PS9100 Fundamental Concepts and Discourses in Business Administration, Innovation and Governance Emneplan

The course is mandatory for all doctoral candidates at Oslo Business School. It is recommended that candidates complete this course early in the programme.

The course takes a conceptual and history of ideas approach to business administration, innovation and governance as fields of research and teaching. The course aims to introduce the foundations of the theories of social science and economics underpinning current research on business administration, innovation and governance, with emphasis on providing students with insight and overview of the diversity as well as the common ground. The course consists of three main thematic components:

• Important methodological challenges to the study of business, innovation and governance.
• Key theoretical approaches spanning several fields of research.
• Exemplary classical and cutting-edge contributions to each field.

After completing the course, the candidates are expected to have the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Candidates

• have in-depth knowledge of and insight into methodological challenges to the study of business administration, innovation, and governance and have an overview of the main lines of argument in the methodological debate
• have in-depth knowledge and understanding of key theoretical approaches in business administration, innovation, and governance
• are familiar with cutting edge knowledge in central academic traditions within business administration, innovation, and governance

Skills

Candidates

• can compare and analyse concepts and ideas in their field of research
• understand the distinctive character of their own sub-field in the encounter with other fields within business administration, innovation, and governance
• can reflect on and communicate the research in the field and its development in a broader conceptual context
• can contribute to developing ideas and concepts in business administration, innovation, and governance

General competence

Candidates are capable of

• contributing to the debate on fundamental conceptual issues within business administration, innovation, and governance;
• identifying foundational theoretical issues of relevance to business administration, innovation, and governance
• identifying topical managerial and policy issues of relevance to business administration, innovation, and governance
• disseminating theoretical and empirical research both nationally and internationally
• communicating theoretical and practical implications of empirical results

Teaching is organised as a combination of lectures, discussions and presentations by the candidates in which selected classic texts (books and/or articles), literature reviews and meta-analyses are discussed, and topical research presented.

The candidates shall submit analyses of syllabus and other texts. Participation is mandatory, and candidates are expected to attend all days of teaching. Only a minor absence from teaching may be accepted under certain circumstances and upon application. In the event of absences that are not approved, candidates will lose their right to have their papers assessed.

A paper of between 6 and 8 pages ( 2500-3500 words) will be delivered within 2 months of the completion of the course. The teachers responsible for the course will assess the paper. A pass is a precondition for being awarded the ECTS credits. If the paper is awarded a fail grade, the candidate can submit a revised essay once, by a specified deadline.

All examination support material is allowed as long as source reference and quotation technique requirements are applied.

Pass-Fail

The course gives an introduction to the field of safety of journalists as one of scientific knowledge and institutional practices. Attacks on media professionals is a growing problem globally and threats and violence against journalists affect freedom of expression and the public sphere. Threats towards the safety of journalists raise questions of resistance and resilience, and of the responsibilities of individuals, institutions and societies. The aim of the course is to educate journalism researchers in the analytical and practical tools needed to investigate, understand, and improve journalists’ safety in an ever-evolving, transnational landscape of political and physical insecurity.

The course consists of two main thematic components:

• Central scholarly traditions and theoretical debates in the field of the safety of journalists in Norwegian and international contexts
• Knowledge from practical experiences of the safety of journalists worldwide at individual, institutional and structural levels.

The course is elective and open for all candidates in the specialization in Journalism and Media studies

Upon completing the course, the candidates are expected to have gained the following learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and general competence).

Knowledge The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of and insight into the study of the safety of journalisms internationally and have a good overview of the main lines of argument in central theoretical and professional debates in the field.
• has in-depth knowledge and understanding of key theoretical approaches and is familiar with cutting edge knowledge including aspects of digital safety, self-censorship, gender issues, investigating sensitive issues, covering protests, war and conflict, journalistic collaborations, financial and legal security of journalists.
• has knowledge about measures that can improve the situation for journalists and journalism, including the role of UN, UNESCO and NGOs in the field of freedom of speech and journalism.

Skills The candidate

• can compare, analyse and contribute to developing concepts and ideas in the field of the safety of journalists
• can reflect on and communicate the research in the field and its development in abroader conceptual context

General competence

• assessing and identifying new research questions in the field.
• taking part in collaborative learning methods such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
• taking part in debates in national and international fora.