Course Content in Brief

Transcription

1 Course Content in Brief Organisation Theory Semester 1 This module is divided into two units, namely Organisational Structures and Processes and Operations Management. Its language of instruction is German Organisational Structures and Processes This submodule introduces the participants to the strategic, discretional and functional areas and processes of business organisations and highlights the impact of these interdependent areas on organisational competitiveness and performance. Special emphasis is placed on the nature of international corporations and virtual organisations. In addition the following topics are dealt with: Corporate leadership, Organizational cultures Primary and secondary organisations Change management and organisational transformation Strategic decision taking Reorganisation of top management structures Crises management and corporate restructuring Acquisition and integration of business ventures/entities Joint ventures Strategic alliances and networks. On completing this unit, students will have obtained an in-depth knowledge of result-focused management approaches that influence organisational structures and processes and will be able to apply this knowledge to real-life cases. The participants will comprehend the aims, objectives and parameters of organizational change and understand how they can be used to implement change processes. Moreover, they will understand the current developments that are of strategic relevance to organizations. Summative: time-constraint assignment (TCA), 120 minutes Corporate Governance and Compliance This lecture (which may include guest speakers from industry and legal organizations as well as excursions) will introduce students to the legal and ethical requirements to be met by corporate executives, as stipulated in the Corporate Governance Codex and other codices and laws. Furthermore, it will deal with Responsibilities of business leaders (e.g. MDs, senior executives, board members) Risk management Compliance management Crisis management (financial overextension, imminent insolvency) Organizational accountability, product liability, D & O insurance Corporate finance, capital markets, initial public offering

2 2 Restructuring, outsourcing and insourcing Mergers & acquisitions, company valuation, due diligence Corporate decisions, MBIs, MBOs International business law Interfaces between business administration and business law On completing this submodule, students will have obtained an overview of the legal and ethical framework that governs contemporary business undertakings. They will understand which areas of decision making are affected by this framework and the consequences noncompliance will entail. Formative: content-related exercises and student presentation (SP) on specific areas Corporate Functions This mandatory module consists of three units, i.e. Operations Management, Financial Management and Management Accounting. Its language of instruction is German Operations Management Operations Management investigates the process of designing, developing, and distributing products and services and the large number of internal and external business operations this involves (e.g. procurement, inventory control, warehousing and storage, logistics). Moreover it looks at cross-departmental aspects of value creation along the supply chain. Further focal areas are strategic production and logistics management, quality and productivity improvement systems, choice of appropriate business locations and production networks. This unit is intended to provide the students with a deeper understanding of how supply chains and complex logistics systems are designed and how they can be optimised. Moreover, it introduces them to the concepts and methods of operations and supply chain management and invites them to resolve the problems arising from the complexity of value creating processes. The lectures include case studies to give the students critical insights into current business practices. Summative: time-constraint assignment (TCA), 120 minutes Financial Management This subject is covered by a number of lectures which provide students with the in-depth knowledge required to understand the role of financial operations in organisations. In particular, it explores the following areas: Cost of capital International portfolio investment Corporate strategy and foreign direct investment Mergers and acquisitions Management of multi-national working capital Real options Financing multinational corporations Hedge funds Corporate risk management

3 3 Specific issues of international corporate finance Financial models Moreover, it outlines the management competences required to tackle the questions that frequently present themselves in business life. The contents covered in this unit will enable students to understand the nature of global capital markets, cash management as well as decisions regarding financial risks and return on capital investment. This submodule shows them how to apply methodical and analytical tools in cross-border financial undertakings such as valuation, risk management, restructuring and investment. Formative: student reports and presentations (SP) Management Accounting This submodule introduces students to the instruments and approaches used in order to provide corporate decision takers with vital internal information. In particular, it deals with Elements and interrelated areas of current Accounting Systems (Managerial Accounting, Financial Accounting and Financial Management) Performance measurement & Financial analysis Financial statements, taxation and cash flows International accounting systems Capital budgeting Value-based management / shareholder value (EVA and CVA systems) Professional reporting of financial statements Fully integrated financial planning Scenario management and risk assessment. Students will be able to consolidate their accounting competences by familiarising themselves with the concepts of Managerial Accounting and their application in business organisations which will focus on genuine financial statements and reports international accounting principles in a domestic and global environment and advanced methods of integrated financial planning and control. Formative: The prescribed coursework (CW) requires students to research certain subjects comprehensively outside the classroom and to work in groups to submit their case analysis Key Competencies This modules includes Research Methods and Management Approaches (semester 1) as well as an Introduction to Intercultural Project Management (semester 2) Research Methods A series of lectures introduces the participants to the major issues of scientific theory and to empirical social research. They emphasise the importance of appropriate research methods and techniques in obtaining qualitative as well as quantifiable evidence for their own empirical research.

4 4 Students also learn how to identify and design research projects and draw up research proposals. Moreover, they become acquainted with the most widely used methods of data collection, data processing and analysis. The participants develop a heightened awareness of the principles and requirements of scientific research and learn to describe their specific approach when they conduct their own research projects Formative : students prepare a presentation on individual research areas (SP) Summative: students submit their own research proposal (CW) Management Approaches : Business managers use a number of approaches that allow them to tackle concrete business situations efficiently and to address the questions and problems arising from them. They include goal setting techniques gathering and analysing information structured approaches versus creativity techniques decision taking methods presentation and negotiation techniques team building, team work and team facilitation personality and leadership styles motivational techniques and coaching conflict management time management Subsequently, students are invited to assess and optimise their own approaches. Formative: peer assessed coursework (CW) Summative: individual student presentations (SP) Projects Semester 2 Projects have always played an important role in organisational life as they are instrumental in implementing quality management systems and in driving corporate transformation. The lectures introduce students to the fundamental aspects, constraints and key processes of Project Management, its history, its purpose, its tools and techniques. The lectures also include a thorough insight into all project phases, project organization and the interpersonal skills required by project managers. Further focal areas are resource allocation, risk analysis and the challenges faced by cross-cultural project teams. The development of the seminar material has been EU-funded. The module is usually performed in an international environment with students from seven European partner universities. This gives participants the opportunity to test their project skills in multi-cultural teams. The seminar introduces students to an international learning and working environment. It enhances their interpersonal and intercultural competence and project management skills and encourages them to tackle the challenges presented by a diverse learning environment.

5 5 Formative: several peer-assessed group presentations (SP) Summative: individual student assignment and project report (CW) Human Resource Management This module comprises Change Management (semester 2) and Leadership (semester 3) which are taught in English Change Management Managers are constantly confronted with organisational adaptation and transformation and need to take informed decisions to guide and influence the ongoing change processes. This requires a specific management approach which is based on organisational theory and can be described by specific change models. Moreover, the change process is explored from the following angles: Organisational structures Processes, people and culture Leadership and employee relations Corporate performance and rewards The theoretical foundation gained is then applied to the area of Mergers & Acquisitions which represent a specific challenge to Change Management. In the course of this submodule, students learn how to critically evaluate organisational change theories and to identify the reasons and forces that drive organisational adaptation or transformation. Moreover, they analyse the cultural implications of far-reaching changes such as mergers and acquisitions. Formative: Continuous assessment based on coursework (CW) Strategic Information Management The medium of instruction of this module is English. This module consists of a series of lectures which cover the following the latest trends in IT Service Management and their relevance for different industries the elements of IT Service Management and Service Level Management Financial Management for IT Services Availability Management Incident and problem management Configuration Management Moreover, it specifies the engineering competences needed in this context such as: Integrated Process Management / Quantified Process Management Requirements Management Project Planning, Monitoring and Control Supplier Agreement Management Quality Assurance and management processes The lectures also look at best practice in this area and at models that support the structuring and quantification of those competences, e.g. process and staged maturity models (especially CMMI).

6 6 This submodule makes students aware of the role information technology plays for business organisations and enables them to make strategic IT decisions. They understand that highquality IT services constitute a competitive advantage and will be able to identify the best practice examples and the engineering competences required in this field. They will be familiar with the IT-related requirements of process, project and configuration management. Formative: coursework based on case studies (CW) Summative: individual student report (CW) Economic Policy Today s business world is characterised by the interdependence of national and global instances whose policies facilitate or impede business transactions, global competition, economic growth, employment and exports. Areas dealt with: economic cycles, the creation of economic stability, the instruments and consequences of anti-cyclical and monetary polices governmental policies aimed at employment and the labour market, salaries and wages, European remuneration and employment policies international economic policies: balance of payments, currency and trade policies, supranational institutions economic globalisation This module provides the students with an overview of the fundamental aspects and rationale of economic policies, the aims and objectives of economic policy makers and the instruments they employ. This is to create a deeper awareness of the impact of national and international economic policies on business decisions and of the significance of complex economic processes. Summative: time-constraint assignment (TCA), 120 minutes Strategic Management This module includes Innovation Management, Strategic Marketing (Both semester 2) and Corporate Strategy (semester 3). They are all taught in English Innovation Management Innovation management aims at supervising and guiding the organisational innovation processes which include product as well as organisational development. The lectures introduce the students to the following: management and optimisation of corporate research and development strategies critical assessment and implementation of innovation and technology strategies innovation management tools optimisation of product development processes project teams and project team organisation This submodule enables students to develop interdisciplinary as well as multi-functional approaches which will allow them to manage the integration of new technologies and to evaluate the most current innovations provided by the IT markets. Moreover, they will be in a position to

7 7 appreciate and promote the innovation potential of their organization. Summative: individual student project (CW) Strategic Marketing Strategic Marketing introduces the participants to the decisions faced by profit-based organizations in globalising consumer, industrial and hybrid markets tactical versus strategic marketing decisions instruments of market research opportunity and risk analysis marketing resource planning assessing market share potentials. The lectures are supported by a renowned marketing simulation game which invites the students to put their marketing expertise to the test. Students formulate marketing strategies and develop marketing plans which integrate customers wants and needs as well as corporate goals. Formative: based on individual contributions and performance Corporate Strategy This submodule sums up and consolidates all essential issues and processes of Strategic Management in different organisational contexts and develops them further. It revises the nature and levels of the strategy process (analysis, choice, implementation) founded on industry analysis, competitive analysis (Porter) and capability analysis. In addition, it investigates the contribution of the different business functions to strategy development and examines how companies can develop and sustain their core competencies. The interactive lectures encourage the participants to use the theoretical foundation they have acquired and to test their knowledge against simulated business situations (as provided by System Dynamics or TOPSIM Global Challenge). Each autumn, this submodule is offered in collaboration with Dundalk Institute of Technology. Students will develop an advanced understanding of the strategy process and the managerial responsibilities involved in taking strategic decisions. They will be able to diagnose core problems arising in business organizations and propose appropriate solutions. Moreover, they will become proficient in researching and sourcing information to support strategic decision-making. Formative: Students research individual aspects of corporate strategy formation on their own and present their findings in class (SP).

8 Leadership Semester 3 Content This module builds on the foundation laid down in Management Approaches and Change Management. Leadership theory is concerned with the characteristic features of political and business leaders who can communicate visions, goals and values so convincingly that they inspire admiration, identification and compliance. Based on social and psychological research, the lectures examine the significance of the term leadership and sum up various leadership theories and models which are critically evaluated. By means of self-assessment exercises, the students are invited to apply these leadership models to their own personality and to assess their self-management approaches and personality development. Specific attention is devoted to leadership requirements in crises and in cases of separation and severance. The lectures aim at making the participants familiar with the art of leadership and with the related approaches and instruments employed in every-day business practice. Formative: student presentations on specific aspects of leadership (SP) Dissertation Content Students conclude their programme by submitting a dissertation. The dissertation is a complex task that needs to be completed within a predetermined period of time (4 months). It is an intellectual proposition which is traditionally based on a research project. Firstly, it includes the research topic itself and an explanation of why the subject was chosen for research (introduction). Secondly, it outlines the design of the research project and explains why the research approach adopted is appropriate in the given context (design and methodology). Thirdly, it contains a critical review of relevant primary and secondary literary sources (literature review). In the major part of the thesis, the students sum up their research findings and discuss how the sources used and discussed have informed the research issue. A further chapter summarises the research work conducted and indicates future research potentials in the field dealt with (conclusion and outlook). A thesis also contains a list of references and abbreviations. Glossaries of technical terms and of tabled items may be added. The dissertation largely relies on independent studies and self-tuition. It provides evidence for the fact that students can conduct a challenging research project by benefitting from the subject knowledge they have acquired during their graduate studies and by deploying their analytical skills and problem-solving techniques, thereby developing new aspects of their chosen topic. Summative: The thesis is supervised and assessed by two senior lecturers.