SEMESTER: Fall 2018

COURSE NUMBER: EW295T.11

COURSE TITLE: Opportunity Recognition

UNITS OF CREDIT: 2 units

INSTRUCTOR: Andrew Isaacs

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: None

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Saturdays, 2:00PM – 5:00PM
1.      August 18
2.      August 25
3.      September 8
4.      September 15
5.      September 22
6.      September 29
7.      October 6
8.      October 13
9.      October 20
10.    October 27

PREREQUISITE(S): Core

CAREER FIELD: Applicable to all professional career paths, especially in senior management and leadership

CLASS FORMAT: Blended cases, lectures, readings and discussion, with a limited number of guest speakers

REQUIRED READINGS: Cases plus readings via Study.net

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: 100% individual grading – no group projects or assignments – 80% based on write-ups to case study questions + 20% class participation

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
This course is intended to provide the core skills needed for the identification of opportunities that can lead to successful business strategies and outcomes, both in entrepreneurial settings and at established firms. We examine in depth successful approaches to opportunity recognition at global companies with a strong focus on technology-intensive businesses and Silicon Valley. Emphasis is placed on the special requirements for creating and capitalizing on opportunities in a setting of rapid technological change and limited resources. This course is particularly suited for those who anticipate founding or operating businesses in Silicon Valley.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Andrew Isaacs is a successful scientist, business executive, entrepreneur, and educator. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of business leaders and has a strong track record of helping entrepreneurs launch their careers. Isaacs has worked at the crossroads of Silicon Valley technology and business innovation for 30 years, 18 of those years at UC Berkeley, helping start-ups and established companies create and execute successful leadership strategies.

Isaacs joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1999. In 2000, he was appointed Executive Director of UC Berkeley’s Management of Technology Program, the joint program of the Haas School of Business and College of Engineering. He co-founded UC Berkeley’s Center for Energy and Environmental Innovation in 2005, and since 2006 has served as Faculty Director of UC Berkeley’s Center for Executive Education. Isaacs is ranked one of the Top 15 professors in the US by 360Career.

Isaacs teaches five MBA and Executive-level courses at UC Berkeley, and has instructed over 2,000 students in his courses. In addition to his work at UC Berkeley, Isaacs has taught Executive-level courses for more than 90 corporations, government agencies and other groups in the US, Europe and Asia. His courses focus on leadership, marketing, and technology strategy.

Prior to joining UC Berkeley, Isaacs held positions as a marketing and technology executive at public and private companies in Silicon Valley. Before coming to Silicon Valley, Isaacs was Senior Scientist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.