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2019/2020  BA-BSOCO1821U  The Company from a Contextual Perspective

English Title
The Company from a Contextual Perspective

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Business Administration and Sociology
Course coordinator
  • Stina Teilmann-Lock - Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy (MPP)
Main academic disciplines
  • Strategy
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 20-12-2019

Relevant links
Learning objectives
On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to identify and discuss the organization in contextual perspective. Specifically, the student should be able to:
  • Identify and compare concepts and theories covered in the curriculum
  • Identify and discuss characteristics of the relations between companies and their contexts.
  • Account for how contextual elements form, hinder and/or spur organisational development.
  • Identify and explain strengths and weaknesses in the approaches applied during the course.
Examination
The Company From a Contextual Perspective:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 5 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 48 hours to prepare
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The course 'The Company in a Contextual Perspective' is examined in the following way: Students are provided with three essay questions. Each student chooses one question and answers it. In doing this, he/she is expected to draw upon the literature from the course and to engage with it. At least one out of the three exam questions includes the possibility of working with a case, thus enabling students to do case-based work, if they wish to do so. The exam questions are written by the course coordinator. 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Aim: This course offers an introduction to theories and empirical cases that cast light upon a company’s position within a given market and industry and explores the opportunities and constraints associated with it. Specific themes include:

  • The company and its external environment
  • Societal challenges that confront companies
  • Formal and informal organization
  • Organizational cultures
  • Market, hierarchy and networks
  • International Business
  • Global dynamics
Description of the teaching methods
The course includes the following teaching methods:
Lectures
Case-based work
Guest lectures
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is an integrated part of the Company in Contextual Perspective. Each lecture includes a feedback session. This takes place in the context of the case-based work carried out in class. We work with both lecture based and peer based feedback.
Student workload
Lectures 36 hours
Preparation per lecture 10 hours
Preparation 120 hours
Expected literature

The course literature consists of a collection of academic journal articles. These are available on-line at the CBS Library.
Last updated on 20-12-2019