Knowledge Assets and Intellectual Property for Competitive Advantage (P02109)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : MSE-P-P02109

In this course, the use of knowledge assets and intellectual property to enhance organisational performance and competitive advantage are explored. The general aims are to:
1) Familiarise students with the relationship between new venture creation and knowledge assets and the processes from which intellectual assets (IA) and human capital (HC) may develop into intellectual property (IP)
2) Develop in students an understanding of the characteristics, features, benefits and uses of various intellectual property rights (IPR) that include patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets;
3) Develop an understanding of the use of IA, IP and IPR in various business and organisational settings that includes: a) examining the relationship between IA/IP and organisational strategy and; b) examining approaches to measuring the contribution of knowledge assets to organisational performance;
4) Familiarise students with the ongoing management and development of IA/IP within existing organisations and strategic uses of IP that include make versus buy and IP transfer decisions.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Business Studies, (Management School and Economics, Schedule H)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Block 5 only

? Contact Teaching Time : 30 hour(s) per week for 1 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to show that they:
a) understand the distinction between IA, HC, IC, IP and IPR, the relationships among them and their role and uses within the new venture;
b) are familiar with each IPR; their characteristics, elements, legal rights and uses and their particular costs and benefits;
c) appreciate the processes of knowledge asset creation, development, use, exploitation and management in a variety of business and organisational settings;
d) understand the relationship between IA/IP, IPR and strategy that will affect and determine decisions of use and exploitation within an organisation.

Assessment Information

Individual briefing paper (20%) examining the relationship between knowledge assets, IP and IPR; a group project (30%) examining effective development and exploitation of IP from a given case study; and an individual project (50%) analysing effective use of IPR within a chosen organisational setting or business.