General provisions

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

The course aims to provide an understanding of the central problems and issues concerning companies and enterprise, and prepare the students for advanced studies in business administration. The students will be taught to independently and critically formulate and analyse business administration problems. The course covers two subject areas: marketing and organisation.

Marketing

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• describe the fundamental concepts and models within consumer, service and industrial marketing
• describe and discuss the external factors which influence a company’s business
• describe how a company’s strategic and long-term planning works
• describe how companies choose their target group in order to direct their offer towards them
• describe and compare differently tactical marketing tools
• compare the marketing work in product and service companies respectively
• discuss marketing situation in industrial markets

Organisation

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• describe the fundamental concepts concerning organisational structure and the organisation
• compare various forms of organisational structure
• explain the governing problems which arise when organisations grow and become more complex
• describe and distinguish between various types of organisations
• identify and suggest solutions for fundamental problems concerning the division of work and coordination
• analyse and suggest solutions for fundamental problems concerning control of larger organisations
• analyse and suggest solutions for fundamental problems concerning choice of organisational form

Content

This is a basic course in Business Studies which aims to give the students a broad introduction to marketing and organisation.

Within marketing, the course covers marketing for consumer, service, and industrial markets. Within consumer marketing the course covers consumers, competition and the surrounding environment as well as the companies' strategic and tactical marketing planning.

Within service marketing, the marketing problems which are related to the characteristics of services are discussed, and within industrial marketing, the relationship oriented perspective is contrasted with a transaction oriented perspective.

Within organisation different degrees of organisational structure are discussed. Fundamental issues such as the division and coordination of work are dealt with as well as the management problems which arise when organisations grow. Various types of organisations are described and discussed.

Instruction

The language of instruction is Swedish. The teaching is entirely web-based and is based on independent study. Information about different activities, such as the work required and the dates for the submission of papers and other assignments, is available on the course’s website. The course does not require any physical attendance. The communication between the participants and teachers occurs primarily via the website. This requires that the participants have access to a computer with Internet access and other appropriate equipment. Further, this requires that the participants have adequate knowledge in using computer equipment.

Assessment

The final grade for the course may be Failed (U), Passed (G) or Passed with distinction (VG). Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system.

The course examination consists of various parts such as written tests, assignments, group work and computer-based tests. The final grade is determined based on an assessment of all the parts of the examination. More detailed information about how the assessment is made is provided in the course instruction. For those who have not achieved enough assessment units to pass the course or those who are seeking a grade of Passed with distinction (VG), a final written exam will be arranged. The grade Passed with distinction can only be obtained the same term in which the student is registered for the first time. Course work that is handed in after deadline will only be graded under special circumstances.

In addition, any remaining assignments and supplemental work must be completed and handed in within two weeks after the end of the course; otherwise, the entire course (all assignments included) must be redone the following semester, provided there is space in the course.

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 expel the student from the university for six months.

NOTE: Only completed courses can be recognised in your degree.

Transitional provisions

The course substitutes/overlaps among others basic courses in Business Administration: Marketing and Organisation A 2FE152, Business and Enterprise 2FE000, 2FE271, 2FE007 Kalkylering och redovisning 2FE279, Business and Markets I 2FE778, Business and Markets II 2FE779, Ekonomisk styrning för vård och omsorg 2FE799, 2FE018, Financial Management in companies and public institutions 2FE017, Business and Enterprise I 2FE015, Business and Enterprise II 2FE016, Marketing and Organisation I 2FE150 and the courses from the Faculty of Technology: Företag,nätverk och teknikutveckling 1TS010, Business Administration 1TG010, Management and Control 2FE820, 2FE824, Marketing Analysis 2FE821 and Market and Organisation, Distance 2FE014