​Students study (40) credit hours inclusive of the Master thesis, which is equivalent to (8) credit hours. Semester: I

Semester: II

¹ Elective course is dependent on the track, and will be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.

Semester: III

¹ Elective course is dependent on the track, and will be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.

Semester: IV

Total number of credit hours: Master's Degree:

Note: For Diploma graduates who are pursuing their studies towards a Master Degree: three elective courses of two credit hours each are to be taken, these courses will be selected in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.

CORE COURSES

ELECTIVE  COURSES 

Elective Courses for Engineering Track:

Elective Courses for Information Systems Track

Elective Courses for Business Track

Elective Courses for Innovation Management Track

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 COURSES DESCRIPTIONS

(GS500) Islamic Culture: (0)

This course is intended to acquaint the student with the main cultural issues of classical and modern Islam: the challenges of modernity, the requirements of development in the Islamic world and the main trends of modern Islamic reformist thought. A special emphasis is made on the needs of the Arabic language to meet the requirements of modern scientific expression and writing. Relevant original texts are studies in these courses to achieve their objectives through first-hand knowledge of the subject.

(GSTS501) Computer Applications: (0)

The course aims at enhancing the students’ competence in using Personal Computers and benefiting from different modern applications of information technology in accessing, processing, and quantitatively analyzing, reporting, and presenting relevant information. An intensive guided resort to the Internet is stressed during the course. 

(GSTS502) English: (0)

The course aims at enhancing the students’ knowledge of terms commonly used in the field of science and technology, equipping students with reading skills to enable them to read and understand references material written in English, and educate them on how to write a proper report. 

(GSTS510)  Scientific Writing (1, 0, 1)

This course is designed for technology management students to guide and help them in writing their diploma projects and Master theses. This course offers students good practices in scientific and technical writing as they develop, research, and revise projects and theses. The course aims to enhance the capability of students to write good scientific research and to prepare them for their professional lives in scientific and technical fields by helping them organize their knowledge, while exploring ways of applying it, thus developing their professional expertise.  The course emphasizes quality of writing and dissemination with a view to improve readability, maximize the contribution of the research done, and improve the opportunities for publishing. It also concerns the quantity of scientific production by initially addressing the issue of increasing productivity through peer-guidance and bes tpractice in organization of work. Passing successfully this course is a precondition to submit their diploma project or master thesis. The outlines of the course include how to search the literature; how to structure and write the reports; how to show, analyze and discuss the results; how to extract conclusions; how to use the references and write them, how to write the reports in good format according to the AGU guidelines for the preparation of Master Theses and how to prepare good presentations.

(ITMTM520) Research Methods (2, 0, 2) 

This course is designed to help students identify, define, and formulate a research problem, objective, and methodology. It establishes the foundations of research methodologies, with emphasis on the planning and procedures of empirical research in interdisciplinary fields.  It discusses via a series of well-structure tasks the various aspects of research including: problem selection, problem definition, research objectives, research strategies, research methodology, data collection & analysis, verification, evaluation, reporting and presentation of research results. Every student is expected to prepare a review paper on a subject related to Technology Management and prepares scientific report and presentation of a research proposal and literature review. Each student is expected to deliver two or more seminars.  Satisfactory presentations and discussions in these seminars are prerequisites for the submission of the diploma project or the master thesis proposal. The outlines of the course include: The nature of scientific and management research; Formulating and clarifying the research topic; Critically reviewing the literature; Understanding research philosophies and approaches; Formulating the research design; Negotiating access and research ethics; Selecting samples; Using secondary data; Collecting primary data through observation; Collecting primary data using semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews; Collecting primary data using questionnaires; Analysing quantitative data; Analysing qualitative data; Writing and presenting research; Ethics of research & Plagiarism.

(ITMTM521) Economics for Technological Projects: (2, 0, 2)

This course prepares students to properly apply mathematics and principles of economics for technological projects in analyzing and solving modern technology problems. It also provides students with the skills needed to evaluate the economic implications of investment decisions and technology design, post-implementation, abandonment and replacement, as well as consideration of multi-attributes and analysis of multiple projects. The course  includes: Prepare and interpret a cash flow diagram, Time value of money – Interest - interest formulae - Concept of equivalence - Irregular cash flow - Deferred annuities - Interest rates that vary with time - Uniform gradient of cash flows - Nominal and effective interest rates - Interest compounded more than once per year -  Project appraisal methods and applications, Economical evaluation of a single project, Economical comparison and selection among alternatives, Net Present Worth method (NPW), Equivalent Annual Cost  (EAC), Payback period method, Average Annual Rate of Return  (AARR),  Discounted Cash Flow Yield method (DCF), Evaluating projects with the Cost-Benefit Ratio method- Depreciation methods - Replacement Analysis - Breakeven and Sensitivity Analysis. 

(ITMTM530) Quantitative Analysis (2, 1, 3)

This course will help students, among other things, to study the scientific approaches to managerial decision making. The techniques taught in this course will help students to solve an increasingly wide variety of practical problems in most types of business, with emphasis on technology management. The course includes: Introduction to quantitative analysis, Probability concepts and applications, Decisions analysis, Regression analysis, Forecasting models, Various methods and models for linear programming: applications with computer analysis, Integer programming and non linear programming, Inventory control models, Waiting lines, and Queuing Theory.

(ITMTM531)  Strategic Management  (3, 0, 3)

This course starts by introducing students to the principles of management and, hence addresses policies and procedures of strategic management; its nature, importance, and relationship with operational and tactic management. It enables students to build up major skills of performing strategic analysis of internal and external environments in preparing strategic reports of firms and in accomplishing the strategic choice phase.  It builds the skills of students to use strategic models and functional indicators in evaluating the strategic performance. The course also aims at introducing students to the challenging aspects that distinguish technology management from other areas of management, both in theory and practice. Placing technology in a strategic context, elevating it to the policy level, and integrating technological capabilities into the strategy making process.

(ITMTM534) Information Technology Management: (2, 1, 3)

This course aims to analyzing information technology from a management control perspective, emphasizing organization environment, technology, decision models and performance evaluation as determinants of information processing systems. The course discusses in general areas of strategic information technology planning, information systems department management, end-user computing, organizational problems, information technology for competitive advantage, information as a means of adding value to business processes, advantage from Information technologies, implementation problems and policies, evaluation of information technology. This course introduces the drivers of the use of information technology in the new world of business. Deals with information technology in the context of organizations, focusing on business pressures and the strategies used to counter them. Provides a framework around which the rest of the course is built. Traces the growing importance of Information technology management and presents a conceptual model to show the key areas and the principal issues for executives in each area. Presents case examples of how these ideas are being implemented in practice. (ITMTM535) Simulation and Modeling (2, 1, 3)

Students should familiarize with modeling types, modeling simulation phases, probability and statistics in simulation, distribution theory and types, random numbers generation, stochastic events (variates) generation, queuing method, and business and industrial applications. Students will also learn the theory on which simulation of discrete systems depends, will be able to identify features of the process with components of the mode, and will learn the various phases of developing a successful simulation model. The students will then undertake a project that analyzes one of a variety of technology management problems by designing a representative model, implementing the model, completing a verification and validation process of the model, reporting on the model in oral and written form, and changing the model to reflect corrections, improvements and enhancements.

(ITMTM536) Technological Innovation Management: (2, 1, 3)

The objective of this course is to give an in-depth knowledge of the concepts, approaches, importance, processes, styles and models of managing technological innovation and to give an understanding of the applications of the different technological innovation management methods, tools, measurements and audits. By the end of this course, the successful graduate student should be able to: Distinguish between the different innovation types, characteristics and processes; Determine the technological innovation space available to organizations; Manage innovation within organizations; Manage knowledge after the understanding of its classifications, processes and obstacles; Manage research and development (R&D); Evaluate and audit Innovation.  The course outlines include: Managing Innovation; Innovation – what it is and why it matters; Innovation as a core business process; Building the innovation organization; Developing an innovation strategy; Innovation networks; Decision making under uncertainty; Sources of innovation; Building the innovation case;  Creating new products and services;  Exploiting new ventures; Capturing learning from innovation; Capturing the benefits of innovation; Innovation Evaluation, Patent analysis and patent as innovation indicator; Innovation auditing.

(ITMTM537) Technological Selection and Acquisition  (2, 1, 3)

The objective of this course is to give an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the types of technology acquisitions and the processes, characteristics, advantages, drawbacks and barriers of each type. By the end of this course, the successful graduate student should be able to: understand the methods utilized in technology acquisitions; understand the processes of each type of technology acquisitions; understand the practical implementation of the different phases of the technology acquisition processes to meet firms and nations technological needs. The course outlines include: Technology and its fundamental role in the development of organizations, societies and nations; Importance and needs of technology and technology management in GCC countries; A framework for understanding technology management activities and tools; Internal Technology Acquisition;  R&D Processes; External Technology Acquisition; Processes of External technology Acquisition;

Initiation, Planning, Search, and Evaluation; Negotiation Strategies, Techniques & Tactics; 

Implementation & Operation; Technology Exploitation; Technology Commercialization; Technology Marketing Processes; Technology Transfer; Technology Utilization; Technology Utilization Processes; Technology Identification; Technology Learning; Technology Protection.

(ITMTM538) Science Technology and Innovation Policy Analysis (3, 0, 3)

This course is intended to introduce the methods and approaches for policy analysis in the domain of technological innovation. It will address the policy cycle and policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. The course will review and assess innovation policies in developing and developed countries using case-study approach and research on the impact of innovation policy on development. The political context, enabling environment and conditions for sustainable innovation will be discussed in a critical manner. Case studies on comparative analysis on the national innovation system will be presented in class. Students are expected to conduct critical review and research on innovation policy on current issue in the GCC including policies related to e-business, e-government, green technology, clean energy, smart city, ICT, finance, and education.

(ITMTM - ---)  Elective Courses I, II & III: (2, 0, 2)

(For Master Students only)

Student should select, in consultation with his/her academic advisor, the courses from the three tracks according to his/her interest and background. 

(ITMTM680) Master’s Thesis: (8)

Continuation of the course started in the third semester. Student should select the problem related to the same track of his/her selected elective courses. Student is expected to prepare the Master's thesis under the supervision of the graduate student's advisory committee and present and defend his/her thesis in front of a panel of examiners (external and internal) in an open session. Seminars should be delivered by the student during his ongoing research work.

ELECTIVE COURSES  (A) ENGINEERING TRACK (TMITME 6--)

(ITMTME620) Technology and Entrepreneurship for Engineers: (2,0,2)

This course will allow students to learn important concepts to develop new industrial ventures (the managerial, financial, legal, ethical, and organizational aspects of starting and growing of a high technology company). Students develop a feasibility study, technical study, business plan in the form of a proposal for venture capital, for a variety of potential technological innovations generally drawn from their own industries.

(ITMTME621) Supply Chain Management: (2, 0, 2)

The course includes: Basic Concepts of Supply Chain Management; The Customer and The Supplier Relationship Management Process; The Demand Management Process; Supply Chain Operations: Planning and Sourcing; The Manufacturing Flow Management Process; The Product Development and Commercialization Process; Supply Chain Coordination and Use of Technology; Measuring Performance: Supply Chain Metrics, Defining Supply Chain Opportunities; Developing Supply Chain Systems; Lean Thinking and Supply Chain Management; and Developing and Implementing Partnerships in the Supply Chain Management Performance Measurement.

(ITMTME622) Technology and Product Development: (2, 0, 2)

Develops interdisciplinary skills required for successful product development in today's competitive marketplace. Small product development teams step through the new product development process in detail, learning about available tools, techniques and technologies to execute each process step along the way. Each student brings his or her individual disciplinary perspective to the teams’ effort and must learn to synthesize that perspective with those of the other students in the group to develop a sound, marketable product. Topics such as Disruptive Technologies, Technology Integration, and Concurrent Engineering will be covered in details.

(ITMTME623)  Managing of Technological Change: (2, 0, 2)

Significant changes in products, manufacturing processes, inputs, and markets made by engineering intensive firms are studied. Interactions between the manufacturing, engineering, and marketing functions, as well as interactions with users are brought out through case studies.

(ITMTME624) Financial Analysis for Engineers: (2, 0, 2)

A study of finance designed to give the student an operational knowledge of financial analysis and planning in technology based enterprises, including publicly owned corporations and privately held consulting and engineering service companies. Topics include financial statement analysis (ratio analysis; financial markets, interest rates, and tax structures); present value cash flow analysis; risk and return; capital budgeting; capital structure; investment and replacement analysis and decision theory; cash flow budgets; financing of operations, and sources and uses of capital.

(B) INFORMATION SYSTEMS TRACK (TMITMI ---)

(ITMTMI620)  Advanced Techniques in IT Management: (2, 0, 2)

Traditionally, the MIS area within a firm has focused on organizational and behavioral issues in planning and implementation, and methodological issues in the development of information systems that meet business needs. However, both the market forces and computer and communication technology innovations started to impact the MIS function within a firm. The market forces are impacting the application needs and systems (e.g. work-flow systems, executive information systems, decision support systems, etc.), and the computer and communication technology innovations have allowed many new information processing technologies (e.g. distributed data bases, knowledge bases, multi-media, Internet, imaging, client-server environments, etc.) to enter into the market place to support the application needs. 

(ITMTMI621)  Advanced Information and Communication Technology: (2, 0, 2)

This course is intended to bring the student up to date on developments in the field of information technology (IT) and to prepare the student to manage those technologies in the workplace. To this end, the course presents a combination of management and technical topics with assignments in both areas. Management topics provide current insight into management practice and guidance for administrative action to guide firms into the new millennium. Technical topics include enabling technologies such as relational databases, client-server architecture, the Internet, groupware.

 (ITMTMI622)  Computer Communication and Networks: (2, 0, 2)

Topics include principles, design, implementation, and performance of computer networks. Topics include: Internet protocols and routing, local area networks, TCP/IP, performance analysis, congestion control, switching and routing, mobile IP, peer-to-peer overlay networks, network security, and other current research topics. Programming assignments will be on protocol implementation and analysis. 

(ITMTMI 623) Software Management: (2, 0, 2)

This course in intended to provide students exposure to the issues and challenges both users and systems developers face as they start to develop systems or plan for implementation of technologies in an environment that expects results quickly and successfully. Specifically, by the end of this course, the student should be able to measure the usability, evaluate and define criteria for software selection. 

(ITMTMI 624) Advanced Topics in Database Management: (2, 0, 2)

This course provides the student with in-depth knowledge of database analysis, design, and implementation principles.  Students who successfully complete this course will be able to use the entity-relationship data model to represent business data requirements, to translate that model into a relational schema, and to build and use a relational database that implements the schema.  Students will learn how modern enterprises use database technology in Internet and data warehousing applications. Topics covered include practical and theoretical aspects of conceptual data modeling.

(C) BUSINESS TRACK (TMITMB ---)

(ITMTMB620) Managerial Communication Skills: (2, 0, 2) 

A comprehensive course on the strategic communication skills required to advance in careers in the management arena. Students will focus on both informal and formal written communications, including e-mail, interoffice communications, proposals and executive reporting. In addition, the importance of interpersonal effectiveness and diversity issues are stressed.

 (ITMTMB621)  Ethics and Legal Issues in Business: (2, 0, 2)  

The course aims to provide students with the tools enabling them to build appropriate ethical, legal, and professional standards within an international context. This course introduces modern areas related to technology ethics and explores the most pressing social, ethical, legal, and professional issues affecting modern technology systems. Various ethical challenges in the modern business environment will be discussed. The course encourages critical thinking about the factors within the modern technological environment and society that contribute to ethical dilemmas, thinking constructively about how these might be changed, and considering where the responsibility for each issue rests. It also addresses legal issues most frequently encountered by technology managers with a dual focus on avoidance of legal problems and determination of when legal advice is and is not needed. The course outlines include: Introduction to Ethics; Ethical Theories; Internet and Email; Intellectual Property and Copyright; Computer Security, Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses; Professional Ethics; Work and Health.

(ITMTMB622) Technology and Human Resource Management: (2, 0, 2)

The student will be given an overview of all functional areas in an HR system and become familiar with the most widely used HR management technologies in the marketplace. Students will experience the design and planning phases of an HR system. The focus will be on the recruitment, selection/assessment, and employee tracking areas of an HRM system. The student will learn how to customize these areas to “fit” an organizational environment. Once implementation is complete, information management strategies will be discussed and students will identify a strategy that addresses the needs of an organization. 

(D) Innovation Management ( TMITMV---)

(ITMTMV620) Creativity and Innovation (2 , 0 , 2)

This course aims to learn students’ techniques for improving their flexibility and originality of thinking to learn approaches used by managers and organization to create and sustain high levels of innovation. Topics include: intellectual property, creative thinking techniques, idea selection approaches, teaming techniques for creativity, and design for interaction, disruptive technologies. Students will develop skills for evaluating, articulating, refining, and pitching a new product or service offering, either as a start-up business or a new initiative within an existing firm. At the end of this course, students will: be familiar with problem solving, understand risk taking, paradigm shift, and paradigm paralysis, and familiar with creative and innovative thinking styles. 

(ITMTMV621) Seminar in Innovation Management (2 , 0 , 2 )

This course aims to expose graduate students to current and relevant issues to their areas of research interest. It will focus on both methodological, conceptual models and quantitative methods to study a body of knowledge or specific field of study. Case studies on comparative analysis on the current issues in innovation at the organizational or societal level will be presented in class. Students are expected to conduct critical review and research on innovation management on current issue in the GCC including innovation labs, science parks, social media, water and energy policy, green infrastructure, disruptive technologies, social innovation, service innovation in banking, education, and public sector.

(ITMTMV622) Innovation and Technology Transfer (2 , 0 , 2 )

The course is mainly focus on technical innovation and technical changes, through the people who are the common element in the generation, development, and successful application of new ideas at work. This course is designed to give students a view of innovation at work. The intention is to focus on the process of innovation. It deals with the organization aspects of innovation and with the business development aspects of new ideas, by encouraging, managing, and implementing innovation in organizations, and how to take a new idea to the stage, where it can be commercialized. 

(E) ELECTIVE COURSES FOR ALL TRACKS (TMITMA ---)

(ITMTMA620) Value Engineering and Management (2, 0, 2)

Value engineering/ Value analysis/ Value management is a method to optimize savings during design, procurement and execution processes without sacrificing quality, functionally or client’s needs, requirements and specifications. Value engineering is a step by step analysis and a proven problem solving methodology. The course introduces the concept of value analysis, engineering and management and demonstrates their applications and techniques. The course outlines include: What are value engineering, value analysis and value management; Value engineering concepts and principles; Value engineering application; Function, cost and worth; Life Cycle Costing (LCC); Value Engineering job plan methodology: The information phase; The function analysis phase: FAST diagrams, Cost, value, cost and worth ratios; The speculative/creative phase; The development phase; The evaluation / judgment phase; Criteria Scoring Matrix, Criteria Weighting Matrix; The recommendation and presentation phase; The implementation and follow-up phase; Multi discipline team approach; Team member selection.

(ITMTMA621)  Quality Management: (2, 0, 2)

The course introduces the concepts of quality and total quality management and its applications. At the end of this course, the student will understand the underlying philosophy of TQM, Programs for Quality Improvement, Quality Modeling and Techniques and Quality Cost. Students will develop skills in understanding complex industrial and service processes in a comprehensive way. Students will enhance their skills that can be applied to process improvement and economic analysis. The course includes: Concepts of quality (Inspection, Quality control, quality assurance, TQM); Modeling process quality; Control charts for variables and attributes; Control charts and Process capability analysis; Acceptance Sampling; ISO and its applications; Tools and practical application of TQM. 

(ITMTMA622) Project Management: (1, 1, 2) 

The objective of this course is to give an in-depth understanding of the concept, principles, methods and techniques of Project Management and apply Project Management best practice techniques to all kind of projects. After the successful completion of this course, students should be able to: understand the concept of Project Management; understand and apply all types of project organizations; plan and schedule any types of projects using several modern planning techniques; monitoring  project time and cost; understand and apply several methods of cost estimating and when to use each method; understand and apply project cost control techniques; understand and apply risk management on projects; evaluate the progress and performance of projects using modern techniques. The course outlines include: Modern Project management; Organization Strategy and Project Selection; Organization Structure and Culture; Defining the Project; Estimating Project Times and

Costs; Developing a Project Plan; Project Planning, Monitoring & Control techniques; Scheduling Resources and Costs; Reducing Project Duration; Time-Cost Relationship and Crashing; Managing Risk; Leadership: Being an Effective Project Manager; Managing Project Teams; Outsourcing: Managing Inter-organizational Relations; Progress and Performance Measurement and Evaluation.

(ITMTMA623) Health and Safety Management: (2, 0,2)

This course provides students with the fundamentals of measurement, evaluation, regulation, and control of hazardous conditions, toxic substances, physical agents, OSHA regulations, and basis for a successful safety program and dangerous processes in industrial operations.  It includes: The history of occupational safety; Cost of occupational accidents and injuries; Theories of accident causation; The Occupational Safety and Health Act; Worker's Compensation; The identification, Analysis and control of a variety of occupational hazards including ergonomic hazards, falls, machinery, temperature, electricity, pressure, fire and noise; Safety training; Safety program development; Accident analysis; Proactive safety analysis and safety ethics.

 (ITMTMA624) Risk Management: (2, 0, 2)

Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events. Risks can come from uncertainty in financial markets, project failures, legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters as well as deliberate attacks from an adversary. All the above is highlighted in the course, with specific emphasis on the following: Risk management overview,  Importance of risk management,  Types of risks, Sources of risk, Risk factors, Modeling risk,  Risk identification,  Risk  evaluation and assessment, Risk mitigation, Risk response strategies. 

(ITMTMA625) Productivity and Utilization of Resources: (2, 0, 2)

The course outlines include: Concepts of performance, Organizational performance dimensions, Performance and productivity,  Productivity basics, Productivity measures, Factors affecting productivity, Production rates, Production rate measurement and improvement, Productivity improvement, Modeling production rate variability, Productivity and quality; Basics of utilization of resources, The interrelationship between utilization and productivity, Techniques for improving resource utilization, Utilization factors: concept & application, Work sampling technique, Sampling: limitations and effective implementation, Resource utilization improvement.

 (ITMTMA626) E-Commerce: (1, 1, 2)

This course is designed to familiarize individuals with current and emerging electronic commerce technologies using the Internet.  Topics include Internet technology for business advantage, managing electronic commerce funds transfer, reinventing the future of business through electronic commerce, business opportunities in electronic commerce, electronic commerce Web site design, social, political, and ethical issues associated with electronic commerce, and business plans for technology ventures.  The purpose of this course is to educate a new generation of managers, planners, analysts, and programmers of the realities and potential for electronic commerce.