ØAADM4400 Knowledge Strategy in a Digital Economy Course description

Knowledge is crucial today, both to value creation in society and the competitiveness of organisations. Increasing awareness of the value of knowledge and the need to make use of it in everyday activities have led both private and public sector organisations to acknowledge the need for efficient knowledge development and utilisation. Knowledge management initiatives aim to build organisational capacities that make a direct contribution to the organisation's survival and earning by developing, organising, storing and using knowledge resources.

The course offers an interdisciplinary approach that integrates disciplines such as HR management, accounting, strategy, marketing and innovation. Students who take this course aim to work in knowledge worker management. It is a particular goal that the theoretical insight that students acquire through the course should also be applied to real issues. The application of theory to actual problems is emphasised through the case approach used in this course.

The course is appropriate for students from all profiles.

None

After completing the course, students will acquired the learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has an understanding of the links between knowledge development in the external global environment, in business and industry sectors and in the organisation, and of how changes can influence knowledge-based value creation
• has an understanding of the concept of knowledge management in relation to the present labour market and technology, and recognises the complexity of managing knowledge and how important knowledge management is to value creation in all organisations
• has knowledge of organisational characteristics, structures, cultures, communication, innovation and technology that influence knowledge processes in organisations 
• has knowledge of different action alternatives that organisations can choose between to contribute significantly to the organisation's knowledge processes, performance and development

Skills

The student

• is capable of cooperating with others to analyse practical issues and prepare and present recommendations for improvement measures in the fields of knowledge management and digital transformation

General competence

The student

•  will acquire the competence and skills required to build digital transformation and servitization through a systematic introduction to how to manage, measure and organize intangible resources.The content of the course is intended to give students an in-depth understanding of strategic management of the knowledge resources of individuals, groups and organisations, as well as provide insight into business model- and service innovation in an open international innovation system.

• The importance of knowledge work to value creation and employment in modern society
• Knowledge management as an interdisciplinary project
• Strategy and knowledge-based value creation
• Characteristics of knowledge-intensive organisations
• Servicification and the importance of the immaterial aspects of goods and services
• Innovation, value creation and business models based on immaterial resources
• Measuring and managing knowledge-intensive work
• Internationalisation of knowledge-intensive work

The course is organized in a series of intensive seminars that consist of a combination of lectures, group presentations and case discussions The students are expected to actively participate in discussions and similar in the classes.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam: 

• Coursework 1: A written literature review with a scope of 3-4 pages written individually.
• Coursework 2: Presentation of an analysis carried out in groups. Each presentation must be 10 minutes long, and each group member must contribute to the presentations. The group will consist of 4-8 students, depending on the number of students enrolled in the course.
• Coursework 3: Preparation of questions based on one of the other groups' analyses. The students must oppose one of the other groups' presentations, and create discussion in the classroom. 

The aim of the coursework requirement is the development of individual and group analysis skills, as well as contributing to discussion in plenary. 

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one new opportunity to get these approved, within a given deadline.

The exam in the course is a course paper with a scope of up to 12 pages. The term paper must be based on a self-defined problem related to one of the topics covered by the course. The content of the term paper must be an analysis of the problem based on theory and research, as well as a discussion of proposed solutions/measures.

The term paper can be written in groups of 2 students or individually. Students are encouraged to write the term paper in groups. Font size 12pt. Line spacing 1, max 12 pages without front page, content and reference list. 

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the assignment for assessment, 

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. 

Professor Karl Joachim Breunig, PhD