Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• Account for the relationships between theories on operations strategy/development and organization/enterprise analysis, engineering/design operations
• Understand the role for and the deployment of strategic and technological choices in the design of (global) companies, supply chains and production networks
• Show how to operationalize theoretical contributions to practical settings

Skills

• Analyze and develop an integrated solution to a practical problem, usually in the form of a project developed in and together with a company. The project theme is integrated solutions and normally requires:
  • Demarcation and analysis of the empirical background to the problem
  • Development of an operationalization of a relevant and researchable research problem/project objective, using theory taught on this semester, but usually going beyond that.
  • Development of an adequate research/project design, including the elements mentioned next
• Write a well-structured project report, written with clear arguments including the following elements:
  • A critically exploration of the empirical problem and account for the choice of theories and approaches analyze and solve the problem under investigation,
• Detailed questions/objectives
• An account of the data collection and data validation methods, data sources
• An account of the analytical methods used and methods used to validate the findings
• An account of the (design) methods used to develop recommendations/solutions to resolve the research problem / achieve the project objective.
• Presentation and validation of data
• Presentation, validation and discussion of analytical findings
• Presentation and validation of recommendations/solutions
• Evaluation of the findings and recommendations/solutions, methods and, if relevant, considerations regarding the limitations and generalizability of the study.

Competences

• Operationalize theoretical contributions on organization/enterprise analysis, design and engineering, operations strategy and development as well as other relevant scientific fields in a practical setting
• Work together as a team to analyze and develop integrated and feasible solution(s) to a practical organizational problem
• Work together with an organization in an academically yet practically adequate manner.

Type of instruction

The module is carried out as group-based, problem-oriented project work. The group work is carried out as an independent work process in which the students themselves organize and coordinate their workload in collaboration with a supervisor. The project is carried out in groups with normally no more than 6 members.

Extent and expected workload

Since it is a 15 ECTS project module the expected workload is 450 hours for the student.

Exam

Exams