Disruption, Innovation Democ

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor

Technology is rapidly advancing and evolving—and in increasingly shorter iterative cycles. The interaction of disruptive technologies with public, private and civic actors, is changing too. Today we are a part of the first generation of policymakers faced with the urgency to understand the right balance between innovative technology—most of it accessible to the public—and responsible regulatory and market frameworks. You are part of this first generation. There are many related challenges, opportunities, and policy implications, with new elements emerging every day. We need a body of knowledge, and a cadre of leaders, to capture these issues, lessons and outcomes in real time, to inform and equip policymakers so they may responsibly and effectively navigate this newest frontier. Combining the McCourt School’s expertise in data science and public policymaking, along with Georgetown’s focus on values and ethics, we can develop and explore new ways to think about the role of policy in this time of fast-paced innovation. Our framework for this exploration is based on the three adoption “curves” of disruptive technology: cultural, regulatory and actuarial. We will explore the intricate ways in which such disruptive innovation impacts policymaking and the evolution of our democracy. Each week during the "Disruption, Innovation and Democracy" Seminar we will hear from real leaders in public and private technology, from executives at big tech companies, to founders of billion dollar startups; from Presidential appointees that oversee technology policy, to sitting members of congress. This Seminar is just the first phase in a deliberate journey to establish the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown as the thought leader and flagship institution at the intersection of tech innovation, disruption, and public policy. We aim establish the McCourt School as a borderless hub that leverages its physical location in DC, its reputation of excellence beyond, and the power of technology, to convene the brightest minds at the intersection of innovation and public policy. As we maintain our rigorous focus on the policy questions, implications, challenges, and opportunities presented by technology and innovation, we will remain steadfast in our analysis and advocacy of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion which remain critically important as we consider the role of technology in our lives. Seminar Objectives - Understand and apply the Adoption Curves Model to disruptive technologies, and understand how they interact and affect public decisions; - Identify and explore the roles of the primary actors in these interactions—the companies, regulators, legislators, private equity, financial institutions and you; - Examine and critique the proper role of government with regards to disruptive technology; - Use a regulatory risk lens to evaluate market opportunities and diligence for emerging startup ideas; - Assess the supporters, enablers, and opponents of disruptive tech companies; - Explore the strategies legacy companies susceptible to disruptive technology employ to respond to innovation and change; - Evaluate the strategies companies use to identify and overcome entrenched interests standing in their way to achieve legality and advantageous position in the market