Re-imagining Companies Through Innovation

3 credits · College of Engineering catalogue

Advisory and Enforced Prerequisite: None. (3 credits) Analyze all aspects of a company, develop market intelligence, and provide advice that will reshape that company. Students acquire consulting skills, technology, and market assessment, analyze privately held companies, and evaluate their capacity to innovate. This Practicum is offered in collaboration with the U-M Economic Growth Institute, which has decades of experience providing strategic guidance to manufacturing companies. Student project teams are directly involved in gathering and interpreting to recommend decisions, and help reinvent the firm. ENTR 422. Organizational Values and Ethics in Startups Advisory and Enforced Prerequisite: None. (2 credits) Focus on the ethical challenges and social responsibility issues faced by entrepreneurs. Through case studies, media analyses, self-reflection exercises, and team projects, students will examine the impact of ethical decision-making on emerging ventures, company culture, and the broader community when creating services or products. The development of individual and organizational strategies for addressing the impact of these challenges will be explored. Students will gain skills to develop intentional thought, preparing them for leadership in entrepreneurial ventures. ENTR 423. Leading an Entrepreneurial Team Advisory and Enforced Prerequisite: None. (2 credits) Future entrepreneurs are taught how to identify and prioritize the “who” (human capital), the “what” (skills), and the “why” needed for business growth. Students will learn how to establish and promote a high-performing company culture, essential for leading successful entrepreneurial ventures. Coursework involves case studies in organizational structure and development, and active role-play exercises. Students learn the fundamentals of the CEO role, establishing and protecting a startup culture, and best practices in recruiting, interviewing, and managing an organization.