Course syllabus
Autumn 2021
Course syllabus, Autumn 2021
Title
Urban Studies: Strategic Management and Service Innovation
Swedish title
Urbana studier: Strategic Management och tjänsteinnovation
Course code
US720E
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus valid from
2021-08-30
Syllabus approval date
2021-08-23
Level
Advanced level
Entry requirements
Bachelor´s degree consisting of 180 credits. The equivalent of English B/English 6 in Swedish secondary school.
Main field
Urban Studies
Progression level
A1N / Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsProgression level in relation to degree requirements
The course forms part of the main field study Urban Studies second-cycle level 91-120 credits
Course objectives
The purpose of the course is for the students to acquire knowledge and ability to apply strategic governance and development of businesses and organizations in order to handle urban challenges. The course provides broad knowledge of service innovation that can be used when urban and technological challenges changes the circumstances in which stakeholders conduct business and promote sustainable societal development. Technology both challenge and endorse different actors in society to create business and manage solutions that can generate value for society and business. At the same time, there is a need for critical approach to technological development and awareness of both positive and negative effects on cities and societies.
Course contents
The course is structured in two modules:
1. Strategic Management (7,5 credits)
The aim of this module is for the students to have the competence to develop organization strategic goals and visions, based on deepened theoretical knowledge, practices and models. Students should be able to discuss and develop theories and practices of strategy formulation and implementation in a changing society.
2. Service Innovation (7,5 credits)
The module aim for students to acquire a broad understanding of the role of innovation in addressing the challenges of sustainable urban development. Students will attain a broad knowledge of and ability to discuss and develop theories, methods and processes for creative problem solving and service innovation within urban and social innovation as well as new technology (e.g. digitalization).
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course, the student should be able to:
- show that they have gained knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles and theories in Strategic formulation and Strategic implementation
- identify, analyse and critically assess different cases and suggest how to address problems based on scientific research and practise within Strategic Management
- show that they have gained knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles and theories in the field of Innovation that can have an impact on urban change and challenges
- reflect and critically apply knowledge of urban innovation methods and processes that can influence urban changes and challenges
- independently and critically search for, assess and develop scientific knowledge within Strategic Management and Service Innovation
- communicate in writing and orally results of an independently conducted study.
Learning activities
Lectures, seminars, workshops, project work, written assignments and presentations.
Assessment
Module 1
Active participation in seminars and written assignments (2,5 credits) (grading scale UG) (learning outcomes 1-2 and 5)
Written examination (5 credits) (grading scale UA) (learning outcomes 1-2 and 5)
Module 2
Active participation in seminars and written assignments (2,5 credits) (grading scale UG) (learning outcomes 3-6)
Presentation and hand-in of independently written project work (5 credits) (grading scale UA) (learning outcomes 3-6)
Information about final course grade will be available in course documentation provided when the course starts.
Course literature and other study material
- Bloomberg Philanthropies. (2014). Transform Your City Through Innovation: The Innovation Delivery Model for Making it Happen. Bloomberg Philanthropies. (provided electronically)
- Whittington, R. (latest edition). What is strategy- and does it matter? Cengage Learning EMEA, Andover
- Whittington, R., Regnér, P., Angwin, D., Johnson, G. & Scholes, K. (latest edition). Exploring Strategy, Text and Cases. Pearson, London.
Complementary scientific articles will be provided electronically. Course literature correspond to about 1500 pages in total.
Course evaluation
The University provides students participating in or upon completion of a course with the opportunity to relay their experiences of and opinions on the course through a course evaluation which is administered by the University. The University compiles and summarizes the course evaluations and informs students of the results and any decisions relating to measures made on the basis of the course evaluations. Results are made available to students (HF 1:14)
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students are offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.
Additional information
Language of instruction: English
This syllabus is a translation from Swedish.