Kursinformation

Welcome to "Business Marketing in Networks"-course!

The course will be organized online following a flipped classroom model and blended approach, which means that except for the introduction lecture on 28.10.2024, the first half of the course (28.10.-24.11.2024) includes independent online studies in Moodle where you study the course materials and accomplish pre-determined learning tasks. Then, from 25th November onward, there will be contact lectures where discussions, group works, case exercises etc. will be conducted. These lectures will be organized via Zoom. The course grade will be based on the mandatory assignments (= group work, case exercise and final exam) and in addition to them, weekly assignments need to be successfully accomplished.

It is highly important that you will attend the introductory lecture on Mon 28.10. at 10.15-12.00 (via Zoom). We will discuss in detail how this course is organized, what is needed from you to successfully complete it and form the groups for the group work. If you cannot attend the introductory lecture, please contact me (hanna.komulainen@oulu.fi).

I hope you will have inspiring time in this course and I’m looking forward to see you on the introduction lecture!

More information about the course:

Learning outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students are able to understand, define and assess different theoretical approaches to business marketing in networks. They are able to explain why the different kinds of networks are important in global business life and are able to coordinate those considering strategic goals of the company. Students are able to analyze the underlying logic of different types of strategic nets, value creation between organizations likewise sources of conflict and conflict resolution strategies. Having completed the course, students are able to view and evaluate business relationships from different perspectives and are capable to evaluate and argue the relevance and usefulness of different B2B marketing theories in their Master´s Thesis when needed. In addition, students have enhanced their multicultural teamwork skills in group working.

Contents:
The basic concepts and principles of managing business relationships and network thinking including the following themes: strategic thinking and strategic nets; sustainability and resilience in business networks, value creation; key account management; relationship portfolios; ; business relationships and networking in international context; sources of conflict in networks and conflict resolution, social capital and its meaning in networks and knowledge sharing in business relationships and networks.

Learning activities and teaching methods:
Course includes 80 hours of independent online studies and 20 hours of online contact lectures, and related to these article analyses, case exercise, multicultural group work and related presentations. Independent reading of the articles and related material for the exam is required to pass the course (60 h).

Schedule:

Course introduction (obligatory) 28.10.2024 at 10.15-12.00 (Zoom)

Independent online study period 28.10.-25.11.2024

Contact lectures 25.10.-12.12.2024 (Zoom)


Assessment methods and criteria:

Obligatory exercises and exam including:

1) Weekly assignments (scale: accepted/rejected)

3) Group work (max. 40 points)

4) Case exercise (max. 30 points)

5) Exam (max. 30 points)

In total max. 100 points (=grade 5), minimum of 50 points required to pass the course.


Grading:
The course utilizes a numerical grading scale 1-5. In the numerical scale zero stands for a fail.