Study Guide

Objective

After completing the course, the student is able to:
-approach the complex development challenges of organization, economy, and technology by systems thinking
-formulate research problem and research questions for developmental challenges
-search, summarize, and refer to the previous relevant research of the discipline
-apply the methods and tools for acquiring qualitative and quantitative information required in development
-analyse, refine and present the collected information to support decision-making
-evaluate the validity, reliability, and ethics of the information and research
-plan, initiate, and execute the necessary development procedures (thesis project)
-apply the methods and tools on continuous development

Content

-Description of complexity, Cynefin framework
-Technical, social, and economic systems
-Systems analysis and description
-Triangulation
-Knowledge based development: data collection methods
-Knowledge based development: analysing data and presenting knowledge
-Research ethics
-Modelling and developing operations as a system

Materials

Relevant literature: books, articles - own choice
Eriksson, P. & Kovalainen, A. 2008.Qualitative Methods in Business Research. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Teaching methods

Individual work, peer assessments,
- acquaintance of relevant methods:
scientific publications, interviews, observations, benchmark...
- collaboration with organizations and companies
- planning of the upcoming thesis

Exam schedules

Thesis plans, self and peer assessments

International connections

Individual work, self and peer assessments
- discussions
- presentations

Student workload

Thesis: a preliminary and a final plan with aim, research questions and methods, literature review
Self and peer assessments

Content scheduling

Research methods:
Qualitative and quantitative methods
Preparation for the Master’s thesis
Implementation plan:
Content:
- different types of approaches
- research principles
- different research methods
- research and development planning
- data collection - quantitative and or qualitative, mixed; data analysis
- quality issues and ethics in the research, data management, IPR and GDPR
- literature search, evaluation and use of the appropriate research methods for projects and master's thesis

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation of the assignments and participation activity
Self and peer assessments

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

No participation to the contact lessons, not submitted assignments

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Participation to the contact days, submitted assignments

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Active participation to the contact days, submitted assignments with good outcomes

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Very active participation to the contact days, submitted assignments with excellent outcomes by the deadline