Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2022-23
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr O Cole and Dr M Boisseau-Sierra
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% coursework
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Coursework
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100% Coursework on Accounting and Finance The Accounting section carries 50% of the mark and the Finance section the remaining 50% Learning objective:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Fri week 1 Lent Term [xx/60] |
|
|
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 24/05/2022 13:11
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2023-24
Module Leader
Lecturers
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% exam
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 27/09/2023 15:15
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2020-21
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr O Cole and Dr M Boisseau-Sierra
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% coursework
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Coursework
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100% Coursework on Accounting and Finance The Accounting section carries 50% of the mark and the Finance section the remaining 50% Learning objective:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Fri week 1 Lent Term [xx/60] |
|
|
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 01/09/2020 10:35
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2019-20
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr O Cole and Dr M Boisseau-Sierra
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% coursework
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Coursework
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100% Coursework on Accounting and Finance The Accounting section carries 50% of the mark and the Finance section the remaining 50% Learning objective:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Fri week 1 Lent Term [xx/60] |
|
|
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Group E Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 09/10/2019 07:02
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2017-18
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr O Cole and Prof A Jagolinzer
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% coursework
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements using financial ratios.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); interpretation of company financial statements (ratio analysis); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Coursework
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100% Coursework on Accounting and Finance The Accounting section carries 50% of the mark and the Finance section the remaining 50% Learning objective:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Fri week 1 Lent Term [xx/60] |
|
|
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Group E Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 18/09/2017 07:34
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2018-19
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr O Cole and Dr M Boisseau-Sierra
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% coursework
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements using financial ratios.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Coursework
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100% Coursework on Accounting and Finance The Accounting section carries 50% of the mark and the Finance section the remaining 50% Learning objective:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Fri week 1 Lent Term [xx/60] |
|
|
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Group E Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 18/09/2018 13:40
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2025-26
Module Leader
Lecturers
Lecturer
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% exam
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 04/06/2025 13:28
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2024-25
Module Leader
Lecturers
Lecturer
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% exam
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 31/05/2024 10:06
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E6: Accounting & Finance, 2021-22
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr O Cole and Dr M Boisseau-Sierra
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures (including examples classes). Assessment: 100% coursework
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide an introductory understanding of financial reporting and decision making by companies.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- construct the company financial statements from a jumble of raw data.
- interpret these statements.
- understand how to identify and finance the investments companies should undertake.
- understand why and how companies compensate their investors.
Content
The first part of the module examines fundamental accounting concepts, and shows how to construct and interpret company accounts, a critical source of information to outside investors. The second part of the module tackles the three key areas of company decision making: the capital budgeting decisions of how the company should invest; the financing decisions of how the company should raise the investment capital; and the payout decisions of how the company should compensate its shareholder
Financial Accounting
Detailed discussion of fundamental accounting concepts; construction of company financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement); an awareness of creative accounting
Finance
Nature and objectives of finance; time value of money and risk versus return; capital budgeting decisions (opportunity cost of capital, investment rules such as Net Present Value; financing decisions (debt versus equity); payout decisions (dividends and share repurchases).
Coursework
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
100% Coursework on Accounting and Finance The Accounting section carries 50% of the mark and the Finance section the remaining 50% Learning objective:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Fri week 1 Lent Term [xx/60] |
|
|
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
Last modified: 20/05/2021 07:48
Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4E4: Management of Technology, 2025-26
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr L Mortara, Dr Rob Phaal, Dr Clive Kerr, Prof Tim Minshall, Prof Frank Tietze
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. Eight sessions incorporating speakers. Assessment: 100% exam.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide students with an understanding of the ways in which technology is brought to market by focusing on key technology management topics from the standpoint of established businesses and new organisations
- place emphasis on frameworks and methods that are both theoretically sound and practically useful
- provide students with both an understanding of the challenges and the practical means of dealing with them in an engineering context
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- have a thorough appreciation of how technology is used to address market opportunities, and how technology management supports that process
- assess and utilise appropriate technology management methods in different contexts
- understand the core challenges of technology management and the practical means of dealing with them in an engineering context
Content
Introduction: Technology in the business context
- The objectives, content and procedure of the course.
- Technology in organisations and why technology needs managing (the evolution of markets, industry and technology)
- What are technology management processes and how are they used?
Strategic Technology Management: How do companies plan for future technology progression?
- Strategic technology management: tools to help manage the uncertainties of the future by linking technology, product and market considerations.
- Industrial Emergence framework
- Technology Roadmapping (TRM)
- Scenario planning .
Identification: How do companies keep up with scientific and technological developments?
Identification:
- Technology intelligence : what is is? what id does?
- Technology intelligence systems: how to structure a Technology intelligence activity (Mine, Trawl, Target, Scan)
- How do the technology intelligence systems operate? the process.
Selection: How to select the right technology for the future?
Selection:
- Selecting technology investments: specific problems.
- Tools and techniques for technology selection.
- How do companies manage a portfolio of R&D projects?
Acquisition: Different routes to acquire technology from partners
Acquisition:
- The process of technology acquisition.
- Defining the motivation and what we want to acquire
- Assessing the match (Internal drivers, technology and partners’ characteristics).
- Deciding the setup of the acquisition.
Protection: Protecting technology to ensure future business opportunities
Protection:
- The relevance of intellectual property (IP) in today’s technology and business context.
- How to manage and enforce IP strategically for technology related business problems.
- How to organize for effective IP management and the different I
Exploitation: Making money from new technologies: How to choose the right business model
Exploitation:
- What are the different ways in which an idea can be brought to market? (the Business models)
- Why do most innovations reach the market through new firms rather than established firms?
- How do new and established firms work together?
Innovation Management and New product introduction + Technology managers:lessons from the trenches
The management of innovation:
- The Waterfall and the Agile methods
Invited speaker(s) will reflect on their experience in technology and innovation management: Topics covered include.
· Managing technology in organisations.
· Managing technology and innovation projects.
· The job of the technology manager.
REFERENCES
Additional resources for this module will be available from the course Moodle page.
Further notes
The order of lectures and lecturers might change at short notice. Please refer to the Moodle page for the latest update
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S2
Extensive knowledge and understanding of management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately to strategic and tactical issues.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
P5
Awareness of nature of intellectual property and contractual issues.
US4
An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.
Last modified: 05/06/2025 14:45
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