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2017/2018  BA-BSSIO1011U  Introduction to Management Studies: Service and Innovation

English Title
Introduction to Management Studies: Service and Innovation

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Service Management
Course coordinator
  • Henrich Dahlgren - Department of Marketing (Marketing)
Main academic disciplines
  • Organization
  • Strategy
  • Economics
Last updated on 30-06-2017

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • be able to define and explain concepts and theories of the course
  • be able to classify and compare concepts and theories of the course
  • be able to justify and apply the chosen concepts and theories when analysing relevant empirical phenomena in a concrete firm
Course prerequisites
English language skills equal to B2 level (CEFR) and math skill equal to Danish level B are recommended.
Examination
Introduction to Management Studies: Service and Innovation:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Duration 20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Preparation time No preparation
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The final exam is an individual 20 minutes oral exam in the full curriculum.
Course content and structure

The aim of this course is to provide a holistic understanding of the business firm, its development and managerial decisions througout the organizational life-cycle by integrating economic theory of the firm and behavioral economics. The course also seeks to further the understanding of how we judge prospects and make decisions. Theories and models that assume we are fully rational (“the economic man”) are compared with theories that assume we are bounded rational, biased and sometimes even predictably irrational. Hence, we focus on two analytical levels – the invidual decision-maker and the firm – and two theoretical assumptions – the model of the efficient decision-maker/firm and explanations of why we deviate from the norm of rationality and efficiency.

 

Students will be introduced to 4 core themes within the field of Management Studies:

 

1) The organizational biography of the firm
2) The horizontal and vertical boundaries of the firm
3) Corporate governance
4) Business unit and corporate strategy.

 

In the first theme on the organizational biography of the firm we will try to understand the transformations that take place in the organization of the firm as the firm grows and gets older. On one hand we study the structures and processes and on the other hand will try to understand the differences between entrepreneurial and managerial decision making.

 

In the theme on the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the firm (related to
outsourcing, cooperation, integration and diversification) we discuss some of the factors and forces that from an economic perspective determine the size, growth of the firm and changes within a firm. We also discuss motives and managerial decision making in relations to growth through e.g. acquisitions.

 

In the third theme we focus on the “agency problem” and corporate governance. We view the firm as a bundle of contractural relationships and analyse how conflicts of interests are handled between shareholders and top management and between management and employees.

 

In the fourth and last theme on business unit and corporate strategy we present some basic strategy models and discuss the role of long-term planning and organizational selfcontrol. While some models focus on the external environment of the firm - the industry - others focus on the internal environment of the firm - its resources and capabilities. We also discuss the impact of myopic loss aversion on the willingness to take risks.
Teaching methods
The course consists of a series of 10 lectures that gives an introduction to different aspects of the firm and where all students should attend. The student will furthermore be split into seminar groups of approx. 35 students each that will meet once a week for two hours. The seminar groups will furthermore be split into approx 7-8 teams that each will be assigned a case firm.

After each lecture students will be given an assignment to study a specific aspect of the case firm. All teams will be asked to present their solutions to this assignment during the following seminar.
Feedback during the teaching period
Students get feedback on assignments during the seminars throughout the semester.
Student workload
Lectures 30 hours
Seminars/ Workshop 18 hours
Preparation for class 158 hours
Further Information

The groups (4-5 students) are formed by the coordinator of the course before course start. The groups may not be changed without special permission from the coordinator.
Expected literature

Books:

Douma, S and H. Schreuder (2013), Economic approaches to organizations, 5th ed., Harlow: Prentice Hall

 

Mintzberg, H. (1993), Structure in Fives: Designing effective organizations, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall


The final reading list will be uploaded to LEARN two weeks before the course starts.

Last updated on 30-06-2017