10.1.8 HB50 DEVELOPING BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND MANAGING CHANGE (4.5 – 30 ECTS Credits)

Objectives

The student will create a holistic view of company operations, of different functions and
processes. He/she will be able to take part in designing company strategy and action plans. The
student will understand the significance of information and control systems as part of company’s
total control and will understand the significance of innovations. The student will be able to recognise signals of change and to understand ways to influence the development of an organisation.

Objectives
The student will form an understanding of the strategic management in the business operations and will understand the principles of strategic positioning and will know how to use the basic tools of strategic analysis. The student can formulate strategic objectives and relate them with strategy implementation and operative plans.

Content
The Basic Principles of Strategic Thinking and Dimensions of Strategic Management / Corporate Visions / Strategy Positioning / Key Dimensions of Strategic Management Process: Strategic Analysis, Strategy Formulation, Implementation and Control / The Importance of Extensive Strategic Analysis for Setting Realistic Strategic Objectives / Best Practices to Carry out External and Internal Strategic Analysis / Case: Analysis, Formulation and Implementation / Financial Analysis / The Implementation will combine Strategic Objectives with Action Plans and Budgets

Method
Lectures, case, examination

Prerequisites
HB1600 Process Approach in Business

Semester
Term 1

Objectives
The student will be able to plan and/or implement a Development Project. The project deepens and applies the skills previously acquired and also reinforces the contacts with the business community.

The Development Project can be one of the following:
Research and Development Project
Development and Implementation of a Marketing Plan
Business Incubator Project
Restructuring / Revamping and Development Project
Serving Community project

Content
Will be agreed in accordance with each project.

Method
Project work: Planning, implementation, reporting

Prerequisites
2nd and 3rd year students

Mål
Att sätta sig in i teman som behandlar ekonomiska och samhälleliga förändringar samt utnyttja de centrala medierna på språkområdet.

Innehåll
Att diskutera orsaker till de ekonomiska och samhälleliga fenomenen och deras konsekvenser.

Bedömning
Muntliga presentationer

Material
Aktuella texter

Tidpunkt
3 året

Semester
Term 2

Objectives
The students will become familiar with English texts dealing with economic, social, cultural difference and change through comprehension of quality media from the English-speaking world.

Content
Discussing economic and social issues and their future implications and interrelations

Method
Workshop

Literature
Current reading material

Semester
Term 1

Mål
Att kunna utnyttja medier ändamålsenligt och producera kommunikativt material för intern och extern kommunikation speciellt i organisationsförändringar och kriser.

Innehåll
Intern och extern kommunikation, t.ex. personalmeddelande, pressrelease, resumé, rapport, muntligt referat, presskonferens

Bedömning
Muntliga presentationer, portfölj

Annat
Kursen kan inledas efter att HB1503 Företagskommunikation har avlagts.

Semester
Term 3

Objectives
The students will be able to communicate effectively using different media and to produce material for both internal and external communication, especially in times of change and crisis.

Content
Internal and external communication / Staff memos / Press releases / Reports / Written and Oral Summaries / Briefings / Press Conferences

Method
Active participation, producing documents and organising press conference, examination

Semester
Term 3

Objectives
The student will be able to gather and analyse information and draw conclusions. The student will be able to analyse the operations and the operating environment of the company and will know the principles of marketing research. The student will be able to acquire information by various methods and will be able to analyse information compiled by using statistical ADP-programmes.

Content
Sources of Information for Research and Analyses / Use of the Sources / Research Methods (e.g. the Main Principles of Quantitative and Qualitative Methods) / Phases of Research / Sampling Methods / Practical Measures / Analysing Information / Drawing Conclusions / Interpretation and Use of Information / Processing Information / Future Visions / Outline of Activities in Situations with Different Risks and Probabilities / Forecasts and Potential Scenarios/SPSS

Method
Lectures, group exercises, assignment, examination

Prerequisites
HB1500 Basic Principles in Business

Semester
Term 2 and 4

Objectives
The student will understand the importance of financial decisions and is able to plan the finance of a SME including capital structure decisions. He/she will be able to identify the possible sources of funding and understand the importance of funding through trading. The student will understand the money tied up in working capital and will be able to solve capital budgeting problems. The student will be able to understand the difference between financial and cash flow statements. The student is prepared to negotiate with financiers.

Content
Planning the Short and Long Term Finance of a Company / Securing the Necessary Funds for Operations (cash management) / Analysis and Comparison of Financial Instruments and Sources of Funding / Capital Structure / Financial Statements / Cash-flow Statements / Working Capital / Capital Budgeting and Financial Decisions, Negotiations with Financiers

Method
Lectures, assignments, examination

Semester
Term 1 and 3

Objectives
The student will understand the impact of organizational and marketing related settings for the success of product innovations.

Content
Creativity and Innovation / Business and Market Analysis / Innovation Process / Innovation Tools / Innovation Strategies / Evaluation of Innovations

Method
Lectures, workshops, case study

Semester
Term 1

Objectives
The student will form an understanding of different quality systems, of common quality management models and instruments and of developing a quality system.

Content
Definition of Quality / Quality as Competitive Factor /Quality Control / Quality Assurance / Total Quality Management (TQM) / ISO 9000 /Criteria for Quality Awards / Planning, Implementation and Maintenance of Quality System / Quality Manual / Auditing and Quality Certification

Method
Lectures, assignment, examination

Semester
Term 1

Objectives
The student will be able to apply main decision making techniques and will develop his/her problem solving skills and will be able to build and solve simple mathematical models.

Content
Problem Solving / Linear Optimization / Decision Making under Certainty/Uncertainty

Method
Lectures, Assignments

Semester
Term 2