Main Field of Study and progress level:
Business Administration: Second cycle, has second-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, 2014-06-05
Contents
This course 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. Course 1 integrates theoretical insights with practical applications in a learning environment characterized by active participation, both individually and in groups. Throughout the course 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.
The course is given and examined in English.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this course, 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.
Required Knowledge
Admission to the course requires that the student is registered on one of the master programs at Umeå School of Business, and has passed at least 45 ECTS credits at their master program. Students are also required to have English B/6 from Swedish gymnasium or the equivalent.
Form of instruction
This course includes interactive lectures and practicing intercultural communication, a company visit and two group case projects. The course 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 course. The final grade is awarded to students who pass all assignments and an individual exam on the code of academic conduct.
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 on the course, the student must have achieved at least 75% of the total of points on the separate courses or the equivalent
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 course.
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 can not redo 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.
