The aim of this 7 week course is to examine the form, function and style of innovation in China through the lens of one of China's greatest success stories: the city of Shenzhen.
The course will examine the roles of technological leap-frogging, government policies, open innovation networks, shanzhai (山寨) and rapid product development cycles on innovation in Shenzhen, China and the world.
I have designed the course to take advantage of NYU Shanghai's one-of-a-kind locational endowment and extensive network of experts to provide students with a unique perspective and opportunity to understand and participate directly in the Shenzhen and Chinese innovation ecosystem. Students will learn in and out of the classroom through lectures, mini-case studies and fieldwork. They will also contribute to the production of knowledge on the increasingly important topic of the Shenzhen style of innovation through regular blog posts on the course website.
The course seeks to equip students with broadband understanding of innovation in China, including business, technology, public policy and entrepreneurship. The course uses an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizes the importance of teamwork (and hard work) in the design and implementation of innovations. In addition to developing deep knowledge of the subject matter and analytical skills, students are expected to strengthen their capacity to work in teams by integrating knowledge from a diverse set of sources. Students are expected to leverage their previous experiences as relevant or explore new avenues related to their academic and career aspirations.
Out of the classroom, students will learn by 'fishing where the fish are,' and will undertake fieldwork in Shanghai at electronics markets, malls, and other areas. Students will conduct interviews during their fieldwork in order to determine user needs and desires in the area of consumer electronics or digital products and, from this information, they will specify the requirements for a novel addition to an existing electronics product. The course will culminate in an optional two-day trip to Shenzhen where students will take a crash course in lean manufacturing and will work with real product designers to further the design and development of their innovation.
The course is designed to accommodate students from all fields interested in both technical and non-technical innovation. The sessions will be conducted through guided discussion as well as lectures, guest speakers and presentations by students.
