Swedish name: Current Trends and a Minor in Marketing D
This syllabus is valid: 2016-08-29 valid to 2017-08-20 (newer version of the syllabus exists)
Syllabus for courses starting after 2024-08-19
Syllabus for courses starting between 2022-08-01 and 2024-08-18
Syllabus for courses starting between 2021-08-23 and 2022-07-31
Syllabus for courses starting between 2020-08-17 and 2021-08-22
Syllabus for courses starting between 2019-08-26 and 2020-08-16
Syllabus for courses starting between 2018-08-27 and 2019-08-25
Syllabus for courses starting between 2017-08-28 and 2018-08-26
Syllabus for courses starting between 2017-08-21 and 2017-08-27
Syllabus for courses starting between 2016-08-29 and 2017-08-20
Syllabus for courses starting between 2015-08-24 and 2016-08-28
Syllabus for courses starting between 2014-09-08 and 2015-08-23
Syllabus for courses starting between 2013-09-09 and 2014-09-07
Course code: 2FE193
Credit points: 30
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: Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail
Responsible department: Business Administration
Revised by: Rector of Umeå School of Business and Economics, 2016-06-23
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 marketing. 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 skills. After completing the course, the student should be able to:
Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 credits
Module 2. Consumer Behaviour, 7.5 credits
Module 3. Consumer and Market Analysis, 7.5 credits
Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration, 7,5 credits
Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 credits
The overarching aim of this course 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:
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 course elements. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
Module 2. Consumer Behavior, 7.5 credits
For companies to attain commercial success, it is important that managers understand consumer behavior. This course module, therefore, highlights the internal processes that occur within consumers´ minds and how knowledge of these processes can be useful for choosing marketing strategies. The theoretical models and practical examples discussed during the module will develop students’ understanding of the specific marketing concepts that are needed when analyzing consumer behavior. The module also contributes to consumer analysis with examples of marketing and consumer research that are discussed. This is important, as consumers’ buying decisions indicate how well the company’s marketing strategy meets demands in the market. Thus, this course module highlights how marketing begins and ends with the consumer.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:
Learning is supported by interactive lectures and seminars. The readings and lectures are meant to complement each other. The seminars are intended to help the students to develop a good understanding of what consumer behavior is about and to apply this knowledge in the different module assignments.
Examination modes
The assessments of the module consist of seminars and papers, prepared and presented both individual and in groups, and an individual written 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 3. Consumer and Market Analysis, 7.5 credits
While the core principle of marketing is simple “make profit by meeting a need of a customer”, translating this principle into a set of strategic and operational decisions is far more complex. This course is designed to provide the students with the concepts and tools to handle this complexity and to offer them the opportunity to actually formulate and implement marketing strategies. Therefore, this course module involves a comprehensive simulation exercise that facilitates students’ development of skills in formulating and implementing marketing decisions in a realistic and data-rich environment. The key areas explored are demand processes, segmentation, positioning, new product introduction, and resource allocation. This course also closely examines how marketing research studies and various marketing indicators can inform strategic and operational decisions.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:
Focus of instruction
This course uses one of the most widely used business simulations, as a learning platform. Student teams will run a simulated firm and make different marketing decisions. This module also includes interactive lectures and seminars, and requires significant amount of both independent work and teamwork.
Examination modes
The assessment of this module consists of: (1) an evaluation of group performance that includes simulated firm performance, interim report, marketing plan and a presentation; (2) individual case analysis assignment and (3) individual written exam. A passing grade is required for each part. 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:
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.
See each separate module.
Admitted to one of the following Master programs in Business Administration (Management, Finance, Accounting or Business Development) at Umeå School of Business and Economics. 30 credits within the core course in Business Administration at the master program.
See each separate module.
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.
Academic credit transfers are according to the University credit transfer regulations.
Apart from the specific literature for each module specified below, a selection of international scientific journal articles and cases will be used in the examination of each course. The exact list of will be available on the course web site and at the Student Services Office at least one moth prior to the start of the course.
Eisenhardt, K.M. & Graebner, M. E. (2007) Theory building from cases: Opportunities and Challenges, Academy of Management Journal, 50(1): 25-32. Long, R.G., White, M.C., Friedman, W.H. & Brazeal, D.V. (2000) The Qualitative' versus Quantitative' Research Debate: A Question of Methaphorical Assumptions? Journal of International Value-Based Management, 13, 189-197
Morgan, G. & Smircich, L. (1980) The Case for Qualitative Research, Academy of Management Review, 5(4) 481-500, Sandberg, J. & Alvesson, M. (2011) Ways of constructing research questions: gap-spotting or problematization? Organization 18(1): 23-44.
Weick, K.E. (1999) Theory construction as disciplined reflexivity: trade-offs in the 90s, Academic Management Review, 24(4): 797-806. Whetten, David A. (1989) What constitutes a theoretical contribution? Academy of Management Review 14(4): 490-95.
Reference reading: Ghauri, P. & Gronhaug, K. (2010) Research Methods in Business Studies. 4th edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Publishing.
Consumer behaviour : a European perspective
Solomon Michael R., Bamossy Gary J., Askegaard Søren.
5 Edition. : pages cm :
ISBN: 9780273772729
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Scentific articles will be added at the start of the module, approximately 100-150 pages in total.
Exploring strategy
Johnson Gerry, Whittington Richard, Scholes Kevan, Angwin Duncan, Regner Patrick
Tenth edition. : Harlow : Pearson : cop. 2014 : 558 pages :
ISBN: 9781292002552 (pbk.) :
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Larréché, J.-C., Gatignon, H and Triolet, R. (2010) Markstrat Online Student Handbook. StratX International (available from Umeå School of Business and Economis, Student Administration Office Larréché, J.-C. and Gatignon, H. (1998) Markstrat 3: The Strategic Marketing Simulation. South-Western College Publishing (available from Umeå School of Business and Economics, Student Administration Office) Chapter 8. Consumer Analysis, pp.149-155 Chapter 10. Allocation of Resources, pp. 177-184
Scientific articles and cases, between 30 and 40 pages is added.
Thesis writing in Business Administration. Thesis manual.
Umeå School of Business and Economics (latest edition). :
Reading instructions: Retrieved from: http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/thesis-manual
Additional individual literature focusing on specific topics may be needed to be able to complete module assignments.
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
Umeå School of Business and Economics (latest edition)
Thesis writing in Business Administration. Thesis manual.
Företagsekonomi :
Walkenbach John
Excel 2013 bible
Indianapolis : Wiley : 2013 : 1 online resource (xxxvii, 1012 p.) :
ISBN: 9781118491720 (e-book)
Search the University Library catalogue