Introduction to Technology Management 7101: Course Overview and Delivery Model

Welcome to Technology Management 7101: This is the introductory course for the Technology Management (TMGT) program, intended to set the pace and establish the management topics expanded upon in subsequent courses.
HyFlex Delivery Pilot: The course currently utilizes a HyFlex model, which allows students to attend either in person or remotely via Class for Teams, mimicking modern business environments where hybrid meetings are standard.
Course Pace and Intensity: Over five weeks, the course follows an exhaustive schedule designed to transition subject matter experts into supervisory roles. Students are often done by the end of the fifth week upon submitting the final individual assignment.
Transition Focus: The core academic focus is the transition from being a technology expert (subject matter expert or SME) to becoming a manager, navigating from predictable systems to the more unpredictable world of people management.

Attendance and Participation: Mandatory for all classes. Weekly surveys are required to provide feedback on the HyFlex pilot.
Group Presentations (60% Total): * Four weekly group presentations, each worth $15\%$ . * Teams consist of 4 members. * Presentations are approximately 20 minutes (suggested 10-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A). * Groups must select one of two tracks for the four-week period: * Track A: Syllabus Questions: Interpreting management questions found in the course syllabus (starting on page 104). * Track B: Age Cohort Exploration: Investigating the dynamics of managing multiple generations in the workplace (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z).
Weekly Discussion Forums (20% Total): * Graded based on interaction over the next four weeks. * The goal is approximately 20 well-thought-out posts in total (average of five per week). * Posts must do more than agree; they should extend the conversation or relate topics to industry experiences.
Individual Assignment (20% Total): * Introduced in later weeks and submitted in week five.

AI Tools: Unrestricted use of tools like ChatGPT is permitted under specific conditions. * Citation Requirement: Any use of AI (for researching citations, grammar, or content) must be explicitly disclosed. * Fact-Checking: AI models often "hallucinate." Students are legally and academically responsible for the accuracy of AI-generated content or citations submitted under their names. * Example Disclosure Statement: "The analysis of failure factors, interpretations, and recommendations reflect the author's critical thinking and independent evaluations."
Plagiarism: Students must complete a mandatory plagiarism tutorial. Due to the collaborative nature of the group presentations, all team members are responsible for any uncited material found in their slide deck.

The "Reluctant Manager": Acknowledging that many technologists enter management because they were good at their technical jobs, not necessarily because they sought management roles. This often leads to "Imposter Syndrome."
Letting go of the "Screwdriver": The difficult process of transitioning from doing the technical work to overseeing others doing it.
Age Cohorts in the Workplace: * Baby Boomers (1946–1964): Motivated by different socioeconomic factors; many remain in the workforce for activity or financial stability. * Generation X (1964–1980): Often labeled the "MTV Generation" or "Latchkey Kids," now common in senior leadership. * Millennials (Mid-90s–2000s): The first generation raised with internet and social media ubiquity. * Generation Z: Digital natives from birth.
Skill Gaps: Discussion of how common life skills (e.g., using a mechanical "Jackall" or basic hand tools) vary by generation, requiring management to adjust training and expectations.

Differentiate between the roles and responsibilities of technical specialists versus managers.
Identify critical issues between technology subject matter and business management (financial vs. system uptime focus).
Understand personal transitions from SME to supervisor including communication, motivation, and decision-making theories.
Familiarize students with the TMGT reference and citing protocol.

Course Text: Engineering Technology and Management Through Law (custom McGraw Hill e-text). Highly recommended as a reference for the full TMGT program but not strictly required for this specific class if at the end of the program.
Supplemental Book: Sun Tzu's Art of War (referenced periodically).
Language Support: BCIT offers one-on-one English language assistance (pronunciation and conversation) for the Spring 2024 term.
Library Resources: "BTech 5 and 5 Version 3" video tutorial provides an overview of available library tools.