Current Trends and a Minor in Management D, 30 Credits

Contents

The course is established by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Umeå University and the syllabus was confirmed by the Head of Umeå School of Business and Economics in June XXth , 20xx. The syllabus is valid from xx
 
ContentsThe 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. 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 competencess. 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. 

Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 credits
Module 2. People – The Human Side of Organizing, 7.5 credits
Module 3. Project Management, 7.5 credits
Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration, 7,5 credits
 
The core course consists of four modules, which will be further described below:
 
Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 credits
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. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
 
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
1) After completing this module, the student should be able to:
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.

Module 3. Project Management, 7,5 credits
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,
• discuss the nature of projects in an organizational and industrial context,
• explain the need for governance of multi-project settings,
• collaborate in and manage project work,
• plan for, analyse, and control project progress and changes,
• assume responsibility for his/her own learning and group learning,
• reflect upon his/her own learning in 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 and literatur seminars. The second part is assessed in two ways. Partly, through an 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.

Module 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. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes below for the course as a whole.

Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration 7,5 credits
The aim of this module is to lead the students to explore, create greater far-sightedness and also readiness to meet emerging strategic trends in the field of business administration. The first part of the course focuses on general theories, practice, and methods related to future studies. Specific attention is paid to international trends which are predicted to have a long-term impact on society at large. The second part concentrates on the core areas of the master programs in business administration at USBE, and will examine how trends may be transformed to strategies and management routines related to businesses. Emerging research questions and suggestions for future research in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, or marketing will be discussed. In the last part of the module each student will apply acquired knowledge to a chosen trend and present this in a written report.

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

• identify and evaluate emerging trends in society and relate these to research in business administration within the field of the student’s major
• demonstrate familiarity with methods for for instance forecasting, scanning, and scenarios
• propose specific action plans for how companies can deal with current trends
• analyze sources used in terms of relevance and credibility

Focus of instruction
Learning is supported by 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 will make oral presentations at seminars and submit written course papers.

Examination modes
Examination is based upon an individual written. The paper is presented orally and defended in a seminar. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
 

Expected learning outcomes

See each separate module.

Required Knowledge

90 credits with a minimum of 75 credits in Business Administration and 30 credits advanced level within the core course in Business Administration at one of the following master programs in Business Administration  (Accounting, Finance, Marketing or Business Development and internationalization) at Umeå School of Business and Economics. 

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

Form of instruction

See 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 addtion, 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.