Curriculum 2013 – NYA14KJ (in English)

LAUREA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Degree Programme in Information Systems (Laurea Leppävaara, tiko), NYA14KJ

                                                                        1. year        2. year
OP                STUDIES                                                         55             35
231               DEVELOPING INNOVATION AND MANAGEMENT
00404             Network Management                                                              5
00416             Strategic Management                                            5
00646             Action Research                                                                 5
232               ADVANCED DATA NETWORK COMPETENCE
01340             Development of Work and Work Places (Case Study)                5
01341             Development Research (Solution Research)                        5
01350             Research Workshop                                               5               0
01349             Communication and Publishing in Research and                    5
                  Development
233               BUSINESS OPERATIONS
00664             Development of Knowledge-Intensive Business                                     5
00819             Growth Entrepreneurship                                         10
00403             Innovation Management Methods                                                   5
234               INFORMATION SYSTEMS
01342             Special questions of information systems, networks,                             5
                  security and services
235               INFORMATION SECURITY
01345             Security of Data Management                                                     5
00412             Designing Secure Data Networks                                                  5
01343             Special question of security management                                         5
236               DATA NETWORKS
01344             Special questions of data networks                                              5
125               ELECTIVE STUDIES
01404             Analysis of Research Data                                       2               3
01411             Information Systems Research                                                    5
01403             Research plan and data collection                               5
01346             R&D&I - PROJECT (I)                                             5
01347             R&D&I - PROJECT (II)                                                            5
01348             R&D&I - PROJECT (III)                                                           5
01043             Management of business networks                                 5
01044             Cross cultural issues in service development                    5
00715             Futures Studies Methods                                         5
237               THESIS
00415             Thesis                                                          10             20
                                                                                  55             35
231 DEVELOPING INNOVATION AND MANAGEMENT, 0 cr


00404 Network Management, 5 cr

The student is able to:
• establish, influence and manage collaborative networks
• develop core competences, interaction and leadership skills needed in networking
• analyze a network’s state, operations and objectives
• modell competence and processes in networked collaboration

Contents of the study unit:
• management and leadership in networks
• interaction in networks
• establishment and development of networks
• network dynamics
• multicultural networks

Study unit description:
Students will develop thei skills related to establishing, developing, analyzing, growing, and leading collaborative
networks and networked processes.


00416 Strategic Management, 5 cr

The student is able to:
• know the main principles and methods of strategic planning
• evaluate a company’s operating strategy and choices
• evaluate and situationally create alternative strategies for the achievement of a company’s objectives
• analyse the effects of strategy renewals on CRM strategies, competence strategies and internal business
processes, and initiate profitable, customer-oriented development functions
• listen to others and communicate with diverse target groups in writing, orally and visually
• analyse the operating culture of the market and participate in coordinating, developing and managing
organisations’ activities
• identify the socioeconomic links of organisations in their fields, know and can utilise social influencing
opportunities, can apply the principles of sustainable development to their own work, and are aware of their
organisations’ corporate social responsibility
• have general knowledge of the status and significance of their professional field in the international operating
environment
• promote creativity and dialogue in projects and organisations, provide constructive feedback to project members,
use different idea-generating methods in projects and motivate other project participants to work towards a shared
objective
• analyse and evaluate project operations and work methods, model the tacit knowledge of experts and employees,
and acquire information on an organisation and enrich it into a concrete plan
• know how to manage and, particularly, motivate, projects

Contents of the study unit:
• principles and methods of strategic planning
• radical strategy reforms
• strategies of the new economy
• effects of strategy renewals on CRM strategies, competence strategies and internal business processes

Study unit description:
The course familiarises students with the significance and methods of strategic planning and management. The
emphasis is on strategy reforms, and on looking for and producing strategic innovations in a rapidly changing
operating environment.


00646 Action Research, 5 cr
The student is able to:
• know the methodological approach in which the researcher is closely involved with the operations of the
organisation being studied, and actively develops its operations by identifying and solving problems and by working
towards certain improvement objectives
• know the methods in which the researcher investigates the emergence of the problem, gathers information on the
phenomenon, considers alternatives for its origins and development, and tests possible solutions for improving
operations, sometimes together with other members of the target organisation

Contents of the study unit:
• researcher’s active participation in the change and research process
• relationship between the researcher and research object, cooperation and shared participation
• practical orientation and focus on problems
• stages and progression of the research process

Study unit description:
The course looks at research methods, with which researchers can develop an organisation’s activities while
participating simultaneously as change agents. Action research is a process that aims at changing and improving
things. The main thing is to understand the process in a new way. Action research is an approach that is not
interested in how things are but above all in how they should be.


232 ADVANCED DATA NETWORK COMPETENCE, 0 cr


01340 Development of Work and Work Places (Case Study), 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   is able to self-evaluate their competences and expertise in a versatile and systematic way and define their
    development and learning needs in perspective of ICT
•   is equipped for life-long learning and understands and can self-directs their learning process by help of case
    study research analysis
•   is able to use a case study as systematic way in development work
•   is capable of collaboration in related research community
•   is capable to evaluation of case study as one possible research method




Contents of the study unit:
•  case study research analysis
•  actualisation of Learning by Developing
•  analysis of core competences
•  strategy-based development
•  collective activities in learning
•  using of research method
•  communication of research and development


Study unit description:
•   a real research and development scopes
•   theory binding of the research scopes
•   actualisation of case study
•   approaching of theoretical framework to master's thesis


Previous studies:
•   begining of studies
•   study of the research method
01341 Development Research (Solution Research), 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   Design Science Research
•   User-Centred Approach
•   Research in Development and Solutions
•   Networked Activities
•   Collaboration in Research and Development Networks


Contents of the study unit:
•  research is used in development
•  new knowledge generation in research
•  assessment and self-assessment as structure of learning enabler
•  design science research framework as one possible setting to master's thesis


Study unit description:
•   applied research approaches: design research and development research
•   Learning by Developing
•   core competences and research
•   personal study plans
•   research of methods
•   individuals in networked expertise
•   communication


Previous studies:
•   begining of studies



01350 Research Workshop, 5 cr

The student is able to:

•   applied services in context of security systems, data networks and information systems
•   strategy-based design
•   networked expertise in research and development
•   mind and impacts to regional, national, and global sense
•   communication and collaboration




Contents of the study unit:
•  production of novel knowledge in context of service, security, and information systems
•  strategy intent in development
•  related to the externally funded research projects


Study unit description:

•   shared knowledge in expertise growth
•   instance of regional development, research agenda, and issues of regional clusters
•   scopes and challenges are student-centred creations or inherited from regional research profiles
•   impacts to regional development and innovation system
Previous studies:
•   during methodological studies



01349 Communication and Publishing in Research and Development, 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   Communication and Publishing in Research and Development


Contents of the study unit:
•  Communication and Publishing in Research and Development


Study unit description:
•   skills of communication and publishing in research and development


Previous studies:
•   as part of all actualisations



233 BUSINESS OPERATIONS, 0 cr


00664 Development of Knowledge-Intensive Business, 5 cr

The student is able to:
understand the significance of a company’s core functions and processes as critical success factors and producers
of added value for customers, and can use the tools for directing and managing companies
• comprehensively examine a knowledge-intensive company’s operating environment, identifying its major change
drivers, and define different business models and earnings principles
• develop knowledge-intensive business processes, define the objectives of development in a desired direction, and
acquire, evaluate and use competence purposefully
• create a customer-oriented business plan that aims for profitability, examine the main processes of knowledge-
intensive business operations, and understand the significance of information technology as a part of an
organisation’s operations and development
• be responsive to change and work in cooperation with diverse operators, produce plans and new solutions, and
promote creativity with their actions

Contents of the study unit:
• knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS)
• innovation management
• knowledge management
• business information flows and processes
• knowledge and competence as business resources
• managing and developing intangible assets

Study unit description:
Students learn the issues of managing and developing knowledge-intensive business operations and related
business services (KIBS). The study unit emphasises an analytical and developmental approach to organisations’
knowledge and competence resources and the related processes. Students develop competence at both the
strategic and the operational levels in order to manage a knowledge-intensive organisation’s human, relationship-
related and structural assets.


00819 Growth Entrepreneurship, 10 cr
The student is able to:
• make concrete development plans for business ideas or operations
• analyse a company’s global operating field
• commercialise the products and services required to put a business idea into practice
• build a scalable business model
• organise the development of a business
• manage a company
Students are also strongly motivated for entrepreneurship and willing to assume responsibility for managing and
developing a financially viable business.

Contents of the study unit:
Students work on developing either a new business idea or existing operations, with the aim of achieving a financial
growth trend. The object of development is a genuine business (or business opportunity), not a theoretical exercise.
The study unit is shared by all Laurea Mas-ter’s degree programmes.

Study unit description:
Students are encouraged (but not forced) to work in groups to build their business operations; i.e. several students
can work on one business. In addition to guidance from Laurea lecturers, students can make use of Laurea’s
investment services and other public or private investment or consulting services (such as TEKES programmes or
Enterprise Agency advice).

This 10-credit study unit aiming at growth entrepreneurship is designed to fit into students’ personal study plans
according to their professional aims. With regard to growth entrepre-neurship targets, the study unit is organised by
Principal Lecturer Vesa Taatila, vesa.taatila@laurea.fi, who also handles enrolments. The content of the necessary
expertise in the field is provided in the students' Master's degree programmes. The study unit continues through the
academic year.


00403 Innovation Management Methods, 5 cr

The student is able to:
• participate innovatively in development networks and leading teams’ development activities in a proactive, target-
oriented way
• generate new ideas and implement them in a networked environment
• manage a process aimed at refining an innovation idea

Contents of the study unit:
• concept of innovation
• incremental and radical innovation
• the innovation process
• goods, service and process innovation, social innovation
• commercialising innovations
• leadership and organisation to support innovativeness

Study unit description:
The competence gained in the study unit relates to participating innovatively in development networks and leading
teams’ development activities in a proactive, target-oriented way. Core competences are creating new ideas and
their practical implementation in a network environ-ment. Competence is reflected concretely in the management of
a project that aims to refine an innovation idea.


234 INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 0 cr


01342 Special questions of information systems, networks, security and services, 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   Toimia asiantuntijayhteisössä tutkimus- ja kehitystoiminnan toteuttajana sekä asiantuntijana.
•   Käyttää tutkimusta osana kehitystoimintaa.
Contents of the study unit:
•  Vaihtelevat vuosittain ja erityiskysymyksittäin.


Study unit description:
•   Perehdytään ajankohtaiseen erityiskysymykseen.
•   Kohteet ja aihealueet ovat tietojärjestelmiin, tietoturvallisuuteen tai tietoverkkoihin liittyviä erityiskysymyksiä.


Previous studies:
•   Menetelmäopinnot.
•   Suorittaminen sovitaan ohjaajan kanssa yksilöllisesti tai ryhminä.



235 INFORMATION SECURITY, 0 cr


01345 Security of Data Management, 5 cr

The student is able to:

•   viewpoints of security in development of information systems
•   strategy-based design
•   development of user-centred information systems in perspective of security
•   applied new technology
•   collaboration
•   self-assessment


Contents of the study unit:
•  shared expertise
•  viewpoints of regional research agenda and ICT-cluster




Study unit description:
•   shares challenges related to the regional ICT-cluster
•   novel core competences


Previous studies:
•   research methods (parallel)
•   research workshop (parallel)



00412 Designing Secure Data Networks, 5 cr

The student is able to:
Student will know the principles of designing secure data networks, independently of manufacturers.
Secure data networks will become even more important in future, as networks play increasingly critical roles in
businesses and society as a whole, and because attacks and hacking against networks constitute an unfortunate
yet daily threat.

Contents of the study unit:
• reach of information networks
• purpose of data protection
• data protection requirements for systems
• threats for information network
• general threats, viruses, trojans, malware, attacks and abuse
• data protection policies and their implementation
• general network data protection design principles
• managing data protection
• most common data protection techniques and their application to different parts of a network
• user and equipment authentication, routers and their access management, switch solutions and data protection,
firewalls, VPN solutions, IDS/IPS sys-tems, fighting malware, filtering, data protection for mobile devices
• monitoring and controlling data protection
• gathering and analysing data
• reacting to data protection problems

Study unit description:
Students analyse several examples to learn to design safe information net-works consisting of several
manufacturers’ equipment, to keep security solutions from leaning too heavily on any one manufacturer.

Previous studies:
Good basic knowledge of information networks or information security. Par-ticularly suitable for students taking the
Network Design and/or Data Network Security Competence study units.


01343 Special question of security management, 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   Toimia asiantuntijayhteisössä tutkimus- ja kehitystoiminnan toteuttajana sekä asiantuntijana.
•   Käyttää tutkimusta osana kehitystoimintaa tietoturvallisuuden alueella.


Contents of the study unit:
•  the research scopes are varying in every actualisation


Study unit description:
•   research of current topic
•   information systems, security of data networks, information security, and special themes


Previous studies:
•   research methods



236 DATA NETWORKS, 0 cr


01344 Special questions of data networks, 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   activity to research community
•   research is used as development effort


Contents of the study unit:
•  special cases and scopes in the every actualisation


Study unit description:
•   the focus of study is on questions of information networks
Previous studies:
•   research methods



125 ELECTIVE STUDIES, 0 cr

Description:
Students use elective studies to deepen and broaden their competence in various themes and ge-neric
competences. Students should choose study units to align the content of their studies with their own personal
interests and career objectives.

Content:
Each curriculum contains a theme consisting of elective studies. In the students’ personal study plans, the theme
should be made up of the study units chosen by the student from Laurea’s language studies, Laurea’s shared
studies or another degree programme’s curriculum. Any studies completed at another higher education institution
(university of applied sciences, university, Online University of Applied Sciences, foreign institution) that cannot be
recognised for the degree programme but that the student wishes to include in the degree should be classified
under this theme. The number of credits from elective studies can be set separately for each degree programme,
tak-ing into account recommendations for the field of study. The aim is to have at least 15 cr of elective studies in
each degree programme


01404 Analysis of Research Data, 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   analysoida ja arvioida tutkimussuunnitelmia ja kehitysesityksiä tutkimuksen- ja kehitystyön kriteerein
•   hahmottaa vaihtoehtoja omaan tutkimus- ja kehitystyöhön liittyvien aineistojen analysointiin ja
    analysointivaiheisiin
•   kuvata alustavasti analyysin vaiheet ja analysointipolku: miten tietoaineistosta ja teoreettisesta viitekehyksestä
    päästään tuloksiin
•   suunnitella analyysin aikataulu ja tarvittava opintopolku
•   esitellä analyysin rakennetta ja sisältöä


Contents of the study unit:
•  aineiston analysoinnin suunnittelu ja tietoaineiston täydentäminen
•  tutkimus- ja kehitystyöhön liittyvä tutkimusaineiston analysointivaiheet ja tutkimusaineiston alustava analysointi
•  raportin suunnittelu ja toteutuksen valmistelu
•  tutkimuksellinen kirjoittaminen
•  esityksen laatiminen
•  tutkimuksen laatutarkastelu


Study unit description:
Kohti analyyttistä tutkivaa ja kehittävää työtapaa. Opintojakso edistää opiskelijaa hahmottamaan tutkimustiedon
merkitystä työssään ja tietojärjestelmien kehittämisessä sekä tutkimusopintojen merkitystä osana opintojen
kokonaisuutta. Hän osaa käyttää tietovarantoa etsiessään lähteitä ja tutkimusaineistoa omaa työtään varten ja
harjaantuu hyödyntämään tiedonhaussa erityyppisiä tiedonhakutekniikoita.

Previous studies:
Tutkimussuunnitelma ja tutkimusaineisto (01403) tai vastaavat tiedot.


01411 Information Systems Research, 5 cr
The student is able to:
•   analysoida ja arvioida tietojärjestelmiin liittyviä tutkimussuunnitelmia ja kehitysesityksiä tutkimuksen- ja
    kehitystyön kriteerein
•   hahmottaa vaihtoehtoja omaan tutkimus- ja kehitystyöhön liittyvien aineistojen metodologisiin kysymyksiin
    tietojärjestelmätutkimuksen näkökulmasta
•   kuvata alustavasti analyysin vaiheet ja analysointipolku: miten tietoaineistosta ja teoreettisesta viitekehyksestä
    päästään tuloksiin
•   suunnitella tietojärjestelmätutkimuksen aikataulu ja tarvittava opintopolku
•   perustella metodologisia valintoja ja tietojärjestelmätutkimuksen sisältöä


Contents of the study unit:
•  metodologinen suunnittelu ja tietoaineiston kerääminen
•  koostetaan tutkimus- ja kehitystyöhön liittyvä teoriakehys
•  raportin suunnittelu ja toteutuksen valmistelu
•  tutkimuksellinen kirjoittaminen
•  metodologisen esityksen laatiminen
•  tietojärjestelmätutkimuksen laatutarkastelu


Study unit description:
Kohti analyyttistä tutkivaa ja kehittävää työtapaa. Opintojakso edistää opiskelijaa hahmottamaan
tietojärjestelmätutkimuksen merkitystä työssään ja tietojärjestelmien kehittämisessä sekä tutkimusopintojen
merkitystä osana opintojen kokonaisuutta. Hän osaa käyttää tietovarantoa etsiessään lähteitä ja tutkimusaineistoa
omaa työtään varten ja harjaantuu hyödyntämään tiedonhaussa erityyppisiä tiedonhakutekniikoita.

Previous studies:
01403 tai vastaavat tiedot.


01403 Research plan and data collection, 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   suunnitella tutkimuksen toteutusta ja tutkimusaineistojen rakenteita
•   suunnitella ja toteuttaa tiedon keräämistä työn ja työelämän kehittämistä ja tutkimusta varten
•   arvioida tutkimus- ja kehitystoimintaan liittyviä aineistoja, hakemuksia ja raportteja
•   etsiä valitsemastaan aiheesta keskeistä aineistoa
•   etsiä valitsemaansa aiheeseen liittyviä teoreettisia näkökulmia
•   määritellä tutkimuksen peruskäsitteistöä
•   viestiä vaikuttavasti sekä kirjallisesti että visuaalisesti


Contents of the study unit:
•  tutkimus- ja kehitystyön suunnittelu
•  aineiston suunnittelu ja kerääminen
•  raportin suunnittelu ja toteutuksen valmistelu
•  tutkimuksellinen kirjoittaminen
•  esityksen laatiminen
•  tiedotteen laatiminen
•  asiantuntijan viestintätaidot


Study unit description:
Kohti kestävää työn ja työelämän kehittämistä tiedon keräämisen ja tutkimussuunnitelman avulla. Opintojaksolla
opiskelija perehtyy tutkimussuunnitelman rakenteisiin ja toteutukseen sekä tutkimusaineiston ja referenssien
keräämiseen. Opintojakson suoritus edistää opinnäytetyön tekemistä.

Previous studies:
Ei vaadita edeltäviä opintoja.
01346 R&D&I - PROJECT (I), 5 cr

The student is able to:

•   applied research of new technologies, information systems and services
•   development of security systems and secure information systems
•   research of special theme, such as navigation applications
•   strategy intent in research and development
•   activities of international research community
•   international and regional viewpoints in development
•   shared knowledge in practice




Contents of the study unit:
•  professional growing and shared experiences
•  studies are based on the strategic profiles of regional innovation system


Study unit description:
•   regional development, cluster development and and entrepreneurship activities


Previous studies:
•   methods



01347 R&D&I - PROJECT (II), 5 cr

The student is able to:
•   continuum of the 01346


Contents of the study unit:
•  continuum of the 01346


Study unit description:
•   continuum of the 01346


Previous studies:
•   methods



01348 R&D&I - PROJECT (III), 5 cr

The student is able to:
continuum of the 01347

Contents of the study unit:
continuum of the 01347

Study unit description:
continuum of the 01347
Previous studies:
methods


01043 Management of business networks, 5 cr

The student is able to:
 • Evaluate the historical aspects of the network theories, key principles, and contexts of application, organizational
structures, and their impact on managing them
 • Develop ‘shared value’ and principles that can be applied across the business
 • Come up with creative (radical) ideas in developing, leading ,and managing business within networks
 • Outline a ‘good practice’ approach to management of business network
 • Evaluate and improve organization’s network context


Contents of the study unit:
• Network theories, models, and principles
• Types of networks, systems of networks
• Networked society, service business in networked context
• Management and beyond in leading networked organizations
• Complexity science and service science approaches towards the networks
• Key principles and dynamics in network management
• Interaction and action in networks, the actors in networks
• Development of business within networks

Study unit description:
 The aim of the study unit is to enhance the students’ business and leadership competences in network context.
Service systems are typically made up of number of firms collaborating, i.e. networks. This study unit is looking in
the development of networked society in general and more specifically, how organizational forms and types, and
relationships have transformed. The history of network theories and models are analyzed. This study unit moves
further in thinking of the future of networks and their management. This course takes the management perspective
on networks. How to manage different networks and what are the managerial challenges. Students learn the
historical development of networks and their management..Further, they will learn to interact within the network. The
focus is inter-organizational networks, not on intra-organizational networks.



01044 Cross cultural issues in service development, 5 cr

The student is able to:
• identify and deeply understand cross-cultural issues related to service development
• plan and implement intercultural strategies and processes
• manage multicultural teams and projects
• support and develop frontline personnel's intercultural communication competences
• involve diverse customers in the service design processes.


Contents of the study unit:
• Understanding and managing diversity based on chosen cultural theories
• Cross-cultural knowledge in strategic service development (back office)
• Intercultural competences in service business (front office)

Study unit description:
 Services are often offered globally and to customers and end-users from different cultures. Deep understanding of
cultural needs and preferences are a prerequisite for effective service design.
 This study unit offers understanding of the theoretical basis of cross-cultural and intercultural perspectives and
enables the student to acquire appropriate knowledge and skills for service design.
00715 Futures Studies Methods, 5 cr

The student is able to:
• use information gathering and management to increase individuals’ or organisations’ knowledge and
understanding of the organisation’s current status and operating environment, to create foundations on which to
base decisions and the identification of potential benefits, and to form a basis for measuring change.
• use futures research to identify megatrends and weak signals in the operating environment, point out development
directions for the sector, and evaluate the effects of recognised change drivers and change processes on the sector
or business cluster in question

Contents of the study unit:
• information gathering entity
• futures research entity

Study unit description:
The course produces skills in investigating the possible, desirable and probable futures of a target organisation. It
also increases competence in the approaches through which target organisations can be directed towards the
desired future


237 THESIS, 0 cr


00415 Thesis, 30 cr