Course outline: Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE 5288)

Sultan Qaboos University

College of Engineering
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department

Course Outline
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE 5288)
Instructor:

Fall 2015
Dr. Mahmood Al Kindi

Time & Place:

Monday-Wednesday, 8:00-9:50, Room CMT/C10 (Section 10)
Monday-Wednesday, 12:00-13:50, Room CMT/A14 (Section 20)

Office hours:

Tuesday, 13:00 PM 14:00 PM

Tuesday, 10:00AM- 12:00 PM, or by appointment

Office:

Room # 2011, College of Engineering

Telephone:

Ext. 1312

Email:

kindim@squ.edu.om

1. Course Description
In todays global economy it is important to equip university students with innovate,
entrepreneurial, and managerial skills. Innovation is about growth, recognizing
opportunities to create economical and social value. One key element is creativity and
imagination. Innovation has become the source of competence in all fields. This course
provides students with a general introduction to innovation, entrepreneurship, and
management. Topics include idea generation, opportunity assessment, creative thinking
methods, IP protection and business plan development. The course also shed lights in
various managements activities such as planning, organization, staffing and controlling
skills. These concepts are explained and illustrated through carefully selected readings,
cases and exercises. No prior business experience is required.

2. Required Background or Experience:

Prerequisites:
- Engineering Economics

3. Textbook & Supplemental Materials:

Textbook (s):
Kaplan J.M. and Warren A.C., Patterns of ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Management, 2nd or 3rd Edition, John Wiley, 2007/ 2010.

Rue, L.W. and Byars, L. Management, Skills and Application, 12 ed., McGrawHill/Irwin, New York
Supplemental Materials:
Notes will be handed out to the students on the topics and issues which are not
adequately discussed in the text book.
Reading Material
1. Hishrich R.D. and Peters, M.P. (2005) Entrepreneurship; McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
2. Deakins, D., & Freel, M. (2006). Entrepreneurship and Small Firms (4th ed.).
Berkshire, UK: McGraw-Hill Companies.
3. Legge, J., & Hindle, K. (2004). Entrepreneurship context, vision and planning (2
ed.). Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
4. Timmons, J. A., & Spinelli, S. (2004). New venture creation: Entrepreneurship for
the 21st century New York: McGraw-HillI
5. Hasan M Kamoonpuri (2004) Success Stories of Omani Entrepreneurs;
Oman Daily Observer.
4. Course Objectives:
The overall course objective is to train our students to be an innovator, an entrepreneur
and finally a manager by offering a combination of knowledge and practical experience.
The course leads students through the process of creating, growing, and managing a
venture. While working in teams, students can build leadership, entrepreneurial skills,
and managerial skills. The team generates, evaluates, develops, and markets their idea
(product, service, changeetc). The faculty member monitors, helps, and advices
towards a final valid doable idea based on the concept sell a simpler life. The team
generates, evaluates, develops, and markets their idea (product, service, changeetc).
The faculty member monitors, helps, and advices towards a final valid doable idea based
on the concept sell a simpler life.
5. Course Outcomes:
After the successful completion of this course, the students will:
- have a clear understanding of developing an idea and business opportunities. [l]
- be able to work in a team to understand interpersonal relationship and its
importance for identifying the opportunity and solve problem (d1, d2).
- be able to develop a small scale business plan for new businesses and
communicate effectively. [g1, g2, l]

know the importance of innovation and technology in entrepreneurship and its

effect on economy. [h]
know about intellectual properties and ethics related to it. [f1, f2, j]
(Note dl/ d2: Ability to work effectively in a team/ multi-disciplinary team.
f1/f2: Understand professional and ethical responsibility.
g1/g2: Effective in written/ oral communication.
h: Understand the impact of engineering solution in a global context.
j: Knowledge of contemporary issue.
l: Knowledge of business principal and leadership skill.)

6. Course Contents:
The following topics will be covered in this course:
- The art of innovation
- The entrepreneurial process
- Analyzing the market, customer and competition
- Setting up company
- Sources of financing
- Developing competitive edge
- Bringing it all together Writing the winning business plan
- Decision analysis in entrepreneurship
- Economic analysis in Business
- Introduction to engineering management
- Planning skills
- Organizing skills
- Directing Skills
- Controlling Skills
- Motivation of Employees
7. Course Assessment:
Participation &Attendance and Assignments (3%)
Quizzes (10%)
Mini-Projects and Assignments (17%)
Mid-Semester Examination (25%)

Final Examination (45%)

8. Student Responsibilities
Minimum Student Materials
- Text book and class handouts.
Collaboration Policies:
You can consult each other while working on the homework, but all the work that you
submit must be your own. There will be group homework also. Furthermore, the capstone
project will be done in groups. Discuss the assignment among yourselves. This is helpful

to the learning process. However, direct copying of others work will NOT be allowed or
tolerated and will result in a reduction of grade.
Attendance Policy:
In accordance with the university Regulations, it is the students responsibility to be
punctual and to attend all classes. Failure to attend classes without prior approval for
whatever reason is considered as part of the percentage missed. Students bear full
responsibility for checking their own attendance record. Attendance records are kept, and
an Absentee Warning Notice will be issued if a student is absent for more than 10 % of
the total contact hours. An Absentee Withdrawal Notice will be issued and the student
will be deemed to have withdrawn from the course with an FW Grade if a student is
absent for more than 20 % of the total contact hours.
[Note: If a student was to participate in an event outside of the class scope, he/she must
get a prior approval from the course instructor.
Student will not allow entering the classroom if late by more than 10 mins, unless
there is strong reason for the delay.]
Code of Ethics
Academic misconduct is defined as the use of any dishonest or deceitful to gain some
academic advantage or benefit. This can take many forms, including but not limited to the
following:
i. Examinations
a) Copying, or attempting to copy, from another students work, or permitting another
student to copy from your work.
b) Using notes of whatever kind in the formation of answers in a closed book
examination.
c) Impersonation of another student in an examination, seminar or other form of
presentation.
d) Disrupting the conduct of examinations by illegally obtaining access to examination
papers or answer, and/or distribution of this material to others.
ii. Assignments, Essays, etc.
a) Plagiarism: using the words, thoughts, ideas, results, etc., of another person in a written
assignment, without acknowledging the source, as if it were the students own work.
b) Copying: copying another persons answers in an essay, assignment, paper, laboratory
report, etc., and presenting it, either wholly or with only minor changes, as if it were the
students own work.
c) Collusion: working with others on an assignment which is intended to be an individual
assignment, and incorporating their material into your work.
d) Switching: submitting work completed for one course in another course without the
permission of the instructor.
e) Falsification: inventing data or altering data that have been obtained from legitimate
sources.
iii. Forging University Documents

Submitting or using forged academic documents or forged signatures for the purpose of
personal gain or fraud. If the student commits an act of academic misconduct, whether
defined above or of a different nature, it may be documented and then one or more of the
following penalties may be applied:
Written warning.
Downgrading of an assignment or examination.
An F grade given to the assignment or examination.
An F grade given to the course.
Suspension from the University for a Specified period.
Expulsion from the University.
9. Impact of the Course
This course is aimed at achieving the following professional components:
To study and/or develop small scale new business venture.
To develop skills and commitment for engaging in life-long learning skills.
To develop effective communication skills and work independently as well as in a
team on projects.
To understand business principles.
Week

Date

Topic

Remark

1-2.
3.

14-Sep-15
21-Sep-15

Introduction to Innovation Entrepreneurship

Joy of Engineering - The Innovation Imperative

Eid AlAdha

4.

28-Sep-15

Joy of Engineering - The Innovation Imperative

Mini Project 1

5.
6.
7.

5-Oct-15
12-Oct-15
19-Oct-15

Entrepreneurial Process
Market analysis
Business Plan 1

8.

26-Oct-15

Business Plan 2

9.

2-Nov-15

Introduction to Risk management

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

9-Nov-15
16-Nov-15
23-Nov-15
30-Nov-15
7-Dec-15

Introduction to engineering management

Planning Skills
Organizing Skills
Directing Skills
Motivation, Leadership , and Teamwork

15.

14-Dec-15

Introduction to IP

Quiz1
Mini Project 2
Midterm Exam Thursday (29/10)
Quiz 2
Mini Project 3
Quiz 3
Mini Project 4