MALKA221 Complex Systems and Risk Management Course description

The course introduces various methods for assessing and managing risk in complex systems, presenting current research and practices. There is a strong emphasis on evolving a safety culture in the workplace. Literature on decision theory and cognitive biases is presented, along with the behavior analytic perspective. Students learn to use practical tools for carrying out risk analysis.

Admission to the study program

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student can

• describe theoretical perspectives and practical interventions designed to improve safety culture and optimize interaction between man, technology and organization
• describe and discuss the concept of risk, and risk in relation to complexity
• describe different methods in risk analysis
• describe methods for investigation of accidents
• describe and discuss the application of concepts from risk management on examples from different social and technological systems

Skills

The student can

• apply knowledge of general behavioral principles in the analysis of, and as a means, in risk management and Control
• perform simple risk analyses, including using different methods of data collection and processing

Competence

The student can

• contribute to safety decision processes

In the BSCA specialisation, campus-based lectures and seminars with group exercises carried out in class are the main teaching methods. Students read selected texts in advance for each day of class, and everyone is expected to participate in class through questions and through joining in discussion. Between the seminars, students are required to work on one individual assignment based on material from the seminars. In the BSII specialisation, the main teaching method is digital course sequences, and feedback on details of course content, and supervised discussion groups will be available during pre-determined time periods. Feedback on written assignments is used in both specialisations.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• 1 individual written review article submitted digitally, with a maximum length of 18.000 characters, including spaces. References are to be included in the 18.000 characters.

Individual home examination taking place over 3 days. The exam should consist of a maximum of 10 pages, including the title page, references, tables, and figures, but excluding appendices. Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. 

All

Grade scale A-F

One internal and one external examiner will assess all exams.