeslot: 9:15am 10:15am

Cohort 2 timeslot: 10:30am 11:30am

Project reviews (detailed schedule TBD)

Thanksgiving Break no class for Cohort 1 and Cohort 2

Project Presentations (detailed schedule TBD)

Comprehensive Final Exam

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