HIS 3410 The Firm - RE-SIT EXAMINIATION, PILOT

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016
Norwegian version

HIS 3410 The Firm - RE-SIT EXAMINIATION, PILOT


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
Norwegian

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
After completed course students shall have:

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

Acquired skills
After completed course students shall be able to:
  • Reflect on the role of firms in the economy in general.
  • Understand and reflect on the main features of the ethical and moral dimensions relating to firms.
  • Discuss and try to solve moral dilemmas in business.
  • Distinguish between the different roles and bases of ownership and leadership.
  • Understand the many roles of the state vis-à-vis firms.
  • 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
None.

Compulsory reading

Other:
Sverre Christensen og Knut Sogner. 2015. Kompendium for HIS 3410 Bedriften. Handelshøyskolen BI


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

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 particular IT tools are used in this course.

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. In the part about writing the students will learn proper citation practices. 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 presentationwrite 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, students can not submit on behalf of anyone else.

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

Course work requirement
Students must submit both the individual paper and the group report on It's learning.
Those who are not able to participate in the group work, will have to do the group assignment alone.

Recommended use of hours:

Activity
Hours
Participation in lectures I
27
Preparation for lectures
18
Writing indivdual paper for submission
20
Colloquiums on academic papers
12
Participation in lectures II
9
Self- study and colloquiums
111
Examination
3
Total recommended use of hours
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.

E-learning
In course delivery as online courses or evening classes, will lecturer, in collaboration with the Academic Services Network and evening studies, organize an appropriate combination of digital and class room teaching. Online students are also offered a study guide, which will help progression and overview. Total recommended amount of time for completion of the course also applies here.

Coursework requirements
Students must submit both the individual paper and the group presentation (submitted individually) on It's learning.
Those who are not able to participate in the group work, will have to do the group assignment alone
The students must have these approved before taking the examination. See Learning Process and Workload for further details.

Examination
In spring 2016 students are offered to participate in a pilot to test digital evaluation. Students who choose to participate in this pilot are given following terms:
- Re-sit of free of charge spring 2016.
- The evaluation should not be considered as an attempt by an application for 4. Initial attempts.

Digital evaluation spring 2016 shall be as follows:
1) A Four (4) hours individual home examination, counts 70% of the grade.
2) A One (1) hour individual examination at school, counts 30% of the grade. The individual digital exam will be based on questions from the curriculum.

To obtain final grade in the course, both exams must be passed.
Examination code(s)
HIS 34102 Individual written exam at home, count 70 % of final grade in the course HIS 3410 The Firm, 7.5 ECTS Credits.
HIS 34103 Individual written exam at school, count 30 % of final grade in the course HIS 3410 The Firm, 7.5 ECTS Credits.

Examination support materials
HIS 34102 - All support materials allowed.
HIS 34103 - No support materials allowed.

Re-sit examination
Resit in HIS 34102 and 34103 HIS will be offered during the summer 2016.

Students missing exam after this, will have to deal with current exam as of academic year 2016/2017, or take advantage of last-sit in HIS 34101 which is a three (3) hour written exam, which is offered for the last time offered fall 2016 spring 2017.

Students who have not approved the coursework requirements will not take the exam, and must implement these within a subsequent course completion.

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 is recommended for all students at BI Norwegian Business School.

Semesters

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