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Cursus: ECB1SO
ECB1SO
Strategy and Organisation
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeECB1SO
Studiepunten (EC)7,5
Inhoud
Please note the prerequisites for this course, you are expected to have knowledge of certain courses.

Cannot be combined with Business Organisation given at LUISS and Strategy & Organisation level 2 (ECB2SO). 

This course is a general introduction to theories, issues and special topics from the areas of corporate strategy, organisational economics and corporate governance. The focus is on business firms rather than other organisations, although most materials can be generalised. As such it is meant to provide participants with a managerial view on decision making in the boardrooms of large and very large firms (and occasionally small and medium sized enterprises). 
Since such decision-making cannot be completely isolated from aspects of financial management, the course will integrate some financial issues as well. Thus, the course will focus on boundary issues (e.g., issues relating to diversification and integration as well as off-balance structures), industry analysis, competitive positioning, stakeholder value theory, organisational culture, and organisational structures. The course is full of real-world examples and cases, covered in the course’s main textbook and sometimes introduced during lectures.   
 
Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
  • Put labels on current theories of strategy, organisation and governance, indicating their a priori assumptions, benefits and dangers;
  • Understand the basics of the behaviour of firms, particularly large, quoted firms;
  • Develop ideas concerning the ways in which business performance could be enhanced through application of these theories studied in practice.
Academic skills
This course focuses on the following academic skills:
  • Social responsibility (main academic skill within the course)
    • Being able to perform in a team for a well-designed task or project
    Academic reasoning
    • Thinking conceptually, thinking in terms of theory.
    • Asking critical questions, having a curiosity-driven and critical attitude. 
    • Analysing questions from different perspectives. 
    • Identifying links between problems. 
  • Academic research
    • Being able to draw clear and correct conclusions. 
Format 
The format consists of between one and two regular lectures per week that follow the textbook content, guest lectures, and between one and two tutorial classes per week in which case materials and questions concerning textbook are discussed. Active tutorial participation and contribution to class discussions is critical for learning in this course. Before the exam, a question and answer session will be organised to help preparation. 

The course makes use of an online learning environment provided by Pearson Publishers. Students are expected to familiarise themselvs with these online learning environments during the first week of the course.
 
Assessment method
Student performance will be tested by a team assignment (counting for 40% of the final grade) and an individual final exam (counting for 50% of the final grade) consisting of multiple choice (40%) and essay questions (60% of the final exam). The exam content is based on the textbook chapters covered during the regular lectures, but also on additional content presented during guest lectures and tutorials.

In addition to the team assignment and the exam, a participation grade will be awarded on the basis of the student’s contributions through class preparation, class activities, active listening and discussion pertaining to the content topics of the assigned readings, cases and/or other materials. The participation grade accounts for 10% of the final grade.   

Effort requirements
Attendance at 80% of the tutorials is required in order to pass the effort requirement. In addition, attendance at all guest lectures and the first lecture of the course is mandatory. Please note that guest lectures may be scheduled next to the regular course lectures (but always within the timeslot of the course). Participation in the 'Question & Answer' sessions is not compulsory. 

Course repeaters 
Students who signed up for the course in previous years and failed the course (and did not sign off in time), will participate in the course repeaters programme.
With respect to the teaching format, this implies that course repeaters:
  • Cannot follow the regular tutorials;
  • Will have the possibility to follow a Q&A session;
  • Do not have effort requirements;
  • Can use the electronic learning environment (if purchased an access code). 
With respect to the assessment method, this implies that course repeaters:
  • Have an endterm of 100%;
  • Have a possibility for a supplementary or replacement exam when the unrounded final grade is at least equal to 4.
Language of instruction 
English
 
Students are expected to have knowledge of:
  • Financial Accounting and External Accountability (ECB1IBE)
  • Microeconomics, Institutions and Welfare (ECB1MI)
Courses that build on Strategy & Organisation:
  • Strategy and Management (ECB3SM)
  • Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ECB3CEI)
  • Marketing (ECB2MKT)
Course materials
Within the course we make use of a custom book: Introduction to Strategy and Organization, Utrecht University School of Economics, Compiled by J.P.C. Rigtering, ISBN 9781784481896 (the ISBN refers to the book plus online learning materials). The book is for sale at the study association ECU’92. The price will be approximately € 75,-. Students are strongly advised to purchase the book before the start of the course. The book includes access to all online learning environments for this particular course.
Please note that second hand copies of the book NO LONGER include access to the online learning environments. Access codes to the Pearson online learning environment CANNOT be purchased separately for this course!

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