COURSE NUMBER: MBA295C.1
COURSE TITLE: Opportunity Recognition: Technology and
Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley
UNITS OF CREDIT: 2 Units
INSTRUCTOR: Andrew Isaacs
E-MAIL ADDRESS: isaacs@haas.berkeley.edu
PREREQUISITE(S): None
CLASS FORMAT: Lecture/discussion/Case studies/Guests
REQUIRED READINGS: Extensive readings and cases
BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Case preparation, class participation,
one group project and paper, no exams.
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, entrepreneurial
high technology ventures, regardless of the individual's "home" skill
set, whether technical or managerial. We examine in depth the approaches most
likely to succeed for entrepreneurial companies as a function of markets and
technologies. Emphasis is placed on the special requirements for creating and
executing strategy in a setting of rapid technological change and limited
resources.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Andrew Isaacs is a successful scientist, business executive, entrepreneur, and
educator. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of
technology business leaders and has a strong track record of helping
entrepreneurs launch their careers. Isaacs has worked at the crossroads
of advanced technology and business innovation for 30 years, 15 of those years
at UC Berkeley, helping start-ups and established technology companies create
and execute successful strategies.
Isaacs joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1999 and in 2003 became Adjunct
Professor in the College of Engineering and the Haas School of Business.
In 2000 he was appointed Executive Director of UC Berkeley’s Management of
Technology Program, the joint graduate program of the Haas School of Business
and College of Engineering, and since 2005 has served as Faculty Director of UC
Berkeley’s Center for Executive Education.
From 2007-2010, Isaacs served the Energy Division of the California Public
Utilities Commission as its Team Lead evaluating the Emerging Technology
Programs state-wide. In that role, he led the evaluation of approximately
200 innovations by California’s three large energy utilities, PG&E,
Southern California Edison, and Sempra energy. The process included the
evaluation of a wide range of technology-based approaches to improving energy
efficiency in California, with a focus on determining the viability of the
solution.
In addition to his work at UC Berkeley, Isaacs advises a range of energy and
technology enterprises in Europe, Asia and the US. His consulting and
executive development clients include Adobe, Bio-Rad, BP, British Telecom,
Chugai Pharmaceutical, Climate-KIC, Dai Nippon Printing, Denso, Det Norsk Veritas, Dow
Chemical, Électricité de France, Gemalto, HEC, Hitachi, Hyundai Motors, IBM, IPADE, Intel,
Johnson and Johnson, Lam Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Los
Alamos National Laboratory, Maersk, Mitsubishi, NEC, Government of Panama,
Panasonic, Government of Poland, Port of Oakland, Santa Clara Valley Water
District, Sharp Corporation, Simplex Technologies, Sinopec, Sony, Statoil,
Synopsys, and Toyota Motors. Isaacs also moderates two monthly
roundtables of technology executives in Silicon Valley.
Isaacs’ experience prior to joining UC Berkeley includes successful careers at
public and private companies in Silicon Valley and as a scientist at NASA’s
Johnson Space Center in Houston. He holds BS and MS degrees in
Geochemistry from the University of Michigan.