Learning objectives |
By the end of the course, students should be able
to critically evaluate selected theories within the fields of
corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, and business
ethics, as well as discuss how these frameworks can be applied to
concrete business situations:
- Explain, combine and analytically discuss the theories,
frameworks, models and concepts presented in the course.
- Critically discuss the role of business in society, in the
context of globalised markets and internationally active
firms.
- Identify business challenges and opportunities arising from
internal corporate governance challenges and external stakeholder
pressures.
- Using the concepts and frameworks discussed in the course,
sketch responses to these challenges and opportunities, and reason
why those responses would pass the “good business ethics” test of
critical observers.
|
Examination |
Corporate
Governance:
|
Exam
ECTS |
7,5 |
Examination form |
Home assignment - written product |
Individual or group exam |
Individual exam |
Size of written product |
Max. 10 pages |
Assignment type |
Written assignment |
Duration |
48 hours to prepare |
Grading scale |
7-step scale |
Examiner(s) |
One internal examiner |
Exam period |
Autumn and Winter |
Make-up exam/re-exam |
Same examination form as the ordinary
exam
|
|
Course content and structure |
Corporate governance concerns the way firms are directed and
controlled. The regulatory backlash caused by corporate scandals
and the financial crisis, as well as growing public and media
pressure on companies to act in a ‘socially responsible’ way, have
put stakeholder engagement on top of the corporate agenda.
Regardless of international business managers’ individual
philosophical stance on what the role of business in society should
be, these pressures cannot go unmanaged and need to be addressed in
a strategic manner. A thorough understanding of the corporate
governance demands companies face today is therefore a necessary
prerequisite in any international business function.
This course gives an introduction to the theoretical foundations of
corporate governance, develops awareness of associated practical
problems, and provides an overlook of governance systems around the
world. The intertwine of legal, economic, political, and
psychological factors affecting how firms and markets are run and
controlled creates complexity and challenges our ability to state
and solve problems practically as well as intellectually. The
course provides students with a toolbox and skills for evaluating
firms from a governance point of view.
|
Description of the teaching methods |
The course is lecture based, using various texts,
journal articles, cases, research results, and current events and
news to illustrate the topic of the session.
In addition, participants will have to solve three case studies
which are to be discussed during the exercises. |
Feedback during the teaching period |
The students should actively seek feedback
throughout the quarter, from the professor. |
Student workload |
Teaching |
42 hours |
Examination |
48 hours |
Preparation |
116 hours |
|
Expected literature |
Steen Thomsen & Martin Conyon. Corporate Governance;
Mechanisms and Systems. McGraw Hill 2012. Complementary excerpts
from books and articles will be downloadable from LEARN.
Case studies will have to bought by the individual student.
|