EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course


Responsible for the course
Sverre August Christensen

Department
Department of Innovation and Economic Organisation

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The course provides a broad introduction to the main features of the role of firms in the economy. The versatility of firms will be presented in a broader social context with the aid of historical, ethical and theoretical perspectives. The course aims to educate participants through an introduction to broad historical developments in the Western world, focusing in particular on the foundations relevant for firms and the market economy.

Learning outcome

  • Acquired knowledge
  • Familiarity with theories of why firms exist.
  • Familiarity with the main features of the historical development of the firm, with an emphasis on understanding traditions underpinning the firms of today.
  • Acquire knowledge about ownership, leadership, multinational companies, innovation, and the state's relations to firms.
  • Know the problems related to self-interest, and possible solutions and answers to this.
  • Knowledge with respect to what is meant by corporate social responsibility, and challenges related to it.
  • Knowledge about ethical theories and challenges in business

Acquired skills
  • Be able to reflect on the role of firms in the economy in general.
  • Be able to understand and reflect on the main features of the ethical and moral dimensions relating to firms.
  • Be able to discuss and try to solve moral dilemmas in business.
  • Be able to distinguish between the different roles and bases of ownership and leadership.
  • Understand the many roles of the state vis-à-vis firms.
  • Be able to reflect in writing on complex contexts.

Developed reflection
  • Develop recognition of our personal responsibility as members of society.
  • Develop recognition of the individual moral responsibility of both firms and employees.
  • Develop recognition of the relationship between firms and society at large.
  • Develop recognition of historical change and historical foundations, not least with respect to ethical and moral dimensions.

Prerequisites
No particular prerequisites are required.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Micklethwait, John and Adrian Wooldridge. 2005. The company : a short history of a revolutionary idea. Modern Library. Paperback edition

Collection of articles:
Sverre Christensen og Knut Sogner. 2012. Collection of Articles for EXC 3410 The Firm. Handelshøyskolen BI

Recommended reading

Course outline
  1. Introduction
  2. The firm Ltd.
  3. The firm and the three industrial revolutions
  4. The problem of self-interest
  5. Corporate social responsibility
  6. Process: Ethical theories and issues
  7. Management
  8. Process: Group work and discussions
  9. Ownership
  10. Multinationals and globalization
  11. Innovation and entrepreneurship?
  12. Innovation and society
  13. The state and the firm
  14. Process: Summing up
  15. Summing up

Computer-based tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.

Learning process and workload
The course consists of lectures, writing an assignment for submission and discussing and summarizing assignments. There are 9 course lectures based on the principal course components. In addition there will be 3 lectures in connection with writing a paper, about the group discussions and summing up. The assignment will be distributed via It's learning at the start of the course. The assignment is to be written individually, submitted electronically and then discussed in groups of 4-6 students. On the basis of group discussions of each other’s assignments, students are to submit a presentation and write a short report consisting of the following components:
    1. Comments and evaluations on each paper
    2. And new complementary question regarding the individual assignment
    3. How would the group as a whole summarize the academic content of the learning process?

    The group presentations are submitted individually and electronically, nobody submits on behalf of anyone else.

    Summary of the process:
    Plenary lecture on writing technique and ethics
    Submission of individual paper on It's learning, 4-6 pages (mandatory)
    Students are divided into groups and there is a lecture about the group discussions
    Group work on writing presentation. The presentation must be submitted on It's learning. (mandatory)
    The process is summed up by the lecturer.

    Course work requirement
    Students must have submitted both the individual paper and group presentation on It's learning and had these approved in order to take the examination for this subject.

    Recommended workload in hours:
    Activity
    Number of hours
    Participation in lectures I
    27
    Preparation for lectures
    18
    Writing indiivdual paper for submission
    20
    Colloquiums on academic papers
    12
    Participation in lectures II
    9
    Self study and colloquiums
    111
    Examination
    3
    Total recommended time usage
    200

    Students are required to participate in all parts of the process activities. Submission of individual papers and group presentation are registered on It's Learning.

    Coursework requirements
    Students must have submitted both the individual paper and group presentation on It's learning and had these approved before taking the examination for this subject. See Learning Process and Workload for further details.

    Examination
    A three hour individual written exam concludes the course.

    Examination code(s)
    EXC 34101 - Individual written examination, counts 100% towards the final grade in EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course.

    Examination support materials
    No support materials are allowed except a bilingual dictionary.
    Examination support materials at written examiniations are explained under examination information in the student portal @BI. Please note use of calculator and dictionary. https://at.bi.no/EN/Pages/Exa_Hjelpemidler-til-eksamen.aspx

    Re-sit examination
    Re-sit exam is held every semester.
    Students that have not passed the course work requirement must retake the exercises at the next scheduled course. Students that have not passed the written exam or who wish to improve their grade must retake the exam in connection with the next schedules course.

    Additional information
    Colleges of Higher Education require the correct use of references in all academic work. Link to BI Library page on using citations and references, recommended for all students at BI Norwegian Business School.

    Semesters

    Translations