General provisions

The course is offered within the Bachelor's Programme in Business and Economics and as freestanding course. The course syllabus was approved by the board of the Department of Business Studies on delegation from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Learning outcomes

This course provides a broad introduction to the disciplines of Business Studies and related economic subjects.

The main idea is that the course addresses key problems and issues surrounding marketing and organisation in the global economy. We use the concepts in a broad sense and marketing here refers to all the activities that are necessary for a product to reach the end consumer, and with the organisation that these activities must be organised, which always involves division of labour and coordination.

During the course the students are trained to independently and critically formulate and analyse economic problems, both verbally and in writing.

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

• understand and explain basic connections between the division of organisation and the marketing of the global economy
• understand, explain and use basic concepts and models pertaining to organisation of production distribution and purchases between companies, and within and between industries, regions and countries
• understand, explain and use basic marketing concepts and models, both consumer and business marketing
• identify and propose solutions to basic problems pertaining to the division of labour, coordination and management at both intra-organisational and inter-organisational levels
• identify and propose solutions to companies' marketing problems
• gather relevant information and critically evaluate various sources of information
• write basic scientific reports, present ideas verbally, and examine other people's work constructively on the basis of acquired knowledge
• use the gained expertise in a broader, historical, cultural, social, political and economic context.
• critically and independently reflect on the nature of the science and the knowledge production.

Content

The course is divided into several parallel tracks:

1. The first track focuses on the students to gain basic knowledge on the subject. We teach the basic context about organisation and marketing in the global economy, basic concepts and models on organisation of production, distribution and purchases between companies, and within and between industries, regions and countries, and basic concepts and models on consumer and business marketing.

2. The second track is a methodology track that mainly concerns issues regarding searching and gathering information, evaluating various sources, formal requirements for scientific texts, basic issues concerning how to analyse problems and questions, and the writing of scientific reports. This track seeks to enhance the students' knowledge and awareness of methodological issues and more, help the students to write a competent PM report.

3. The third track is an educational track that should promote broader perspectives. A university is a centre for generating and reflecting on knowledge. This means that the university not only has the task to train the student in specific skills but also to contribute to broader education. We will do this through a training track where we address the problems of the nature of science and knowledge production, and also try to deploy elements of knowledge subject matter in a broader context.

Instruction

Instruction takes place in the form of lectures, seminars, discussion groups, group work, advisory activities and library exercises.

Assessment

Course examination includes written and oral assignments as well as a written exam. Examination includes both individual and team work elements. Grades are determined based on an assessment of all parts of examination. Grading criteria are presented in the study guide provided at the start of the course.

The examination is divided into two parts:

1. Seminars and assignments (11 credits)
2. Written exam (4 credits)

For the whole course the grades VG (Pass with Distinction), G (Pass) and U (Fail) will be used. For the grade G on the whole course a G on both parts of the examination is required. In addition, for a VG on the whole course the grade VG on part 1 is required.

Any outstanding assignments or supplemental work on the part “Seminars and assignments” must be completed and handed in by the deadline specified in the study guide. Otherwise the student will get a U on the part of the course in question. This part of the course (including all assignments) will then have to be redone a following semester, provided there are available spots.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating and plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the University, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Other directives

The course substitutes/overlaps among others the following basic courses in Business Administration:

Marketing and Organisation A 2FE152, Business and Enterprise 2FE000, 2FE271, 2FE007, Business and Markets I 2FE778, Business and Markets I 2FE779, 2FE008, Business and Enterprise I 2FE015, Business and Enterprise II 2FE016, Markets and Organisations 2FE014, Business Enterprise, Networks and Technical Development 1TS010, Management, Organisation and Management Control 2FE820, 2FE824, Market Research 2FE821, Basic Marketing 1 2FE946, Organisation Studies I: The Individual, the Group and the Organisation 2FE947, Principles of Marketing 2FE913 och Fundamentals of Management 2FE918.