Page 39 - Technology and Innovation Journal - 19-1

ADAPTING STAGE-GATE TO MTM CURRICULUM 377

goals, explore their talents and true interests, full 15-week course are a challenge to identify. While
take charge of their career choices, and address guest lecturers can suffice for specific defined topics,
hurdles on the path toward their career objec- coordinating schedules with such speakers can be
tives. difficult, so course agendas need to be flexible to
accommodate this.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Another area that can present challenges is the
The implementation of the industrial Stage-Gate recruitment of appropriate students for such a multi-
process over a full 12-month graduate-level mas- disciplinary program. As it is anticipated that students
ter’s degree program is a novel teaching paradigm. with diverse educational backgrounds will apply for
Combining the Stage-Gate process with the Lean this program, the curriculum must be flexible enough
LaunchPad methodology enables students to gain to embrace all students equally. The success of the
industrial expertise that is relevant to career options inaugural year was due in part to the fact that the
in both start-up and mature companies. In addition to original students completely bought into the process
standard didactic teaching, the CCNY MTM program and were fully integrated into the program, even
involves personal mentorship, experiential learn- providing suggestions for industrial topic areas that
ing, and team building exercises so that the students they wanted covered in the course material. Looking
become well-rounded and better positioned for their ahead as the program scales, it will become more
next career steps. and more important to maintain such student input
Based on our findings, we conclude the following: and integration so that the program content remains
current and relevant.
• Adaptation of the industrial Stage-Gate process In conclusion, while offering such an in-depth
as a pedagogical tool is feasible in a graduate- industry-based graduate student training program
level product-driven master’s degree program. may be challenging, the rewards to the student are
• Coordination of the teaching of industrial con- innumerable. It is hoped that this Stage-Gate-inspired
cepts with canonical academic graduate courses program will help to better prepare students for long,
provides necessary real-life context to the stu- fulfilling industrial careers.
dents. The unanticipated consequence of this
pairing was that the students become fully aware ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
of the risks and challenges involved in commer- The authors wish to dedicate this article to the
cializing their prototype devices. memory of Andrew S. Grove, CCNY Class of 1960.
Without his vision and desire, this curriculum would
• Participation in the Stage-Gate review process not have been developed. Dr. Blaho acknowledges
at the end of each semester by all course faculty the National Science Foundation for a large center
of record helped the development of an integrated grant (NSF1305023) that partially supported pro-
prototype device, as input from all experts was gramming, especially related to the development
shared and discussed as a team.
and delivery of the innovative entrepreneurship
While the students who are fortunate enough to component of the MTM program. Dr. Domschke
participate in this program benefit in many ways, wishes to honor with this article a great visionary and
delivering such an ambitious program is not easy. a remarkable woman, Dean Gilda Barabino of the
Recruitment of instructors is a particular challenge Grove School of Engineering. Her guidance, patience,
since most university faculty simply do not have the and unwavering commitment to this program were
necessary industrial experience to deliver the needed the drivers that made the creation and successful
content that a hybrid Stage-Gate/Lean LaunchPad implementation of this program happen in an unusu-
program demands. It is very important that the course ally short period of time. Domschke wishes further
coordinators and directors for courses with indus- to extend her gratitude to Ashiwel Undieh (Associate
try-relevant content are the appropriate industry Provost for Research CCNY and Medical Professor)
experts. Unfortunately, instructors with broad knowl- for his consistent superior support and insightful
edge and industrial experience who can commit to a inspiration. Very special thanks shall be extended