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EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course

EXC 3410 The Firm - Introduction Course

Course code: 
EXC 3410
Department: 
Law and Governance
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Sverre August Christensen
Course name in Norwegian: 
The Firm - Introduction Course
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Common Courses
Semester: 
2018 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
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 outcomes - 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
Learning outcomes - 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.
Learning Outcome - 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.
Course content
  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. Ethics
  7. Management
  8. Ownership
  9. Multinationals and globalization
  10. Innovation and entrepreneurship?
  11. Innovation and society
  12. The state and the firm
  13. Process: Summing up
  14. Summing up
Learning process and requirements to students

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 within the third lecture, it must be written individually and delivered electronically. In addition to writing the assignment, there may be a requirement of assessing other students' assignments.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

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 2018/2019 academic year, the weighting of the exam element change. As a result, the following re-sit examinations are offered:

  • EXC 34104 Individual home exam (only resit), counts 60% - Autumn 2018 and last time spring 2019. (Will be arranged with duration 8 hours).
  • EXC 34105 Individual school exam (only resit), counts 40% - Autumn 2018 and last time spring 2019. (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.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification.

Required prerequisite knowledge

No particular prerequisites are required.

Mandatory courseworkCourseworks givenCourseworks requiredComment coursework
Mandatory11In order to take final exam, students must have submitted and gotten approved the coursework requirement. Assessing other students' assignments may be a part of this. See section on Learning process and requirements for further description.
Mandatory coursework:
Mandatory coursework:Mandatory
Courseworks given:1
Courseworks required:1
Comment coursework:In order to take final exam, students must have submitted and gotten approved the coursework requirement. Assessing other students' assignments may be a part of this. See section on Learning process and requirements for further description.
Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Invigilation
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • No support materials
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Exam code: 
EXC34106
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam organisation: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
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
128 Hour(s)
Examination
3 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
200

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.