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 plan, group assignment, self and peer assessments

International connections

Individual work, self and peer assessments
- discussions
- presentations

Student workload

Pre-assignment
Group assignment
Preliminary thesis plan with introductions, aim, research questions and methods, literature review, conclusion, schedule, reference list
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

Pre-assignment: pass / fail
Group assignment: 1-5, 30 %
Thesis plan: 1-5, 60 %
Peer assessments: satisfactory, good, excellent: 10 %
Self assessment: pass
Activity

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