Management
The course integrates traditional management theories with newer management perspectives necessary for navigating complex and continuously changing environments. The course illuminates the internal management of organizations and their external relationships with the wider environment. The subject is built upon a progressive and critical philosophy: that the modern profession of management is fundamentally in service to society and the planet. Therefore, a central focus of the course is the development of professional management practice. Organizational complexity is discussed through a deep dive into key management practices such as organizing, decision-making, strategizing, and communication. The course identifies the challenges arising in the transition from traditional (outdated) practices to innovative and future practices necessary for solving the major social and environmental problems of our time. This involves a thorough discussion of new management perspectives and tools within ethics, responsibility, sustainability, change, and crisis management.
To achieve the course learning outcomes, student-active and collaborative working methods are emphasized to promote Transformative Learning Objectives (TLOs). This focuses on developing competencies like Responsible Agency, Applied Problem-Solving, and Relations-oriented and Co-creative Practice. Through these methods, students are trained in critical reflection and the mutual exchange of viewpoints.
It is possible to apply for admission to the course as a single course. There are reservations about the available capacity on the course. The applicant must meet the current admission requirements for the Bachelor's degree in economics and management.
Learning outcomes:
The student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Explain the importance of and manager responsibility in taking proper decisions on behalf of organizations and their stakeholders, both social and non-social.
- Describe traditional management theories including scientific and administrative management theories, behaviorism, and organizational environment theory.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the newer management perspectives and concepts within ethics, responsibility, sustainability, change and crisis management.
- Identify social, environmental and economic challenges and issues related to management.
- Outline principles of leadership at the individual, group, organizational, inter-organizational and community levels.
Skills:
- Analyze management issues in practical examples and cases, and propose viable solutions.
- Apply relevant theories to interpret practice-relevant issues.
- Find, evaluate, and correctly reference relevant professional literature to support management practices.
- Assess organizational environments in practical examples and recommend management perspectives that enhance organizational outcomes, both individually and in teams.
- Can select and use appropriate management tools to navigate in internal and external organizational environments in practical examples provided by guest lecturers and cases.
General competence:
- Integrate relevant management theories and tools to contextualize and manage complex management issues and situations.
- Communicate central subject matter, including theories, problems, and solutions, effectively in writing, orally, and through digital interactions.
- Demonstrate critical reflection on management practices and theories.
- Engage in discussions with peers to exchange views and contribute to the development of good management practices.
- Plan and execute tasks and assignments related to professional management issues, both independently and in groups.
- Utilize English proficiency to discuss and analyze management topics in an international context.
The course utilizes a student-active learning model that promotes Transformative Learning Objectives (TLOs), and therefore requires thorough preparation from students before each session. The learning activities are designed to build competence in critical reflection, applied problem-solving, and collaboration (relations-oriented and co-creative practice):
- Preparation: Students are expected to read the course literature and familiarize themselves with digital resources (available on Canvas) prior to instruction. This is a prerequisite for maximizing the benefit of the active hours.
- Collaborative Learning Forms: The instruction time is dedicated to activity and discussion. This is led by a student group responsible for the session, with the instructor's guidance. Students are trained in analyzing management issues and exchanging viewpoints through peer-to-peer exercises (in pairs and small groups) and group discussions. This practice supports the collaborative philosophy of the course.
- Academic Input and Practical Anchoring: Lectures, including academic input and guest lectures from academics and practitioners, are used to contextualize the theory and link it directly to professional management practice and current societal challenges.
- Digital Tools: The use of digital learning tools like Learnlab for sharing visualizations, engaging in immediate exchange of ideas, and summarizing in plenary.
Compound assessment, with the grading scale A-F.
- The course is built on the peer-teaching model. It requires mandatory attendance at a minimum of four peer-teaching sessions, including the session for which your student group is responsible (Assignment 1). This specific session is considered equally important to the exam date, given that the student group receives a grade based on the group’s performance.
Partial Assessments (Contributes 100% of the final grade):
Portfolio (Group) - Contributes 50% of the final grade, graded A-F:
- Assignment 1: Peer-teaching, oral in a group, 25% of final grade, A-F.
- Assignment 2: Applied Management Case, written in the same group, 25% of final grade, A-F.
- Written School Exam (4 hours, individual) - Contributes 50% of the final grade, A-F.
Simple calculator. Two bilingual paper dictionaries are allowed.
Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating. Students must otherwise comply with Nord University's guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in studies.
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
OR225E - Management - 7.5 credits
OR127E - Organisation and Management - 7.5 credits
EK225E-1 - Strategy, Organization and Marketing - 4 credits
ØKO141 - Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management - 2.5 credits
ØKO1421 - Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurship - 2.5 credits
LED6002 - Management in Four Perspectives - 5 credits