Managerial Perspectives on Strategy, People, Projects and Processes D, 30 Credits

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
The course has a number of generic skills. After completing the course, the student should also be able to:

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

1. Module 1.  Perspectives on strategy, 7.5 ECTS. 
2. Module 2. People – the human side of organizing , 7.5 ECTS. 
3. Module 3. Project management, 7.5 ECTS.
4. Module 4. Strategizing - planning and processes, 7.5 ECTS.

The core course consists of four modules, which will be further described below:

Module 1. Perspectives on strategy, 7.5 ECTS
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 courses. 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:

• Compare theoretical perspectives on management, entrepreneurship, and marketing strategies.
• Propose solutions to cope with internal and external strategic challenges and complexities.
• Propose appropriate strategies to meet key dilemmas of innovation, relating to product, 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 the code of academic conduct to the student’s own work.

Focus of instruction:
This module includes interactive lectures and practicing intercultural communication, a company visit and two group case projects. The module requires significant amount of independent study. This means reading the assigned compulsory book chapters and articles when preparing for classes. The readings and lectures are meant to complement each other. Although they will at times cover seemingly quite diverse subjects, they are intended to help the students to develop a good understanding of what strategy is about and to apply this knowledge in the course assignments.

Examination modes
The final grade is based on the individual written exam and two case reports, which are assessments of your group’s achievement. Attendance at all case seminars and presentations is compulsory to pass the module. The final grade is awarded to students who pass all assignments and an individual exam on the code of academic conduct.

See also note 6 below.

Module 2.   People – the human side of organizing (7,5 ECTS)
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 course is given through 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. 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. This work is presented in a term paper and defended at a seminar. The course ends with an integrative case seminar.

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. See also note 6 below.

Module 3.   Project management (7,5 ECTS)
The third module attends to the present trend towards “projectification” in both business and public organizations, which calls for in-depth knowledge on the nature of projects and how to manage particular projects as well as a portfolio of projects in an organization. Students will deal with established planning and organizing techniques, examine the relationship between projects and between the project and the surrounding organisation, and critically reflect upon the role of projects in wider society.

Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:

• explain theories, models and concepts for management of projects, programs, and portfolios of projects in organisational contexts,
• understand the nature of projects in an organizational and industrial context,
• understand the need for governance of multi-project settings,
• collaborate in and manage project work,
• plan for, analyse, and control project progress and changes,
• work hands-on with project management tools, both in groups and individually,
• assume responsibility for own and group learning,
• reflect upon one’s own learning on the subject.

Focus of instructions
The module consists of two parts. In the first part lectures are given on traditional project management, based on the literature. This part is assessed through a written exam. The second part dealt with project organizations, and a section on research methods via lectures. It included case seminars, and a workshop on the use of project management software. The second part is assessed in two ways. Partly, through a individual reflection paper, and partly through a group assignment where students choose a topic from the lectures and writes a memo in which they propose a new research idea, including a research question, literature review, and appropriate method.

Examination modes
The examination consists of active participation in seminars and successful completion of group and individual assignments. There will also be a written comprehensive individual exam. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. See also note 6 below.

Module 4. Strategizing- planning and processes 7,5 ECTS
Managers and entrepreneurs must all be able to design the future for their business or business area. The environment and the opportunities are likely to change over time, but strategic plans and programs are important tools in aiding the manager or business developer to make sense of environmental and organisational dynamics.

In this module students participate in a real-life strategic process which requires them to act on the basis of assembled knowledge and take part in the development of a business, for example by developing a strategic program for a company or an organisation.

Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate analytical and integrative skills in solving advanced strategic problems.
• Apply acquired knowledge and understanding from this module as well as from previous courses to design a strategic program within given timeframes.
• Work effectively independently, in teams, and with external organisations.
• Orally and in writing for stakeholders, present analyses, ideas and conclusions developed and/or drawn by the team or individually.
• Evaluate his/her competence and need for competence development in order to work with strategic business development.
• Focus of instruction

In this module, the main pedagogical technique is work with a “real-life” organisation. This may entail students working in “consultant” teams with existing companies, organisations, or start-ups to develop a strategic program. The groups will work relatively independently but in dialogue with representatives of the organisations. Students will receive regular supervision from faculty and potentially by external experts in workshops, seminars and lectures.

Examination
The examination consists of four parts. First, a written strategic program and, second an oral presentation of this program to managers and other practitioner from the participating organisation. Third, a written individual home exam. Fourth, active participation in and contribution to seminars and meetings related to the work with their business program. 
A passing grade is required for each part of the module.

Expected learning outcomes

See respective module.

Required Knowledge

University: Courses in Business Administration (75 ECTS) At Basic level (A-level) and Intermediate level (B-level) a minimum of 60 ECTS in Management, Marketing, Accounting and Finance courses. At the C-level (Bachelor), a minimum 15 ECTS.

Language: Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and no individual score below 5.5. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test) with a minimum score of 575 and a minimum TWE score of 4.5). TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum score of 90 and a minimum score of 20 on the Writing Section).

Form of instruction

See respective module.

Examination modes

See also above under respectively module.

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%).

To receive the grade Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd) on the course, the student must have achieved that grade at three of the four modules.

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.

Students who do not pass the written examination will be offered a re-examination opportunity within a month. Beyond that, additional opportunities to complete the written examination normally arise every academic year one-week prior to the start of the autumn term.

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.

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.

Students who fail to present a photo ID at the occasion of a written examination cannot have their results registered.

Lectures are normally not obligatory. However attendance is expected because the lectures are designed to facilitate students towards achieving course specific learning objectives. In addition lectures often provide insightful explanations of, and can supplement and provide contrast to, the course literature and other relevant course materials.

A student who has passed an examination cannot retake the examination to get a higher grading.

Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all examinations and compulsory course elements.

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

Other regulations

This is a course at the D-level in an MSc-degree at Umeå University. The course can also be included in study programs in Business Administration and Economics at Umeå School of Business and Economics.