The Evolution of an Interdisciplinary Course: Intellectual Property and Business Strategy

This article is a reflective case study that traces the epistemological and pedagogical evolution of a course called Intellectual Property and Business Strategy that integrates law, technology, business strategy, and ethics within an engineering-oriented curriculum. This course was taught over a ten-year period at four academic institutions. The article traces a historical evolution of this interdisciplinary course and its epistemological broadening over time. The article also discusses the knowledge foundations that underpin the course. Three broad knowledge domains are examined, including the broader legal environment, stakeholder analysis, and strategic management. The article also discusses five learning goals that have emerged from the course and the methods for achieving these goals.