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2020/2021  KAN-CCBLO3013U  Business in a Changing World: German Perspectives

English Title
Business in a Changing World: German Perspectives

Course information
Language German
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
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 and MSc in Business, Language and Culture, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Verena Girschik - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • CSR and sustainability
  • Globalisation and international business
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 15-06-2020

Relevant links
Learning objectives
Content:
• Discuss the business models and strategies of German companies and account for their contextual embeddedness.
• Analyze and reflect on the responsibilities of companies and discuss opportunities and challenges posed by the German context.
• Discuss the implications of current societal changes on business practices.
• Independently formulate a relevant topic for discussion based on the themes and concepts in the course literature.
• Advance discussion by elaborating on the topics and concepts raised and relating these to other topics and concepts addressed during the course.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the theories and concepts discussed during the course.
• Combine, discuss, and apply these theories in the analysis of topics relevant to the course.
• Critically evaluate and reflect on the theories, their application and limitations.

Language:
• Present and discuss a given topic in German using an appropriate and rich vocabulary and academic terminology.
• Present and discuss in a coherent manner without committing grammatical, lexical, idiomatic or pronunciation errors that disturb communication.
• Respond fluently to questions, so that the examination flows as a dialogue.
• Correct errors in the exam situation.
Examination
The exam in the subject consists of two parts:
Language - Business in a Changing World: German Perspectives:
Sub exam weight50%
Examination formOral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group examIndividual exam
Size of written productMax. 3 pages
Assignment typeSynopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale7-point grading scale
Examiner(s)Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam periodSummer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The course has only one exam consisting of two parts. The grade is given for the content of the synopsis and the oral presentation.

Content - Business in a Changing World: German Perspectives:
Sub exam weight50%
Examination formOral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group examIndividual exam
Size of written productMax. 3 pages
Assignment typeSynopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale7-point grading scale
Examiner(s)Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam periodSummer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The course has only one exam consisting of two parts. The grade is given for the content of the synopsis and the oral presentation.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

This course is concerned with the complex relation between business and society in a globalized world. As a regional course, it explores this relation in the context of Germany and offers a context-sensitive approach to understanding German companies’ activities at home and abroad.

 

The course adopts a management perspective and combines theoretical perspectives from International Business, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Organization Theory to address a variety of empirical topics and cases. It is structured around three themes:

 

  1. The first theme centers on the German business landscape. Drawing on insights from International Business and Strategy research, the sessions in this theme explore prominent business models and strategies of Germany’s global players and hidden champions.
  2. The second theme focuses on companies’ responsibilities for contributing to the alleviation of the world’s most pressing problems. The sessions introduce insights from CSR and organizational communication research to explore the new political and social roles of companies at home and abroad. The sessions place emphasis on analyzing problems and opportunities that arise from companies’ rootedness in the German context.
  3. The third theme takes a closer look at current societal changes and challenges in Germany. Bringing in insights from research on consumer behavior and labour markets, the sessions explore implications of challenges such as unsustainable consumption and gender inequality for practices in and around companies.
Description of the teaching methods
The course features a combination of lectures, case discussions, student presentations, and a writing workshop. These activities aim to develop student’s abilities to analyze, critically reflect on, and contextualize the theoretical concepts and ideas offered in the course literature. To generate a strong link between theory and empirics, the course combines academic articles and book chapters with policy reports, magazines, and other sources throughout. All activities and literature will be in German.
Feedback during the teaching period
Students receive focused individual feedback at two moments. First, following the writing workshop, students have the opportunity to hand in a short essay and receive written feedback on their use of academic German. Second, toward the end of the course, students are encouraged to submit a draft of their synopsis to receive collective oral feedback as well as individual written feedback on their choice of topic and the structure of their argument.
Student workload
Lectures 30 hours
Exam 0.5 hours
Preparation 175.5 hours
Total 206 hours
Last updated on 15-06-2020