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Syllabus:

Managerial Perspectives on Strategy and People D, 15 Credits

Swedish name: Managerial Perspectives on Strategy and People D

This syllabus is valid: 2017-08-21 valid to 2018-08-19 (newer version of the syllabus exists)

Course code: 2FE040

Credit points: 15

Education level: Second cycle

Main Field of Study and progress level: Business Administration: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

Grading scale: Three-grade scale

Responsible department: Business Administration

Revised by: Rector of Umeå School of Business and Economics, 2016-11-03

Contents

The course highlights key issues for understanding and dealing with the challenges facing contemporary organizations in a globalized world. It integrates profound theoretical insights with practical applications in a learning environment characterized by active student participation, both individually and in groups.
 
The course is given and examined in English.
 
Generic learning outcome.
In addition to the specific learning outcomes for each module (see below), the  course has a number of goals for the development of generic competences. After completing the course, the student should be able to:

  • appreciate diversity and multiculturality and work effectively in multicultural teams,
  • integrate expertise from different knowledge areas in order to identify, analyze and solve organizational problems,
  • plan, conduct, and present investigations, both orally and in writing, for an academic audience as well as an audience of business practitioners. 

The core course consists of four modules, which will be further described below:
 
Module 1. Perspectives on Strategy, 7.5 credits. 
Module 2. People – the Human Side of Organizing, 7.5 credits. 
 
Module 1. Perspectives on Strategy, 7.5 credits
This module highlights key challenges facing contemporary firms in a globalized world. The students will gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the business context and the intertwined nature of its events and processes. Alternative theoretical perspectives on strategy will be presented to provide a comprehensive platform for the forthcoming core modules. Students will practice to think strategically from both an internal and external perspective. Module 1 integrates theoretical insights with practical applications in a learning environment characterized by active participation, both individually and in groups. Throughout the module the students are encouraged to develop their own strategic approaches. During the module, students will also be introduced to the code of academic conduct, e.g. referencing, or how to avoid plagiarism and cheating.
 
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:

  • describe and analyze the foundations of strategy and strategic perspectives,
  • propose solutions to cope with internal and external strategic challenges and complexities,
  • propose appropriate strategies to meet key dilemmas concerning for example innovation, products, process, organization, marketing and business models,
  • critically reflect upon the consequences of strategic choices and assess the need for further knowledge and skills,
  • describe, recognize and apply academic conduct to the student’s own work. 

Focus of instruction
In addition to lectures and guest lectures, the learning is supported by cases and seminars. The module requires significant amount of independent study. This means reading the assigned compulsory book chapters and articles. It is the student's responsibility to come prepared for lectures and seminars, and to participate actively in discussions. Case studies are carried out in groups with oral and written presentation. 

Module examination modes
The basis of examination in this module consists of case reports, a written exam, and an individual test of academic conduct. Case reports are performed in groups and the exam is individual. Attendance at case-seminars is mandatory and is thus a requirement to pass the module. A passing grade for each graded part of the module is required to pass. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes below for the course as a whole.
 
Module 2. People – the Human Side of Organizing, 7,5 credits

In the second module, focus is turned to the human side of organizations, with the objective to show the importance of considering individual perceptions and identity construction, as well as group interaction, in order to effectively manage and lead an organization. Furthermore, the module addresses the complexities created by issues of diversity, gender, ethics and emotions in organisational processes. Students will perform a group assignment in order to scrutinize and evaluate one of these dimensions.

Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:
1) appreciate leadership as a matter of mutual interaction through a social identity theory perspective, including the following sub goals:

  • understand how human interaction in organizational contexts emerge from social identification processes,
  • critically reflect upon issues of commitment, collaboration, group dynamics, leadership etc from the social identity point of view,
  • utilize the social identity framework to analyze and solve human problems in organizational contexts,

2) scrutinize and evaluate dimensions of diversity, ethics, emotions and gender in organizational processes, including:

  • critically reflect upon and apply one of these perspectives on a real-life organizational practice. 

Focus of instruction
The learning is supported by lectures, seminars, individual- and group assignments. The lectures on the social identity perspective, are followed by three literature seminars, each with an individual statement memo. These memos will be graded and comments will be given in order for students to develop their capacity for effective written communication. Based on the student's choice of one of the dimensions; diversity, ethics, emotions, and gender, groups are formed and will explore how the chosen dimension can be applied in an organizational setting. The group assignment will be presented in one theme literature seminar and one integrative case seminar; both prepared with a written group report.
 
Module examination modes
The examination consists of active participation in seminars and successful completion of group and individual assignments. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes below for the course as a whole.

Expected learning outcomes

See under each separate module.

Required Knowledge

90 credits with a minimum of 75 credits in Business Administration. At Basic level (A-level) and Intermediate level (B-level) a minimum of 60 credits in Management, Marketing, Accounting and finance.  At the C-level (Bachelor), a minimum 15 credits.

Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B or the equivalent.
 

Form of instruction

See under each separate module.
 

Examination modes

See each separate module and below.
 
The following grading system is used:
Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, VG, 75% or more),
Pass (Godkänd, G, 50% or more)
and Fail (Underkänd U, less than 50%).
 
Grades on the course are awarded when the student has passed all examinations and compulsory course elements. The course is given and examined in English.
To receive the grade Pass with distinction (VG) in the 30 credits course consisting of four modules of the same size, the student must have achieved Pass with distinction (VG) in at least three out of four modules. In shorter courses for example 7,5 credit courses, 15 credit courses or 22,5 credits courses Pass with distinction (VG) is given when the student has achieved at least 75% of the total weighted points.
 
A student who does not pass at the time of the written examination will be offered an opportunity to sit a further examination within two months. Beyond that, additional examination opportunities normally arise every academic year, one week prior to the start of the autumn term.
In case of failure on seminar participation or individual and group assignments, compensating assignments must be completed in accordance with instructions given, no later than two weeks after the completion of the module. Mandatory assignments (seminars, written assignments, cases, computer assignments etc.) that have not been handed in within stipulated time must be done the next time the course is offered. If the form of examination does not permit repetition other forms of re-examination may be used.
 
When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request for an alternative examiner should be handed to the director of studies no later than two weeks before the next examination opportunity.
 
A student who has passed an examination cannot redo the examination to get a higher grade.
 
If a student fails to present a photo ID at the occasion of a written exam in an exam room will not be allowed to take the exam.
 
Disciplinary action may be taken against students who uses unauthorized help aids or in some other way tries to mislead on a test or when another type of task is being evaluated. Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing will be applicable to all written assignments. (See instructions in the thesis manual, Thesis Writing in Business Administration). Urkund records may be used for control. In addition, Umeå University rules and regulations for education and research applies:  http://www.umu.se/regelverk/utbildning-pa-grund--och-avancerad-niva
 
Educational activities are designed to facilitate students towards achieving expected learning outcomes and can explain, supplement and provide contrast to the course literature and other relevant course materials.
 
 

Other regulations

Academic credit transfers are according to the University credit transfer regulations.
 

Literature

Valid from: 2017 week 34

Module 1

Literature

Exploring strategy
Johnson Gerry, Whittington Richard, Scholes Kevan, Angwin Duncan, Regner Patrick
Eleventh Edition : New York : Pearson : [2017] : 557 pages :
ISBN: 978-1-292-14517-4
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue

Scientific articles (approx. 50-80 pages) available from Umeå University library's databases will be added at the start of the module.

Module 2

Social identity processes in organizational contexts
Hogg Michael A., Terry Deborah J.
Hove : Psychology : cop. 2001 : xiv, 339 s. :
ISBN: 1-84169-007-4 (inb.)
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue

Articles

Andersson, T. (2010) Struggles of managerial being and becoming: Experiences from managers' personal development training. Journal of Management Development. 29(2),167-176. DeRue, D. Scott & Ashford, Susan J. (2010) Who will lead and who will follow? A social process of leadership identity construction in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 35 (4), 627-647. Hogg, Michael A. (2001) A social identity theory of leadership. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5 (3), 184-200.

Reicher, S., Haslam, A. S. & Hopkins, N. (2005) Leaders and followers as collaborative agents in the transformation of social reality. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(4), 547-568. A selection of case material will also be added according to instructor's directives!

Theme literature: In addition to the required reading listed above, students will also read three articles or book chapters within one of the themes Gender, Emotions, Ethics, or Diversity. A list of required theme literature will be presented at course start. The additional literature will comprise approx. 80-100 pages per theme and is available from Umeå University library's databases.

Reference literature

Business ethics : managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization
Crane Andrew, Matten Dirk
3. ed. : Oxford : Oxford University Press : 2010 : xxv, 614 s. :
ISBN: 978-0-19-956433-0 (pbk.)
Search the University Library catalogue

Handelshögskolan Umeå Universitet
Theses writing in Busniess Administration. Thesis manual.
Umeå University (latest edition) :
Reading instructions: Retrieved from: http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/thesis-manual

Walkenbach John
Excel 2013 bible
Indianapolis : Wiley : 2013 : 1 online resource (xxxvii, 1012 p.) :
ISBN: 9781118491720 (e-book)
Search the University Library catalogue