Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- use planning, analysis and decision-making tools and techniques in strategic planning
- analyze financial statements and business reports and use them as a basis for decisions
- make business decisions in various business contexts
- apply data in decision making

Teaching methods

The study unit is conducted online and does not require attendance on campus. The study unit is completed independently following a schedule for work-based learning project documentation or demonstration of competence by a given deadline.

In addition to independent studying, the study unit includes scheduled guidance sessions and Project Assessment Discussions remotely on Zoom. Attendance in first guidance session (9th January) is mandatory and session will be partly recorded. Project Assessment Discussions take place on 11th June.

The study unit is supported by the Canvas learning environment (opens 9th January at latest) and study unit Teams channel for group and personal communication. The study unit does not include working in pairs or groups.

Please notice that there are several ways to complete the study unit:
1) Demonstration of competence (Näyttö)
2) Work-based learning project in your own workplace or in your own company etc., which covers all the learning objectives
3) If your project does not cover all the learning objectives, you can write theory reports or utilize other online courses etc. to complete learning objectives that are not covered by your project
4) If your current work does not enable you to obtain required competencies by conducting a project, it is also possible to utilize Business Simulation Game to achieve the learning objectives (to be discussed).

All possibilities will be discussed and introduced in first guidance session.

The learning objectives of the study unit are:

Having completed the study unit the student is able to
- use planning, analysis and decision-making tools and techniques in strategic planning
- analyze financial statements and business reports and use them as a basis for decisions
- make business decisions in various business contexts
- apply data in decision making

Study unit contents:
- Strategic planning
- Management decision making
- Information systems and decision making
- Group decision making

Learning materials and recommended literature

The materials are available online in Canvas platform:

Jeyarathnam, M. 2008: Strategic Management. Global Media.
Van Looy, B., Gemmel, P. & Van Dierdonck, R. 2013: Service Management: An integrated approach. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
Epstein L. 2012: The Business Owner's Guide to Reading and Understanding Financial Statements: How to Budget, Forecast, and Monitor Cash Flow for Better Decision Making. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Vance, David E. 2012: Financial analysis & decision making: tools and techniques to solve financial problems and make effective business decisions. McGraw-Hill.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

All students are entitled to demonstrate their competence. The recognition and accreditation of prior competence is initiated by the students themselves. The competence is recognised and accredited by the teacher responsible for the studies or another person designated to the position. The assessment is carried out according to the same assessment criteria and, as a rule, same grading scale as that adopted for the corresponding study unit or module. The student is entitled to apply for accreditation of prior competence regardless of where, how and when the competence has been acquired. The student may also seek accreditation of competence to be acquired on the job as part of their degree (work-based learning). The student is responsible for demonstrating and verifying their competence and for providing sufficient information.

For further information visit Student Intra.

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

The work-based learning project is completed in students own workplace and organisation.

Important dates

Demonstration of competence schedule can later be found in Laurea student intra.

The Canvas workspace will open latest on 9th January 2024.

Guidance session dates can be found in the schedule section.

Deadline for project documentation is 2nd June and Project Assessment Discussions will take place on 11th June.

According to the degree regulations (section 18) “students must be present in the first contact session or notify their teacher in charge if they cannot attend. If they fail to notify the teacher of their absence in the first contact session, their enrollment will be rejected. Another student in the queue may be enrolled in the study unit in the place of the absent student.”

Students workload

One credit equals approximately 26.7 hours of work performed by the student. The number of credits of the study unit is 5 credits.

Content and scheduling

Having completed the study unit the student is able to
- use planning, analysis and decision-making tools and techniques in strategic planning
- analyze financial statements and business reports and use them as a basis for decisions
- make business decisions in various business contexts
- apply data in decision making

Study unit contents:
- Strategic planning
- Management decision making
- Information systems and decision making
- Group decision making

Further information for students

The study unit is arranged only for the group HLF223KAM

The language used in the guidance session can be either Finnish or English.

The study unit corresponds to the requirements of Bachelor's level education.

According to the degree regulations (section 18) "students must be present for the first contact teaching session, or they must notify the responsible teacher of their absence to confirm they intend to participate in studies, Alternatively, the teacher can specify a different manner for the student to confirm that they intend to participate in the studies. The completion of these measures can be required within a week of the studies having begun. The application of the aforementioned approach requires that the teacher notifies the students accepted to the study unit of the practice and that the practice is specifically mentioned in the study unit’s implementation plan.

If the student has a justified reason for not attending the first contact teaching session or for not notifying the teacher of their intention to be involved in studies in the manner required by the teacher, the student must contact the responsible teacher to agree on participation in the studies. Their registration for the study unit will be rejected, of the student does not notify the teacher of being absent from the first contact teaching session or the reason for their absence cannot be considered justified, Another student who is in line for the study unit can be selected in their place."

The quality of the study unit implementation has been assessed and the self-evaluation report is available in Canvas.

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

“The evaluation of competence is based on the descriptions of objectives in the curricula, and the level of competence is assessed according to the evaluation criteria listed in the implementation plan for the studies.” (Laurea degree regulations).

In this study unit the assessing of the competences will be done by using the criteria set for requirement level II.

Professional knowledge basis, information searching and reporting

To achieve grade 5 student must be able to
- analyse the acquired information, draw conclusions and combine theoretical knowledge with experiential knowledge

To achieve grade 3 student must be able to
- critically evaluate information and justify their actions with science-based knowledge

To achieve grade 1 (or pass) student must be able to
- use professional concepts in a consistent manner and demonstrate their familiarity with the knowledge basis
- report and communicate in a professional manner

Professional practice and workplace development

To achieve grade 5 student must be able to
- evaluate the applicability of produced knowledge, skill or idea to other contexts as well as their impact
- anticipate needs of customers and/or co-operation partners

To achieve grade 3 student must be able to
- propose creative solutions at work
- promote professional co-operation and enhance customer and partner relationships

To achieve grade 1 (or pass) student must be able to
- act independently taking into account the operating environment
- take responsibility for interaction with customers and/or co-operation partners and for responding to their needs

Teamwork, skills, leadership, and responsibility

To achieve grade 5 student must be able to
- evaluate and develop the team’s entrepreneurial and responsible approach to work
- evaluate the possibilities for utilising competence and plan their personal development and development of the team

To achieve grade 3 student must be able to
- act in a manner that promotes the team’s entrepreneurial and responsible approach to work
- describe the development of their competence in relation to the learning outcomes

To achieve grade 1 (or pass) student must be able to
- describe the significance of their actions for successful co-operation
- describe their competence in relation to the learning outcomes

“Students who has failed to demonstrate their competence in accordance with the approved level must supplement or retake their study attainment in a manner and schedule defined by the teacher of the study unit.

All staff and students of Laurea are expected to adhere to good scientific practices, which includes appropriate referencing. Familiarise yourself with the practices and, if needed, ask for more information. All study assignments are to be done as individual work unless otherwise instructed. If Ouriginal is used when assignments are checked, the lecturer will inform the students of this.