GRA 5918 Mission Based Organisations - RE-SIT EXAMINATION

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

GRA 5918 Mission Based Organisations - RE-SIT EXAMINATION


Responsible for the course
Are Vegard Haug

Department
Department of Accounting - Auditing and Law

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The ‘third sector’ is frequently assumed to represent an alternative to public and for-profit organisations, as well as being more or less integrated into, or assigned a complementary role in public policies. Members of mission based organisations often develop firm loyalties to values, and the legitimacy of the organisation crucially rests on its wider reputation. This poses special challenges for the leadership of such an organisation. The course requires no previous knowledge, but is primarily designed for students taking the MSc in Political Economy programme and therefore assumes some knowledge of political processes and public policy making, and of how a distinction between the public sector, the market and the civil society often is useful in understanding how policy-processes and outcomes are actually shaping the living conditions of citizens.

Learning outcome
The objectives of the course is to provide an overview of the role of mission-based organisations in liberal societies and at the global level. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organisations play a significant role in the institutional ‘construction’ of civil society, as well as being producers of social functions and services. Often too, they are assumed to represent the ‘social capital’ in society. As organisations are normally funded by a mix of donations, membership fees and government grants, the maximation of income through ‘branding’ is a significant objective for the leadership, often to be performed in tension with the ideal objectives of the organisation itself and its members. A particular focus will be on the role of leadership and governance in organisations without ‘corrective mechanism’ neither from a market based response on its performance nor from hierarchical external control.
‘Mission oriented’ organisations are often interwoven into public policies as a ‘third alternative’ between public and market based organisations, as well as being partners to private enterprises in implementing their Corporate Social Responsibility-strategies.

Prerequisites
A Bachelor's degree qualifying for admission to the MSc Programme

Compulsory reading
Books:
Anheier, Helmut K. 2005. Nonprofit organizations : theory, management, policy. Routledge

Other:
During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination.


Recommended reading
Books:
Dollery, Brian and Joe L. Wallis. 2003. The political economy of the voluntary sector : a reappraisal of the comparative institutional advantage of voluntary organisations. Edward Elgar
Evers, Adalbert and Jean-Louis Laville, eds. 2004. The Third sector in Europe. Elgar
Pynes, Joan E. 2009. Human resources management for public and nonprofit organizations : a strategic approach. 3rd ed. Jossey-Bass


Course outline
1: The characteristics of a mission based organisation; similarities and differences between a non-profit organisation and a ‘quasi autonomous non-governmental body’
2: The concepts of ‘civil society’ ‘social capital’ and ‘welfare pluralism’.
4: ‘The mission’ as a motivational force among volunteers, employees and donors.
5: Managing a mission based organisation
6: Mission oriented organisations as parters: in public policies and in CSR-efforts.

Computer-based tools
It's learning

Learning process and workload
A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours.

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on the course homepage/It's learning or text book.



Examination
Final written 3 hour exam accounts for 100% of the grade.

Specific information regarding student evaluation beyond the information given in the course description will be provided in class. This information may be relevant for requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one of several elements of the overall evaluation.


Examination code(s)
GRA 59182 written exam accounts for 100 % of the final grade in the course GRA 5918.

Examination support materials
A bilingual dictionary.
Exam aids at written examinations are explained under exam information in our web-based Student handbook. Please note use of calculator and dictionary. http://www.bi.edu/studenthandbook/examaids


Re-sit examination
It is only possible to retake an examination when the course is next taught.
The assessment in some courses is based on more than one exam code.
Where this is the case, you may retake only the assessed components of one of these exam codes.
Where this is not the case, all of the assessed components of the course must be retaken.
All retaken examinations will incur an additional fee.


Additional information
Honor Code
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honor code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honor code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.

Any violation of the honor code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honor code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honor code, please ask.