Semester program in Business Administration, Leadership and Entrepreneurship

In the course we will initially discuss what characterizes the computer community and the digital economy. Next, we will take a closer look at different digital information systems, and how these can be exploited by today's businesses. The students will learn a modelling technique to map and analyze work processes with a view to realizing business gains. 

Topics:  

• The digital community and the digital economy 
• Business systems 
• Digitalization and digital devices 
• Digital business operations 
• Development and acquisition of digital solutions 
• Operation of digital information systems 
• Process modelling and process management 
• Methods and techniques for the realization of organizational gains 
• Digital literacy and the value of personal data for businesses and citizens 
• Inclusion, universal design and digital exclusion  
• Privacy, data security and vulnerability 

This is a course where the students learn practical methods for business start-up. The students will work on own or other business ideas, develop a business plan, and form realistic strategies and plans for the start-up process. 

Key themes in entrepreneurship such as business idea generation, product and service development, presentation skills and pitching, marketing in an entrepreneurial context, budgeting, financing, ethics and sustainability of new businesses, the entrepreneurial process, and implementation strategies.  

The course is built up around the development of a business and start-up plan. 

The course gives bachelor students an introduction to public administration and management with particular focus on how innovation processes are carried out in the public sector in collaboration between public and private actors. Public incentives in Norway and Europe for innovation and entrepreneurship are highlighted. The course contributes with an understanding of how the private sector can cooperate constructively with the public sector. Likewise, the course will give bachelor level students a basis for understanding and working in different parts of the public sector.   

Topics:  

• forms of organisation in the public sector 
• collaborative governance, co-creation and other public-private partnerships 
• innovation in the public sector 
• public innovation incentives in Norway and Europe 
• New Public Management 
• New Public Governance 
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP's)  

The course gives students a theoretical and practical introduction to organization development (OD) with special focus on the operational components of OD, such as diagnosis and intervention. Key topics include different types of resistance to change, organizational learning as a foundation for OD, organizational development consultant as a key player in the OD process, different leadership styles for managing OD processes, and power and politics in OD processes. The course will also focus on how to lead processes of change in both commercial and not-for-profit organizations. 

Topics: 

• Definitions of OD   
• Basic assumptions and values associated with OD    
• Leadership of OD processes with special emphasis on the action research model for planning, implementing and evaluating the OD process   
• The operational components in processes of change   
• Diagnostic methodologies for organizations    
• Intervention techniques to achieve change/improvement through value-adding processes   
• Contributors to the OD process and their roles within the process   
• External consultants as designers of OD processes   
• Barriers and critical success factors in OD processes  
• Measurement and evaluation of OD processes  
• Power and politics in OD processes  
• The importance of organizational learning in OD processes  
• Barriers to organizational learning   
• Establishing a learning organization   
• The dark side of leadership: consequences for OD  

Topics:  

Characteristics of the digital customer (B2C and B2B)  

• The roles of digital marketing in the marketing mix 
• Outbound and inbound digital marketing 
• Home page design: Optimization of content and structure 
• How to optimize conversion rates, A/B testing 
• How to stimulate paid and organic traffic 
• Search-engine optimization and search-engine advertising 
• How to create brand awareness and interest in digital channels  
• Effective use of social media 
• Effective use of influencers 
• How to optimally combine online and offline channels 
• Using Google Analytics to optimize and learn from online strategies 
• Using HubSpot to design effective CRM systems and online campaigns