[April 13, 2004] Venture Outsource Group President Collaborates on Commercializing Technological Development Course at California Polytechnic University SAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- April 13, 2004 -- Graduate-Level Course Teaches Leading-Edge Skills and Tools for Managing the New Product Development Process from Inception Through Market Release Venture Outsource Group president Mark Zetter has been invited to be a guest instructor and develop curriculum for a graduate course at The Orfalea College of Business-Industrial Technology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The course, Commercializing Technological Development, IT514, will be offered in the Spring 2004 quarter. The course will prepare students for managing the new product development process from inception to market release. Venture Outsource Group is a well-known and reliable source for helping technology Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) bring products to market while guiding them in how to manage their development and operational costs, and profit margins. By having Mark involved in designing and facilitating the coursework and experiences, students will have hands-on experience in applying new product development and outsource management tools to an actual potential product, explained Eric Olsen, IT514 Professor and former Hewlett Packard engineering and operations manager. Individuals and organizations often have excellent ideas for new products or new technologies, but have no idea if, or how, they can turn these ideas into viable, profitable products on the market. Having a working prototype is not enough. From the inception of the idea, a plan has to be put in place on how to take that idea from conception to finished product and then how to bring it to market against a reasonable cost structure and with a high degree of confidence relative to mitigating supply chain risk. OEMs rely on us to enhance their outsource depth and scope of understanding with program development and cost-reduction and cost-containment. We know what works and what does not and we hope to give students tools with which to make good management decisions in these areas, said Mark Zetter. Emphasis for the 10-week course will be on the technical aspects of the process including an understanding of interfaces to marketing and finance. Areas of concentration include idea generation, concept development, industrial market niche, product research and development, outsource manufacturing, product launch, and evaluation. About The Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic University The Orfalea College of Business challenges highly motivated students to become tomorrow's socially responsible business leaders through a learn-by-doing, technology-oriented education. The college is committed to rigorous, relevant courses taught by dedicated, professionally-active faculty. For more information, please visit http://www.cob.calpoly.edu. About Venture Outsource Group Venture Outsource Group (VOG) provides confidential management consulting services to electronics executives in areas such as top-line and bottom-line improvements and liability management. The firm also provides customized market and industry research and due diligence activities, and helps OEM and contract manufacturing companies develop strategic global alliances through its Circle of Providers(TM) program. VOG was founded by Mark Zetter, a former senior executive in the global electronics contract manufacturing sector. For more information, please visit http://www.ventureoutsource.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]