EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course
EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course
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.
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
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.
- 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.
- Introduction
- The firm Ltd.
- The firm and the three industrial revolutions
- The problem of self-interest
- Corporate social responsibility
- Ethics
- Management
- Ownership
- Multinationals and globalization
- Innovation and entrepreneurship?
- Innovation and society
- The state and the firm
- Process: Summing up
- Summing up
The course is conducted using various forms of teaching. There will be teaching and lectures related to the 12 main elements of the course. In addition, there will be video and television broadcasts. Three of the sessions are about ethics, and will form the basis for submission of a mandatory work requirement. The assignment will be distributed at the third lecture course start, it must be written individually and delivered electronically.
Re-sit examination
Students that have not gotten approved the coursework requirements, must re-take the exercises during the next scheduled course.
Students that have not passed the written examination or who wish to improve their grade may re-take the examination in connection with the next scheduled examination.
Please note!
As from the 2017/2018 academic year, the weighting of the exam elements changes. As a result, the following re-sit examinations are offered:
• EXC 34102 Individual home exam, counts 70% - Fall 2017 and last spring 2018.
(Will be arranged with duration 8 hours).
• EXC 34103 Individual school exam, counts 30% - Autumn 2017 and last spring 2018.
(Will be arranged with duration 1 hour).
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.
Higher Education Entrance Qualification.
No particular prerequisites are required.
| Mandatory coursework | Courseworks given | Courseworks required | Comment coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | 1 | 1 | In order to take final exam, students must have submitted and gotten approved the coursework requirement. See section on Learning Process and time for further description. |
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 60 Grouping: Individual Duration: 8 Hour(s) Exam code: EXC34104 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination every semester |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Invigilation Weight: 40 Grouping: Individual Support materials:
Duration: 1 Hour(s) Exam code: EXC34105 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination every semester |
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 27 Hour(s) | Participation in teaching I |
Prepare for teaching | 18 Hour(s) | |
Submission(s) | 15 Hour(s) | Writing indivdual paper for submission (coursework requirements) |
Teaching | 9 Hour(s) | Participation in teaching II |
Student's own work with learning resources | 122 Hour(s) | |
Examination | 9 Hour(s) | 8 + 1 |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.