Swedish name: Current Trends and a Minor in Marketing D
This syllabus is valid: 2021-08-23 valid to 2022-07-31 (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, 2021-05-27
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:
Common expected learning outcome:
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 individual written hall 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. Consumer Behavior, 7.5 credits
For companies to attain commercial success, it is important to understand and have knowledge about consumer behavior. This course module highlights consumers' internal processes and how knowledge of these processes can be useful for choosing appropriate marketing strategies. Theoretical models in marketing that are needed to analyze consumer behavior, practical examples, and research in consumer behavior are discussed during the module.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:
Focus of instruction
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 in order to apply this knowledge in the different module assignments.
Examination modes
The assessments of the module consist of seminars and written assignments, prepared and presented both individual and in groups, and an individual written hall 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 simulation exercise thus entails that the groups compete with each other. 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 ambition of this module is to identify and uncover current trends. These trends have a strong long-term impact on society at large and thus form future premises and give rise to challenges for businesses. The aim of the module is to explore how business and society interact to tackle such present and future challenges. The expectation is that students participating in this module are well equipped with knowledge and skills related to their own major, one of the five sub-disciplines accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, and marketing in Business Administration.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module the student should be able to:
Focus of instruction
Learning is supported by lectures, guest lectures and guided exercises. Students are provided with relevant sources of information and scientific literature for supporting individual and group works related to the themes of lectures and exercises.
Examination modes
The main mode of examination is an individual written essay. The essay requires convincing discussion of the importance and urgency of solving a specific problem related to any of the current trends from the disciplinary perspective of the student's major. Further, the examination consists of individual and group reflection papers related to the various course activities.
Attendance at all work in progress and final presentation seminars, group work and guest lectures related presentation events are mandatory and thus a requirement to pass the course. A passing grade for each graded part of the course is required to pass. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
See each separate module.
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 (Management, Finance, Accounting or Business Development) at Umeå School of Business and Economics.
Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B or the equivalent.
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. If required by specific circumstances, the Director of Studies may decide on other forms of examination
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.
Exceptions from examination form as stated in the syllabus can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support for disabilities. Individual adaptations of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form shall be adapted within the framework of the expected learning outcomes stated in the course syllabus. At the request of the student, the course responsible teacher, in consultation with the examiner, must promptly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision must then be notified to the student.
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.
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.
This course can not be included in the degree together with 2fe199, 2fe177, 2fe179
The course is mainly based on articles available from Umeå University library's databases. The following list is preliminary and articles will be added.
Bell, E. & Bryman, A. (2007). The ethics of management research: an exploratory content analysis. British Journal of Management, 18(1), 63-77. Crane, A., Henriques, I., Husted, B.W. & Matten, D. (2016). What constitutes a theoretical contribution in the business and society field? Business and Society, 55(6), 783-791.
Edmondson, A.C. & McManus (2007). Methodological fit in management field research. Academy of Management Review, 32(4), 1155-1179. 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, D.L. (2007). Paradigms lost and pragmatism regained: Methodological implications of combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Journal of mixed methods research, 1(1), 48-76. Sandberg, J. & Alvesson, M. (2011) Ways of constructing research questions: gap-spotting or problematization? Organization 18(1): 23-44.
Wacker, J.G. (1998). A definition of theory: research guidelines for different theory-building research methods in operations management. Journal of Operations Management, 16, 361-385.
Reference reading
Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics USBE. Thesis writing in Business Administration. Thesis manual. (latest edition)
USBE Företagsekonomi :
https://www.umu.se/en/student/usbe/thesis-and-degree-project-work/
Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2015). Business research methods. 4th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ghauri, P. & Gronhaug, K. (2010) Research Methods in Business Studies. 4th edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Publishing. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2016). Research methods for business students. 7th edition. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Consumer Behaviour : a European perspective
Solomon Michael R., Askegaard Søren, Hogg Margaret K., Bamossy Gary J.
7th edition. : Harlow : Pearson : 2019 : 612 sidor :
ISBN: 9781292245423
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Scentific articles will be added at the start of the module, approximately 100-150 pages in total.
Larréché, J.-C. and Gatignon, H. (2018) Participant Handbook. StratX International (available from Umeå School of Business and Economics) 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.
Harari Yuval Noah
Homo deus : a brief history of tomorrow
First U.S. edition. : New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers : 2017. : [6], 449 pages :
ISBN: 978-0-06-246431-6
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
Factfulness : ten reasons we're wrong about the world - and why things are better than you think
Rosling Hans, Rosling Ola, Rönnlund Anna Rosling
First edition. : New York : Flatiron Books : 2018. : x, 342 pages :
ISBN: 978-1-250-10781-7
Mandatory
Search the University Library catalogue
A few (80-100 pages/discipline) disciplinary articles as reference literature will be provided in the beginning of the module.
Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics USBE. Thesis writing in Business Administration. Thesis manual. (latest edition)
USBE Business Administration :
https://www.umu.se/en/student/usbe/thesis-and-degree-project-work/