Explanation of the Course

On this page, we examine the course layout, specifically the module themes and instructional pacing, as well as the types of assignments to be done individually. Later in the module, we will discuss the new product development process and the team dynamic that has been integrated into this course.

Course Layout

Let’s first examine how the course is constructed. This first week, you are merely asked to accept your role in the course and begin the process of acclimating to the course dynamic. If you look at the layout of the course, much of the content is front loaded to accommodate activity in the team project. Each module has pages of commentary to read and occasional supplemental readings. However, this course, like many other entrepreneurial courses, rely heavily on videos cut from recorded interviews with successful entrepreneurs and related experts. Since this course lacks a significant reading requirement, you are asked to view every video to gain firsthand applied knowledge and practices that you may then apply to the team project and future entrepreneurial ventures. You will be introduced to these individuals later in this module.

The modules follow the phases of the new product development process. If you look ahead throughout the course or review your course syllabus, you will notice a significant expectation of team work starting in module 2 and lasting through the end of the course. The team and each individual will have other expectations in regards to the project, which will be explained later in this module. Table 0.2 illustrates the course layout.

Table 0.2  New Product Development Process Course Layout

Module 1	Module 2	Module 3	Module 4	Module 5	Module 6	Module 7	Module 8
1 Week	2 Weeks	10 Weeks - Dictated by Team Project Contract (Module 2)
Organization and Planning	Idea Generation and Screening	Market Assessment	Concept Design and Development	Business  Analysis	Product Branding, Marketing, and Advertising	Prototype and User Testing	Commercialization and Distribution

 

Module 1: Organization and Planning will last one instructional week and discusses the team dynamic, leadership within the new product development process, and strategies of conflict management. At the end of this module, teams will be formed during a live virtual conference session in order to start the development process in module 2.

Module 2: Idea Generation and Screening will last 2 instructional weeks. Each individual must complete the module reading and videos, and the team must not only complete a team contract that will govern the communication and collaboration efforts of the project, but also generate and screen ideas for the product to be used for the team project.

Modules 3-8: This is where the course becomes a bit less structured. Once the team has been assembled in module 2, the contract will dictate how the remaining modules, Modules 3-8, will be completed. The team will decide how these remaining six modules will be completed so that the team project can also be completed by the specified Syllabus due date. More information about the team project will be given later in this module, but for now, it is important to understand that while the first 4 instructional weeks of this course are done at the same pace, the following ten weeks are more flexible in completing the requirements of modules 3-8 and the team project. The last week of the course, not shown in Table 0.2, is meant for reflection and final questions.

A note about the content of the modules: Various marketing tools, such as company logos and slogans, are presented in this course. Their inclusion in this course does not indicate any promotion, sponsorship or endorsement by that company or The Pennsylvania State University.

Individual Assignments

The majority of the work done in this course will be focused on the team project and development of a new product. However, each individual will have certain requirements that must be done without the assistance of classmates. The three primary individual assignment types in this course are journal entries, weekly progress reports, and peer evaluations. Two of these requirements, weekly progress reports and peer evaluations, will be discussed a little later in this module when we address the expectations of each individual in regards to the team project. Some modules also have student submissions that must be made publically within the module in response to a prompt.

The purpose of journaling

At the end of each module, you will be asked to complete a journal entry that captures your learning path through the provided commentary, resources, and team project activity. While some courses use journal entries as a means of simple reflection, this course requires you to connect key concepts to everyday entrepreneurial tasks, particularly those relevant to your experience. You will use these 4 C’s to complete a thorough journal entry.

• Concepts - What concepts were of particular importance to you? Address a minimum of 5 key points encountered throughout the module that were of particular importance to you. These points may come from videos, text commentary, from within team activity, articles, etc. that have been included in the course. Do not just simply address these points, but explain why each of these concepts were of importance to you.
• Connect - How does what you learned in the module connect to your prior experience? Be specific and detailed about the example from the course and from your personal experience. The connection should be obvious and easily visualized.
• Change - Referring to specific content or experiences within your coursework, what behaviors or ideas will change in regards to your entrepreneurial processes? Describe how these behaviors or ideas will change.
• Challenge - Every entrepreneur views the process differently. Based on your experience, what information or viewpoints presented in the module can you challenge in regards to its validity or applicability? Think about what bothered you or you simply did not agree with. Similarly, based on what you heard or read, what topic(s) would you like to know more about? What questions do you still have?

As an entrepreneur, you are expected to make your journal entries thorough in order to synthesize everything you have learned, and you are also expected to seek the mentorship of other entrepreneurs. At no time should your submission be brief or simply state that you have nothing to share. The content of your submission may solicit meaningful dialog with the instructor or a connection with someone externally, such as a financial advisor or product manufacturer, to assist you in the development process. So please use the journal submission to your advantage.

With an understanding of the new product development process and the layout of the course, including individual assignments, let’s turn our attention to the team project that spans the entire course and should help you experience the development process.