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Technology Management (MSc)

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Course Overview

The course will assist you in developing a knowledge and understanding of the increasingly important area of technology management, building your management and leadership capabilities in this area, and enabling you to facilitate organisational change and sustainable improvements at the enterprise level through competitive work systems and effective knowledge management. In order to achieve these aims, module assignments and the final year thesis are company based. This will enhance their benefit for the company and the student.

The course is delivered using a blended approach, that is, a combination of distance/online learning materials combined with face-to-face tutorials and seminars. The online element facilitates the learning in tandem with the distance-education, hard copy materials and periodic classroom contact. Students will be required to attend seminars on average one Saturday per month. Seminars will be held on a revolving basis at NUI Galway and UCC. More information at www.aua.ie

Important: There are several scholarships & funding options available for this course—see course fees for more information.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Each module is assessed individually by a range of assignments throughout the semester. A selection of these assignments will be group based. Ideally assessment elements and projects will be based on data, topics and situations from the student’s own working life. There are no formal sit-down exams.

 

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Candidates must have a primary honours degree, minimum H2.2 or equivalent, and at least five years' of relevant industrial experience. Candidates who do not meet the minimum entry criteria may apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation Management or the Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Commercialisation. On successful completion of either of these courses with an average grade of 2.1 honours, students may apply for the MSc in Technology Management with exemptions.


Additional Requirements

Duration

2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2021

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

Unlimited

Closing Date

25 July 2021

NFQ level

Mode of study

Blended learning

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

Course code

1TC3

Course Outline

The course aims to develop your knowledge of product innovation, technology transfer and R&D processes, enabling you and companies to gain competitive advantage through technologies. It is offered under a collaborative agreement between University College Cork and NUI Galway. Delivered on a part-time basis over four semesters, the course includes taught modules and a year-long research (thesis) module in Year Two of the course.

Course modules available in 2020/21:

  • Managing Innovation (5 ECTS)
  • User Centred Design (5 ECTS)
  • Marketing Technology Products (5 ECTS)
  • Innovation & Technology Transfer (5 ECTS)
  • Data Analysis for Process and Product Development (5 ECTS)
  • Strategy & Management of Technology (10 ECTS)
  • Managing Technology Projects (5 ECTS)
  • Technology, Finance and Capital (5 ECTS)
  • Technology Innovations & Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS)
  • People Management for Technology Organisations (10 ECTS)
  • Thesis (30 ECTS)
See full module descriptions below.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Optional MK620: Marketing Technology Products


15 months long | Credits: 5

This module introduces you to the world of marketing. What is marketing all about? To put it in a nutshell, marketing is two things. First, it is a business philosophy whose main premise is that the customer is king and that if a company can provide enough people with exactly what they want, they will make a profit. This implies that marketing is a particular way of looking at the world of business. This in itself is rather intangible and explains why there is a lot of uncertainty regarding marketing’s domain. Second, marketing is a business function, which is much more tangible. The dominant view holds that marketing is the business function responsible for finding out what the customer wants (marketing research), providing the customer with that product or service (product development), in a convenient outlet at the right time and in the right quantities (distribution), and information the customer about the product or service (marketing communications). It is about planning the future of the company and staying ahead of the competition. Increasingly, this also necessitates relationship building as organisations pursue customer loyalty. Consequently, marketing is a critical activity in the business enterprise. While there are many obvious opportunities provided by increasingly complex, dynamic and competitive markets, companies lacking marketing skills face huge risks.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand the nature of Marketing
  2. Identify and explore the key components of market orientation
  3. Understand customer groups and customer buyer behaviour
  4. Explore and interrogate competitive advantage
  5. Understand the key factors influencing marketing activities and practices
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MK620: "Marketing Technology Products" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG662: Managing Innovation


15 months long | Credits: 5

Innovation is crucial to the creation and development of organisations. Research has shown that the successful management of innovation can yield positive outcomes, yet the process of innovation management can often be misunderstood or poorly incorporated into business practices. This module is an introduction to the building-blocks of innovation management for organisations. It looks at the nature of innovation and examines different types of innovation. It explores the innovation management process from start to finish. The module covers topics such as: sources of new ideas, effective selection and portfolio processes, and the challenge of implementation. These innovation processes operate in a context defined through the interaction of people, technology and organisational goals, or more concisely, the innovation strategy of the company. As part of your learning, you will consider some of the key contemporary issues in innovation management such as the increasing trend towards accessing ideas and expertise from outside the organisation, and the need for organisations to develop capabilities in managing alliances and open innovation mechanisms. The module discusses the growing importance of innovation in services; the role of leadership in supporting innovation performance and the use of formal knowledge management systems to capture and leverage learning. The module is also designed to develop the learners’ understanding of the challenges of achieving an innovative organisation that is efficient at both exploiting current advantages and exploring for new opportunities.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Identify different kinds of innovation and innovation strategy
  2. Manage the innovation process from generation to selection and implementation
  3. Motivate and organise people for innovation and learning
  4. Apply new organisational forms for innovation
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG662: "Managing Innovation" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG651: Thesis


15 months long | Credits: 30


(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. TBC
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Research (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG651: "Thesis" and is valid from 2015 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG620: Innovation & Technology Transfer


15 months long | Credits: 5


(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. TBC
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG620: "Innovation & Technology Transfer" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG615: Strategy and Management of Technology


15 months long | Credits: 10

Strategic Management is what can be termed a ´big picture´ course. It takes a ´helicopter´ view of the totality of the business and how the various parts such as production operations, marketing, finance, human resource management, innovation and technology management, and new product development, are integrated to take advantage of business opportunity and deal with a dynamic external environment of continuous change and ever more intense competition. Strategic management focuses on answering what managers must do, and do particularly well, to make the company the winner in the game of business. Of primary concern is how a well-conceived strategy is crafted and executed.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Determine the role of strategy and strategic management in business success
  2. Explain why strategic management is important at every level of the organisation
  3. Analyse and describe the process of strategic management
  4. Differentiate between intended and realised strategy
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG615: "Strategy and Management of Technology" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MS620: Information Systems & Software Management


15 months long | Credits: 5

The objective of this module is: to consider the role of information technology in organisational development; to consider how information technology might support the actual management of continuous improvement in a process/service life cycle; to consider how IT can support the development of the organisation; to understand and appreciate the challenges and complexity in the development of information systems.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. TBC
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MS620: "Information Systems & Software Management" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG618: User Centred Design


15 months long | Credits: 5

This module cover why and how to put the human user of systems, services and products at the centre of the design process. It explores the user-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective, emphasizing how user research and prototype assessment can be integrated into different phases of the design process. Students learn to think like a user-centered designer and carry out activities that are key to user-centered design. Topics include: Introducing the User Centred Design process; Introducing the Basic Psychology of the User; Introducing Cognition - how we problem solve in completing tasks; Introducing Anthropometrics and ergonomics - how our bodies influence how we can interact with systems and devices; Case studies in User Centred Design of systems, services and products.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand and Explain the User Centred Design process
  2. Understand and explain how Psychology, Cognition and Anthropometrics influence how we can interact with systems, services and products
  3. Describe the issues and challenges to achieving a human-centered design process.
  4. Given a problem setting, critically evaluate the appropriateness of potential design methodologies such as contextual design, scenario-based design, participatory, etc.
  5. Gather useful information about users and activities through observation and systematic inquiry.
  6. Use, adapt and extend classic design standards, guidelines, and patterns.
  7. Explain using Case Studies how a User Centred Design produces a positive Use Experience
  8. Create a prototype for a small system and plan and perform a usability evaluation
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG618: "User Centred Design" and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional AY620: Technology, Finance & Capital


15 months long | Credits: 5

The module content is designed to apply the theories and concepts of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Business Finance to the decision making process within small, medium and global organisations. The financial strategies associated with the achievement of predetermined key performance indicators are fully explored within the module. The function of strategic management accounting is a focal point as a creator of vital information for enhancing operational excellence and formulation and implementation of new strategies. The relationship between Investment and return and the management of capital are given a high priority. Case studies are included in the module content as a valuable learning resource in topic areas such as Activity Based Costing, the Balanced Scorecard and Investment Appraisal Analysis.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand the content of the main financial statements (Profit & Loss Account, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement)
  2. Identify the main methods of securing long-term finance for a company
  3. Critically examine and evaluate the financial performance of an organisation through the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
  4. Evaluate the likely benefits to be derived from the use of Activity Based Costing (ABC) to assist strategic decision making
  5. Explain and demonstrate understanding as to why organisations budget and the process by which budgets are developed
  6. Evaluate the key factors in choosing a cost structure using Cost –Volume-Profit Analysis (CVP)
  7. Explain the relationship between the Cost of Capital and the Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)
  8. Apply methods of investment appraisal to evaluate real lean projects
  9. Explain the underlying theory and concept of the Balanced Scorecard
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module AY620: "Technology, Finance & Capital" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG670: Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship


15 months long | Credits: 5

The module reviews a broad range of topics that critically affect technology-based start-up companies. It is designed to help the learner develop strong conceptual foundations for understanding and exploiting technological innovation and entrepreneurship. More specifically, it aims to equip the learner with an understanding of the technology innovation lifecycle and the key issues involved in entrepreneurship and new venture creation. The module reviews concepts and frameworks to create, commercialise and capture value from technology-based products and services. It aims to provide the learner with a comprehensive toolbox to enable the learner to identify opportunities, and develop feasibility studies and business plans in order to develop and manage innovation throughout the product lifecycle, and exploit a new technological venture. In summary, the module aims to: • Present a curriculum in the area of technology innovation and entrepreneurship • Provide easy-to-access, state-of-the-art reference material in the area of technology innovation and entrepreneurship to help learners to understand the essential fundamental concepts involved in the discipline. • Equip learners with the values, best practices, skills and supporting tools necessary to effectively design, develop and deploy technical projects in their organisations and to empower users to autonomously apply these concepts and tools.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Develop transferable skills such as creative thinking, problem specification, team working, and the ability to synthesise and apply acquired knowledge to solve real-world problems
  2. Explain the critical influencing factors for successful technology development and execution processes
  3. As an entrepreneur, write an effective feasibility study and business plan to negotiate and secure funding for technology related projects
  4. Present a curriculum in the area of technology innovation and entrepreneurship
  5. Provide easy-to-access, state-of-the-art reference material in the area of technology innovation and entrepreneurship to help learners to understand the essential fundamental concepts involved in the discipline
  6. Equip learners with the values, best practices, skills and supporting tools necessary to effectively design, develop and deploy technical projects in their organisations and to empower users to autonomously apply these concepts and tools
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG670: "Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional MG614: People Management for Technology Organisations


15 months long | Credits: 10

The PMTO module introduces students to a variety of management issues including: recruitment and selection, performance management, reward, development, grievance and discipline processes, retention, termination, leadership and change management. The modules focus on the role of functional managers and supervisors in implementing HR policies and practices in technology organisations considering contextual factors including global nature of the business, organisational size and sector.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Evaluate the range of internal and external factors shaping workplace group dynamics, management choices and organisational development
  2. Demonstrate awareness of the relationship between people management processes systems and the organisational outcomes including efficiency, quality and innovation
  3. Develop understanding of people management problems associated with contemporary organisational issues and labour market dynamics
  4. Appreciate the complexity of mobilising change initiatives within organisations
  5. Discuss the main theoretical frameworks behind employee motivation and organisational fairness
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module MG614: "People Management for Technology Organisations" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional IE620: Managing Technology Projects


15 months long | Credits: 5

Projects are becoming an increasingly important part of how all organisations across industry sectors do business. The primary objective of this module is to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to apply project management principles, tools and techniques to deliver value to the organisation. The module will explain the role of the project manager, and provide learners with skills and knowledge to perform this role in dealing with stakeholders’ needs and expectations, developing project plans and executing them in an efficient and effective manner.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Compare and contrast various project management approaches and appreciate the appropriate application of each
  2. Evaluate governance structures, roles and responsibilities designed to support the delivery of value through projects
  3. Identify, and collaborate with, key project stakeholders to elicit their requirements and set project objectives
  4. Organise project information and develop project plans to meet project objectives
  5. Develop frameworks to control projects and monitor performance
  6. Disseminate project information effectively and efficiently to manage stakeholder's needs and expectations
  7. Judge how projects are consistent with the goals and strategies of the organisation
  8. Empathise with the needs of project stakeholders and assess the broader impact of projects on the organisation and beyond
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module IE620: "Managing Technology Projects" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional ME5108: Data Analysis for Process and Product Development


15 months long | Credits: 5

This module introduces a systems engineering approach to design of experiments, data analysis and modelling, towards product and process improvement and optimisation. Students will learn about the Taguchi method for robust engineering design which is a system engineering approach for Quality by Design for process and product development. They will explore a range of statistical models and tools and learn how to apply them in a range of problem based learning scenarios using surveys, product and process developmental data. Topics and approaches to be covered include : • ANoVA, DoE with orthogonal arrays, optimisation and minimisation of variability with Signal-to-Noise ratio • Model-based analysis and response surface methodology • Unconfounded experimental designs • Multi-response approaches (PCA and Factor Analysis) Students will also consider affective product design and kansei engineering approaches in the context of real life practice problems.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Plan experiments and data collection strategies to determine which factors are more influential on a particular system of interest
  2. Apply a Taguchi approach to identify optimum combination of options of the most influential design factors to minimise non-conformity costs
  3. Fit mathematical models to data using least square regression, determining confidence intervals and error region of model predictions
  4. Use experimental designs without confounding and polynomial models to estimate points of optimum
  5. Apply a factor analysis to extract high-level responses (Principal Components) from a large number of individual responses
  6. Draw quality charts, design tables and Pareto charts.
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
Reading List
  1. "Design of Experiments Using The Taguchi Approach" by Ranjit K. Roy
    ISBN: 0-471-36101-1.
    Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
  2. "Design and Analysis of Experiments" by Douglas Montgomery
    ISBN: 978-0-470-398.
    Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
The above information outlines module ME5108: "Data Analysis for Process and Product Development" and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

The course is designed for managers, technical specialists, engineers or those responsible for managing technologies within their organisations. A range of career opportunities are open to graduates in areas such as research and development, production and operations management, information systems and management consultancy. As the course is delivered on a part-time basis, the majority of students are in full-time employment or actively seeking employment while studying.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

 

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,900 p.a.*

Fees: Tuition

€

Fees: Student levy

€

Fees: Non EU

€8,400 p.a.**

 

*See scholarships & funding options available for this course below:

**Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.

Find out More

Niamh Nolan
T: + 353 91 493 746
E: niamh.nolan@nuigalway.ie

Helen Buckley
School of Engineering
University College Cork
Tel: 021 490 2661
Email: h.buckley@ucc.ie

www.aua.ie

Downloads

  • Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2021

    Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2021 PDF (11.3MB)

  • Business Undergraduate Programmes 2020

    Business Undergraduate Programmes 2020 PDF (4.5 MB)

  • Business Postgraduate Programmes

    Business Postgraduate Programmes PDF (4.7 MB)