Transcript in3.dem.ist.utl.pt

TITLE
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND VIRTUAL TEAMING:
challenges and opportunities for the Research University
Manuel V. Heitor
CENTER FOR INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY RESEARCH, IN+
Instituto Superior Tecnico
Lisbon, PORTUGAL
OBJECTIVES
To discuss university programs aimed to promote
entrepreneurial capacities
and to develop and strengthen
group capabilities
through the establishment of learning networks
Key Components of the Experiments
Learning  A set of formal and informal processes and
practices, strongly influenced by the environment, that lead to
knowledge accumulation
Challenge  How to promote learning that links diverse
social actors with different degrees of development
Perspective  Universities
Mechanisms  Networks linking people in order to increase
their ability to learn
KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION
Creation and distribution
of knowledge
Economic growth and
development
Technological innovation
and development
•
PROCESSES:
complex and diversified
•
INVESTMENT:
education; R&D; learning-by-doing
•
AGENTS:
state, firms, universities, schools
KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION
•The evidence:
Wealth generation results from knowledge accumulation …
… Science & technology is the driving force !
•The key points:
Innovation
Internationalisation
THE NEW THEORIES OF
ECONOMIC GROWTH
EDUCATION
RESEARCH
LEARNING
Romer (1990) and
Grossman and
Helpman (1991)
Lucas (1988)
BY-DOING
Arrow (1962)
Romer (1986)
ECONOMIC
GROWTH
• The learning ability is the critical aspect for economic growth, and is associated to the skill of
assimilating and transforming the current knowledge.
• “Learning refers to building new competencies and establishing new skills and not just to get
access to information”, Lundvall (1997).
On the economic understanding of KNOWLEDGE
• The process of continuous learning reflects
on the accumulation and the creation of new
knowledge, which is considered as
technological change
• Technological change is endogenous to the
economy
THE VISION - 1:
TECHNOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION THROUGH
HUMAN CAPITAL
Technological
accumulation
(learning)
Technological
capacity
The resources needed
to generate and
manage technical
change
(1) Knowledge, skills
and experience
(2) Institutional
structures and
linkages in firms
and outside firms
Technical
change
(a) Introduction of
technology
embodied in new
products and/or
new plants through
“major” projects.
(b) Incremental
adaptation and
improvement of
existing production
capacity
Production
capability
Industrial
output
Components of given
production systems
• Fixed capital
• Operating labour
skils and know-how
• Input specs
• Organization and
procedures of
production
towards the LEARNING SOCIETY
-
The key issue:
- Moving beyond access to capability
How to use effectively
knowledge?
•
The requirements
- Individual learning - developing people’s skills
- collective learning - networks and organizations
•
The levels of learning partnerships
- Learning communities (citizenships, initiatives)
- Learning clusters (ex.: Barcelona, SP, Sinos Valley, BE)
* network entrepreneurs
- Learning nations (ex. Malaysia 2020; El Salvador 2021)
what kind of NETWORK?
•A learning network that leads to self-reinforcing learning cycles
(interactive model)
• Universities as agents that actively link participating people and firms
in a web of knowledge sharing, production, usage, and diffusion
SOFTWARE
NODE D
WETWARE
S OFTWARE
NODE MLD
WETWARE
SOFTWARE
NODE LD
WETWARE
THE QUESTION
How can universities foster innovation and the creation of
new business and jobs, helping to transform
organizations to address the challenges of the emerging
economy?
Issues:
• New challenges to universities within the knowledge-based economy
• Need to go beyond traditional activities
• the development, transfer and commercialization of new technologies
• the need to preserve the university’s institutional integrity
CHALLENGES FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION - 1
• INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
- the need to preserve “institutional integrity”
- the structural roles of “teaching” and “research”
public investment
• THE CHALLENGE OF EXCELLENCE:
-
the need for diversification ?
-
the emergence of new areas, and multidisciplinarity
• THE LINKS TO SOCIETY
-
life-long learning
-
informal learning processes
CHALLENGES FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION - 2
Questions:
- changes in the structure of the employment market
- learning ability towards a sustainable societal development
The issue: “EDUCATION” as knowledge for understanding
“TRAINING” as knowledge for value
• The policy: promote DIVERSIFIED SYSTEMS
1. “formal learning” - teaching
- research: R&D; R&T;R&L
2. “informal learning”
CHALLENGES FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION - 3
informal learning processes, “-by-living”:
1. towards SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITIES
concepts: - the experience economy, Pine&Gilmore(1999)
- industrial ecology
2. Learning as reflected in ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- the regional dimension
- the need for further research ...
TOWARDS NEW PROGRAMS...
… to promote entrepreneurial skills in a global
environment, through the integration of:
• specific technical training
• experimentation
• interaction
establishing links between students with
different backgrounds and in different regions.
ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION
Reactive attitude
learn
Acquire
knowledge
apprehend
Develop new capacities,
through experiencing
Individual competencies
Pro-active attitude
entrepreneurship
Use and create
knowledge
Technology
spin-offs
Group capacities
Information technologies
and...
FLEXIBLE LEARNING...
The same space
TRADITIONAL
SCHOOL
different times
same instant
“OPEN UNIVERSITY”
FLEXIBLE
LEARNING
Different spaces
Information Technologies and
"Virtual Teaming"
ORGANIZATION
SPACETIME
Same
Different
Same
Collocated
Distributed
Different
Collocated
Cross-Organizational
Distributed
Cross-Organizational
Technology enabled learning (…?)
The concept: any time / any place
fully distributed
The tools: televideoconferencing
net meetings
ICQ
The question: up to which extent ?
CASE STUDIES
1.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND VIRTUAL TEAMING IN
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION
a program developed at:
IC2 INSTITUTE, Austin, USA
ITESM, Monterrey, MX
IST, Lisbon, PT
2.
ON THE DESIGN OF FREE-FORM, COMPLEX PRODUCTS
THROUGH COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
a case study on the design of a glass chair developed at:
MIT, Boston, USA
IST, Lisbon, PT
SOME CONCLUSIONS...
THE CONCEPT: the learning skill is the creative factor for
economic development.
THE CHALLENGE: to promote the valorisation of human and
intellectual capital, in a context favourable to innovation
and wealth creation, where learning networks assume a
critical role
THE TOOL: global networking through collaborative learning
and virtual teaming
… debate
CASE 1
1.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND VIRTUAL TEAMING IN
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION
a program developed at:
IC2 INSTITUTE, Austin, USA
ITESM, Monterrey, MX
IST, Lisbon, PT
NTBFs: characteristics and requirements
Typical characteristics: commercial and technological risks
limited guaranties
uncertain profitability
lack of cash flow
lack of business and venture culture
Their development and growth requires specific knowledge and instruments:
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPABILITIES
RISK and DIVERSIFIED FINANCING PRODUCTS
ACCESS TO INTERNATIONALISATION CHANNELS
THE LEARNING PHASES
•Acquisition and development of technical competencies
….the processes of S&T commercialisation
•Acquisition and development of instrumental competencies
….entrepreneurial capacity
•Experiencing entrepreneurial realities
•Living and understanding the challenges of internationalisation
PROGRAM CONTENTS
1. TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
2. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PLAN
3. BUSINESS PLAN
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
The issues:
•Understanding the entire technology commercialization
process;
•Develop the ability to assess a technology for its
commercial value.
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
The context:
regional, national, and global
The methods:
•quick look assessment
•in-depth technology assessment
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
some technologies
•DNA “Typing” - Multiplex Polymorphism Analysis by Flow Cytometry for
High Throughput Screening (Los Alamos National Lab)
•Glass Furnace Monitoring and Control (IST)
•Fiber-Optic Distribution of Pulsed Power to Multiple Sensors (NASA)
•Remote Monitoring via Internet - RMI (IST)
•Competitiveness Intelligence Network Proporal (ITESM)
•Environmentally-Friendly Brick Production (Los Alamos National Lab)
•VRaptor: Assault Planning, Training or Rehearsal (Sandia National Lab)
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
planning firm start-up
COMPANY
FORMATION
IDEA
A
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
B
PROFITABLE
OPERATIONS
& GROWTH
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
planning firm start-up: PHASE A
IDEA
COMPANY
FORMATION
WHAT’S NEEDED?
Intellectual Property Protection
Introduction to Investors
Company Conceptualization
Seed Capital
Management Team
Legal Advice
Business Plan
Office Space
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
How to protect Intellectual Property?
Industrial Property:
Copyrights:
• utility patents
• literary works
• trademarks
• computer programs
• designs
• multimedia works
• service marks
• audiovisual works
• trade secrets
• informational databases
• authored works
Is IPP compatible with the emergence of the Knowledge Based Society?
PHASE 1: TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
planning firm start-up: PHASE B
COMPANY
FORMATION
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
WHAT’S NEEDED?
Labs
Money
Staff
Management Guidance
Business Development
PHASE 2: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PLAN
The issues:
 Creation and length of opportunity
 Real and perceived value of opportunity
 Risk and returns of opportunity
 Opportunity versus personal skills and goals
 Competitive situation
PHASE 3: BUSINESS PLAN
CONTENTS:
 Introduction
 Executive Summary
 Industry Analysis
 Description of Venture
 Production Plan
 Marketing Plan
 Organization Plan
 Assessment of Risk
 Financial Plan
 Appendices
The process of firm development
Amount
Uncerta
inty
R
Feasibility
D
Creation
Seed capital
Growth
Venture capital
Start-up
Development
Maturity
Mezzanine
Development-Capital
LMBO
Stock Exchange
Sales
Technological
and commercial
uncertainty
Financial needs
Results
Venture capital market
Private informal investors
Time in years
Share holders
Intervention of banks
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
VENTURE CAPITAL
High
Family, Friends
and Fools
Level of Investors’ Risks
Business Angels
Risk Capital
Investment Funds
Stock Market
Commercial Banks
Low
Start-up
Seed
Growth
Development
Stages of enterprises’ development
Maturity
A case study…1
Commercialising BIOTECHNOLOGY
…. BIOTECNOL, in LISBON, Portugal
A case study…2
Commercialising
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
CRITICAL SOFTWARE in Coimbra, Portugal
On the internationalisation of “NEW TECHNOLOGY-BASED FIRMS”
MAJOR CHALLENGES:
Different cultures
 Different time-zones
 Complex communication technology
 Lack of basic teaming skills
CASE 2
2.
ON THE DESIGN OF FREE-FORM, COMPLEX PRODUCTS
THROUGH COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
a case study on the design of a glass chair developed at:
MIT, Boston, USA
IST, Lisbon, PT
The Project
Design and Construction of a Glass Chair
Challenges:
A complex product, requiring
particular safety precautions,
careful handling,
and specific production expertise
Opportunities:
Allows the creation of free forms,
promoting the development of new skills
“Solving all the
functional problems is
an intellectual exercise.
That is a different part
of my brain. It's not less,
it's just different. And I
make a value out of
solving all those
problems, dealing with
the context and the
client and finding my
moment of truth after I
understand the
problem”
Frank Gehry
DESIGN for the KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY
Architecture
Technology
Engineering
What role for a Technical University?
… Multidisciplinary orientation,
diversified environments!
…aimed to build new capacities,
able to create and use new knowledge
Complex Product Design:
Capabilities Development
Knowledge Required
for Design Process Development
Design
Development
Capabilities
Knowledge about
Production Problems
and Conditions
Production
Experience
Design Process
Development
New Process
Technology
Learning before Doing
Production
Capabilities
Learning by Doing
Capabilities Required
for Production
"...we see the balance of work shifting
from stable, physically collocated functions
to dynamic, competency-based,
electronically collocated bussiness networks:
virtual teams that create value
by synthesizing information and knowledge across geographies
and organizations.”
Metes, G. http://www.knowab.co.uk/wbwvirt.html,
99/04/20
The Project Implementation
MIT-Boston (USA)
Architecture students
Free-Form Design
IST-Lisbon (Portugal)
Civil Engineering Students
Structural Analysis
Mechanical Enginnering Students
Product Development
Product Liability and Safety
Mould Production and Glass Slumping Process
PHASE 1: design
Design Specification
Analysis
Structural safety
Construction Restraints
Design Optimization
COMPUTER SIMULATION
PHASE 2: mold design and construction
Design Specification
Analysis
in-furnace operation
Design Optimization
Construction
PHASE3: construction
Glass preparation
Furnace operation
Glass forming process
Glass cooling
Conclusion