Strategy & Innovation

• QST HM 801: Bench-to-Bedside: Translating Biomedical Innovation from the Laboratory to the Marketplace
  The subject of the course is the translation of medical technologies into new products and services for the healthcare system. The course begins with a rigorous study of university research commercialization including intellectual property, licensing and planning, creating, funding and building new entrepreneurial ventures. Concepts and tools are presented for assessing new technologies and their potential to be the basis for commercialization. Cross- disciplinary teams of students will be formed which will evaluate translational research projects currently being developed at Boston University and other local academic research institutions, to develop a go-to-market strategy. There will be a case studies and guest lecturers to discuss examples of both success and failure in technology commercialization.
• QST IM 345: Global Business Environment
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASEC 101, CASEC 102, and junior standing. - Required for Global Business concentrators. Deals with international economic theories and explores the intersection between theory and practice. Determinants of international trade and payments: international trade theory and policy and balance-of-payments accounting. Explores the implications of trade-promoting and trade-inhibiting institutions and practices: WTO, NAFTA, European Union, etc. Introduces cultural, political, and demographic issues for international managers.
• QST IM 445: Multinational Management
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC101; CAS EC102; QST IM345 or QST FE427 or CAS EC392 or CAS IR292 or equivalent for non-Questrom students (may be taken concurrently) - This is heavily case-based course studying the business strategies of multi- national enterprises, particularly in high-growth and developing economies. Having worldwide operations not only gives companies access to new markets and diverse resources, it also opens up new sources of information and knowledge that stimulate innovation and operational strategies. Along with opportunities, we also look at the challenges to a more complex, diverse, and uncertain business than those faced by companies who focus primarily in their mature markets or even their own country. This course helps students to acquire skills and perspectives that will help them as they pursue careers with multi-national companies or other opportunities in the global business environment.
• QST IM 475: Global Management Experience
  The Global Management Experience is a four-credit course that involves analytical work throughout the spring semester, and culminates in spring break travel to Asia. Each year the countries, cities, and companies studied are changed. Coursework includes an exploration of the economic, governmental and social factors that affect the conduct of business, and ethics, in a variety of industries and contexts. The course features presentations and Q&A with different business executives, government leaders and entrepreneurs, providing an opportunity for first-hand observation around the application of management principles and strategies in the global arena. Please see our website for details: https://questromworld.bu.edu/udc/gme/ GME 2025 will travel to Ho Chi Minh and Hong Kong. The course is by application only (due November 1st) and requires a course fee of $3,900 to cover the cost of travel and expenses. Effective Spring 2024 this course fulfills a single unit the following BU Hub area: Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
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  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
• QST IM 858: Global Field Seminar: Pursuing Sustainability in Developing Economies
  In this course, students will spend several lectures in the first half of the semester learning about key sustainability issues facing the global economy, how these issues differ in developing vs. developed economies, and the necessity for innovative initiatives to advance a more sustainable future world economy. The course is especially well-suited for Social Impact MBA students who aim to pursue professional paths either in sustainability or in developing economies, although it is open to any MBA student and should appeal to those who are interested in international business. After the in-class learning, students will leave for a destination country for an in-depth experience during the week of Spring Break, meeting with officials and touring major sustainability initiatives. The field study trip will focus on the social, commercial, and economic impact of key sustainability initiatives in the country by gaining the perspectives of businesses, organizations, projects, and communities benefiting from sustainability initiatives being pursued in the country. Students will also gain exposure to culture by visiting important cities and sites of historical significance. Augmenting the field study trip, students will be required to undertake two pieces of research: a team-based project and an individual project. Both projects will complement the field study trip by involving investigation of a topic associated with sustainability advancement in the country being studied.
• QST IM 860: Social Impact Field Seminar
  This course provides an action-based learning experience for students interested in understanding how for-profit and non-profit organizations develop innovative products and services that help mitigate grand challenges such as climate change, food security, global health, and poverty, and enable them to grow their business and sustain their competitive advantage over time. Students will work on a live 'social impact' consulting project for a client from the host country, and present their recommendation to the client while in the country. Furthermore, students will visit and interact with various players in the social impact sector (e.g., entrepreneurs, high-level executives, non-profit leaders) to learn about the opportunities and challenges they face. This course is ideal for students interested in social impact, sustainable energy, environmental sustainability, social entrepreneurship, socially responsible investing (SRI), and global health and healthcare.
• QST SI 250: Ideas to Impact
  This course is required for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor. The goal of this course is to expose students to the conceptual frameworks that guide ideation and innovation. Thus it will include all five learning principles the guide design of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor. The course analyzes the conditions that foster innovation as well as the process by which ideas progress from conception to implementation and execution, and the creation of either economic or social impact. Students will be exposed to theories on the conditions that affect the generation and development of creativity and innovation within individuals, teams, cities, and regions. To foster experiential learning, the whole class will be structured around the process of innovation with a "live case" that focuses on creating social innovations for the City of Boston. When people think about great social challenges, they often look afar to distant countries. Yet, many social problems lie right around the corner from students' daily lives. Students will develop a toolkit comprised of brainstorming, design thinking, human centered design, prototyping, storyboarding and field research. Students will conduct original field research within the City of Boston and identify a challenge or problem to address which they will focus on for the duration of the course, culminating in final presentations. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, The Individual in Community, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • The Individual in Community
  • Social Inquiry I
• QST SI 340: Family Business Management
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing - This course explores the dynamic and complex world of family businesses across the globe. The course is primarily intended for students who have experience of a family business as well as students who are considering joining a family-owned enterprise or starting one. It counts toward the Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor and the Questrom Business minor. Family business historically represents a significant part of the U.S. economy and an even larger proportion of the global economy. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Historical Consciousness, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Historical Consciousness
• QST SI 344: Entrepreneurship: Solving Problems in a Dynamic World
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST SM131, or QST SI250, or QST SI480, or COM FT591, or SHA HF307; Sop homore standing - This course addresses the principles, processes, and frameworks that are the underpinnings of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial spirit. This is a hands-on, experiential learning course that integrates previous coursework into a coherent picture and gives the student an understanding of the way that entrepreneurship can drive change, achievement, and value creation in commercial, societal, and philanthropic domains. Students will also be able to understand how the entrepreneurial mindset can spur achievement and strengthen performance in a wide variety of careers and pursuits. Students have the opportunity to form an idea and drive it through the entrepreneurial process, gaining both practical and theoretical experience in the art and science of entrepreneurship. 4 cr.
• QST SI 348: The Fundamentals of Selling: The Tactics and Strategies for a Career in Sales
  Undergraduate pre-requisite: sophomore standing - This course is for students who may be interested in a career in sales and want to explore more about the profession. Students will learn the fundamentals of selling, focusing on sales techniques and strategies, systems, processes, operations, and the role of sales in business strategy. Students will develop practical skills for prospecting, presenting, and closing deals while learning how to build and maintain customer relationships.
• QST SI 360: Strategy Lab
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST FE323, QST MK323, QST OM323, and QST QM323 - This course is a project-focused experiential course for sophomores and juniors. The overarching goal is to provide students with an authentic look at what it is like to be an "associate consultant" inside a top consulting firm, an experience which also includes training on Strategy content elements. Course activities include a live project, introduction of relevant Strategy content, development of a "consulting toolkit," and an introduction to and perspectives on careers in consulting through talks with alumni guest speakers. 4 cr.
• QST SI 422: Strategy, Innovation, and Global Competition
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST FE323, MK323, OM323, and QM323; First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - Provides students with a powerful set of tools which will prepare them to analyze, formulate, and implement business firm strategy with the aim of attaining sustainable competitive advantage. Adopts the perspective of the general manager, challenging student knowledge in each functional area in the effort to create integrative strategies that serve the needs of shareholders, as well as other stakeholders inside and outside the company. The course includes conceptual readings, which elucidate the fundamental concepts and frameworks of strategic management, as well as case analyses. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Writing-Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• QST SI 430: Cleantech Venture Consulting Practicum
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST SM131; CAS EE150 or ENG EK225 - Required course for the Undergraduate Minor in Sustainable Energy. Serves as the capstone project providing students with a multidisciplinary experience that applies ALL three disciplines on the Undergraduate Minor in Sustainable Energy, i.e. Business, Environmental Sciences and Engineering. The practicum is offered in conjunction with a "sponsoring company" to provide students with a hands-on experience with a real-world sustainable energy project.
• QST SI 432: Corporate Strategy: Formulation and Implementation
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (QSTSI422) - This course deepens students' understanding of why and how multi-business corporations can successfully expand their operations into new business areas. The course exposes students to the challenges associated with a range of strategies firms use to manage the vertical and horizontal scope of their activities. These strategies include vertical integration, partnering and supplier relationships, related and unrelated diversification, globalization, franchising, alliances, acquisitions and divestitures. Along with examining the formulation of these corporate strategies, the course also examines the implementation considerations in order to create successful conditions for the pursuit of these strategies. Topics addressed include questions related to the formal organization (i.e., reporting relationships, structural design, incentives, budgeting authority) as well as the informal organization (i.e. culture, dissent, networks) 4 cr.
• QST SI 435: Entertainment Management
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (QSTFE323 & QSTMK323 & QSTOM323 & QSTQM323) - (Offered in Los Angeles) Surveys the application of management concepts and principles to the film, television, video, new media and music industry. This course examines administration and finance, development, production, and distribution, and introduces students to the organizations and people (such as studios, independent production companies, talent managers, and agents) who manage, invest, and eventually profit in this creative industry. Much of the class time is spent in discussion of current entertainment industry trends. Students gain the skills to achieve their own entertainment goals.
• QST SI 438: Talent Representation and Management
  (Offered in Los Angeles) Using case studies and business models, students examine the manner in which critical players interact and attempt to work together in behalf of clients in an effort to make their "professional dreams" come to fruition. Participants will gain an understanding of the different areas of talent representation, how each one functions in the scope of a talent's career and what the responsibilities are for each position in each area of representation. Participants will also gain a clear view of what the business of Entertainment Representation has to offer as a chosen career. 4 cr.
• QST SI 445: Managing a Growing Enterprise
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (QSTFE323 & QSTMK323 & QSTOM323 & QSTQM323) - Designed to help students understand the intricacies of running a small company. The course addresses the major challenges in small companies, including valuation, negotiation, deal structure, personnel and compensation, and marketing and financing. Exposes students to a wide range of business activities, emphasizing significant differences between large and small enterprises. The course uses a competitive computer simulation to provide students with the opportunity to "run" their own business. Please click here to watch a 1 minute video overview of the course.
• QST SI 451: Organizing for Design and Innovation
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST SM131, or QST SI250, or QST SI480, or COM FT591, or SHA HF307; Jun ior standing - This course examines how managers and leaders can create the conditions for innovation at the individual, team and organizational levels and how those conditions differ for startup and mature organizations. Managing innovation includes the generation of ideas; the integration of those ideas into new product concepts; and the commercialization of those ideas. While core strategy courses address the questions of what innovations to pursue and whether and when those innovations will bring value, this course addresses the question of how managers can create organizations to deliver sustainable innovations of value.
• QST SI 453: Strategies in Environmental Sustainability
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST SM131, or QST SI250, or QST SI480, or COM FT591, or SHA HF307; Jun ior standing - With the growing global call for climate action, firms are recognizing business imperatives for climate resiliency. This course broadens our vision of corporate strategy to incorporate environmental initiatives as a way to create value. If you are a student who embraces the power of the private sector to lead climate imperatives, you will find this course particularly applicable. You will leave this course with a clear and actionable framework for implementing sustainability initiatives at all levels of the firm. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Teamwork/Collaboration. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Social Inquiry II
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• QST SI 464: Intellectual Property Strategies
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (QSTSM131 OR QSTSI480) - This course looks at how companies can best use intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets) to protect their proprietary ideas and investments in knowledge assets, shape competition, and realize value from innovation.