Current Trends and a Minor in Management D, 30 Credits

Contents

The course gives the opportunity to further develop within the major subject in a module on the latest development and in a module on research methodology. The course also gives a Minor subject in Management.

1. Module  Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 ECTS
2. Module  People – the human side of organizing , 7.5 ECTS. 
3. Module  Project management, 7.5 ECTS.
4. Module  Current Trends in Business Administration, 7,5 ECTS

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

Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 ECTS
The overarching aim of this module is to develop advanced knowledge of perspectives, strategies and design in research. This will increase the student’s ability to carry out and assess business research and investigations. Important building blocks are the problem formulation, frames of reference, scientific approaches, including the ontological and epistemological points of departure, and methods for data collection and analysis.

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

• identify and discuss how fundamental assumptions, scientific ideals, perspectives and frames of reference influence a process of scientific knowledge creation
• formulate and argue for relevant research questions, including the theoretical relevance and positioning
• discuss characteristics of research strategies and approaches, critically review and assess literature, and discuss and evaluate the suitability of various methods to solve different research questions
• apply acquired knowledge in the planning, design, implementation and reporting of scientific studies
• demonstrate an ability to assess and discuss social, environmental and ethical dimensions of business research issues

Focus of instruction:
Lectures, seminars, practical assignment(s), individually or in groups, and the reading material complement each other to help students to develop deep knowledge of what scientific research in business and management fields is all about.

Examination modes
The final grade is based on a written exam and reporting of assignment(s). Participation at all seminars and presentations is compulsory to pass the module. The final grade is awarded when the student has passed all assignments and compulsory module elements.

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 module 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 module 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. Current Trends in Business Administration 7,5 ECTS

The aim of this master course is to lead the students to explore, create greater far-sightedness and also readiness to meet emerging strategic trends in business environments.  The first part of the course focuses on general theories, practice, and methods related to future studies. Specific attention is paid to international “mega trends” which are predicted to have a long-term impact on society at large, e.g. climate change, globalization, and an aging population. The second part concentrates on the core areas of the five master programs at USBE, and will examine how “mega trends” may be transformed to strategies and management routines related to the business sector.  Emerging research questions and suggestions for future research in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, or marketing will be discussed. In the last part of the course, but introduced at the beginning of the course, each student will apply acquired knowledge to develop a conceptual paper based on the identification of one future-oriented topic.    

Expected learning outcomes
After completing the course the student should be able to:

• evaluate emerging trends in society
• demonstrate familiarity with forecasting/scanning/scenario/monitoring methods
• formulate specific action plans of how to meet current trends in specific sub-disciplines in the business sector
• with a research approach evaluate the state of the art and identify and communicate future trends within the major field of the master program relevant for respective student

Focus of instruction
Teaching is conducted through lectures, seminars and course papers. The core topics will be covered by lectures and seminars, in which students will be expected to take an active part. Students are required to make oral presentations at seminars and to submit written course papers.

Examination modes
Examination is based upon the completion and defense of an individual conceptual

A passing grade is required for each part of the module.

Expected learning outcomes

See respective module

Required Knowledge

University: Admitted to one of the following Master programs in Business Administration (Accounting, Finance, Marketing or Business Development and internationalization) at Umeå School of Business and Economics.

Form of instruction

See respective module

Examination modes

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 D-level (Advanced level) in the Masters program in Business and Administration at Umeå School of Business and Economics