Curriculum

Curriculum

In line with the educational goals of the Department of Technology Management for Innovation (TMI), students are required to make a balanced choice of courses from Groups A, B, and C (note that master’s students must earn the specified number of credits from each course group). In addition, the overall curriculum consists of introductory courses that lay the necessary foundation for a student’s studies, project practicums, and TMI research. Introductory courses (required core) are designed to instill the basic methodologies involved in technology management for innovation. In some project practicums, students engage in group work and participate in site visits as a part of their business case study coursework and overseas training. Some lectures are conducted by industry professionals who are engaged in technology management in the corporate world, thereby allowing students to learn in an environment that is rooted in the realities of business.

Students can learn the following in each of the course groups.

Group A: Technology Development

Courses in this group extend across fields of studies that are related to specific expertise and knowledge concerning the development and use of technologies. They cover information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, and other key technologies that have become indispensable in recent years. Examples of the content covered in this group are provided below.

Strategic goals, project planning, management, and evaluations that are involved in the development of technologies (e.g., Management of Technology and Product Development)

Approaches and frameworks applied in the creation of a fundamental strategy for developing technologies while taking a panoramic future view of Japanese society in an international framework (e.g., Technology Roadmapping)

Intrinsic qualities of innovations identified through the diverse range of forms that they take in different contexts under various social, cultural, and technical conditions (e.g., Innovation Management)

Information technologies and other essential methodologies involved in the latest technology management practices and how they are applied in society in practice (e.g., Data-Driven Startup Practicum)

Group B: Economic and Management Science

Courses in this group are designed to scientifically examine the economy and management practices. They are mainly associated with economics, business administration, decision theory, engineering management, and financial accounting. Students can gain a broad understanding and an extensive overview of the economy and society by going beyond the constraints of narrowly defined conventional frameworks. Examples of the content covered in this group are provided below.

Useful theories and methodologies for making decisions and conducting analysis in a given social system in order to understand its economic mechanisms and create business models (e.g., Econometric Analysis)

Frameworks for international business administration and startups coupled with a comprehensive understanding of society, the economy, and ethics (e.g., Comprehensive Business Administration)

Basic approaches, management methods, production engineering, management engineering, and other systematic methodologies for conventional optimization and other activities involved in the design and production of artifacts (e.g., Global Production Systems)

In-depth studies of financial accounting and risk management that go beyond the constraints of conventional frameworks in order to learn about the intrinsic qualities of business accounting and how it relates to corporate ethics and compliance (e.g., Finance and Accounting)

Group C: Social Strategy

Courses in this group look at the value that technologies create in a nation or society in order to gain a strategic understanding of technologies aimed at enriching society. They address a body of knowledge associated with activities ranging from the creation to the application of intellectual property related both directly and indirectly to social value as well as policies for encouraging scientific and technological innovations that are intended to create social value. Examples of the content covered in this group are provided below.

Historical studies on civilizations and technologies with a scope that is not limited to advanced technologies to determine how humankind has responded to challenges throughout its history, learn how innovations have brought value to society, and consider our future (e.g., History of Technology Strategies and Social Future Studies)

Frameworks for international business management and business startups in emerging economies taking into consideration the conscious creation of social value (e.g., Global Business Strategy and Policy)