Software Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Optional module - Route B
15 credits
This module explores how emerging software technologies shape new business opportunities. Using case studies, the module explores technical details of emerging software and web technologies, and investigates how companies make use of them to create new markets and products.
Syllabus
- The internet as a platform: cloud computing, software as a service.
- (SaaS), mashups, social network platforms; implications and opportunities for software and internet startups.
- The mobile ecosystem: networks, handsets, services; technology platforms, developing commercially successful mobile software.
- Open source as development and business model: open source licensing and incorporation of open source into open, shared and closed source products.
- Technology transfer and commercial exploitation: how to make an informed choice between patenting, licensing, open source, or forming a company around an idea.
- Software contracts: support levels and contractual obligations, professional issues pertaining to software quality and routes to quality certification and codes of practice, professional practice (use of revision control and release tracking, documentation practices) for ensuring software quality.
- Software entrepreneurship and Internet startups; what are VCs looking to fund?
- Case studies of innovative software companies.
