Operating Environment Analysis (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Analysis of the operating environment from the perspective of your industry

Objective

Purpose of the course
During this course, you will familiarise yourself with the operating environment and key analysis methods in your industry sector and area of expertise. Knowledge of the operating environment is central to the strategic management and decision-making of organisations and the industry sector.

Competences
Service Business Management competence
Learning to learn
Operating in a workplace
Sustainable development
Internationality and multiculturalism
Proactive development

Learning outcomes
You are familiar with your industry sector and area of expertise, its operating environment and the services it provides, and are able to analyse and evaluate them from the perspective of companies and the industry sector, both at the national and the global level. You are able to use the key methods for analysing the operating environment and understand their advantages and limitations, as well as the significance of the results for the management and decision-making of the industry sector and organisation.

Content

The current state and future of the industry sector and area of expertise
Sector-specific analysis of the operating environment in support of strategic management and decision-making
Key methods for analysing the operating environment

Location and time

Online implementation 2.9.2024 - 18.11.2024

Materials

Kamensky, M. 2015. Menestyksen timantti: strategia, johtaminen, osaaminen, vuorovaikutus. Helsinki: Talentum. E-kirja.

McManners, P. J. 2014. Corporate Strategy in the Age of Responsibility. Ashgate Publishing Ltd. E-kirja.

Teaching methods

Study methods
Operating environment analysis is an online course that is carried out independently. Your studies will take place in the Moodle learning environment, where you will find course instructions, schedules, assignments and study materials. There are no webinars during the course. During the course, you will conduct independent information gathering and apply what you have learned to the operating environment analysis task.

Guidance
You will receive guidance in the Moodle learning environment (question and answer forum) and by e-mail by arranging a guidance meeting with the teacher if necessary.

Feedback
You will receive feedback on your Analysis of the Operating Environment learning assignment.
You give feedback on the course (mid-term and final feedback on the implementation).

Employer connections

-

International connections

During the course, you will utilise international research literature and familiarise yourself with the operating environment of your field also from an international perspective.

Completion alternatives

You can familiarise yourself with 17§ of Jamk's degree regulations when considering the recognition of course competence based on your previously acquired competence and the objectives of the course.

Student workload

Your indicative use of time during the 5-credit course is 135 working hours, which is divided as follows:

Independent information retrieval of study material 35 hours
Individual assignment 100 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Adequate 1
You differentiate between and classify key concepts. You understand the theory and methods of the subject area and describe the implementation with reference to them. You discuss the subject from different perspectives. You present principal results and development suggestions. You develop the organisation from the point of view of your work role. You take responsibility for your own work. You evaluate your competence and recognise your principal development target. You write in an illustrative manner, but the text contains illogicalities and shortcomings.

Satisfactory 2
You apply a theory of the subject area that is delineated from the point of view of your topic. You select and define the key concepts. You find a solution to the problem and illustrate the results with examples. The examples exhibit understanding and independent thinking that is connected to theory. You are able to cooperate in a responsible manner in a problem-solving situation and take responsibility for a colleague’s work. You evaluate your own competence with the help of examples. You write in a logical and illustrative manner, but the text exhibits certain shortcomings. You write text that is partly unstructured and exhibits numerous different language and style errors.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
You analyse essential and well-delineated theory and concepts of the subject area and justify their choice. You demonstrate an ability to follow and analyse the development and/or research in your area of expertise. You lead or plan a research, development or innovation project in which you apply new methods. You develop the operations of the organisation by finding an alternative solution. You combine theory and practice. You evaluate and substantiate your own competence and are capable of developing it. You write in a logical and illustrative manner, substantiating the points you make. You write structured text with occasional language and style errors.

Very good 4
You outline a coherent whole of the key theory and concepts of the subject area, which you reflect upon critically. You assess, follow and discuss the development of, and international research in, your area of expertise. You lead or plan a research, development or innovation project in which you resolve a practical problem. You assess the process and the outcome by mirroring them against usability and theory. You reflect your competence and development. You write in a logical, analytical and competent manner. You write structured text in a fluent and almost error-free formal style.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
You produce new perspectives or knowledge on the subject area. You assess and interpret critically the development of professional fields and international research knowledge. You reflect upon the matter at the societal level. You define the key concepts related to the special competence of the field in relation to one other. You show development responsibility for increasing new knowledge and practices in your own professional field and for goal-oriented learning in your own organisation. You lead a research, development or innovation project in which you produce and analyse new knowledge and revise operating practices in the changing operating environment of your field. You assess, analyse, compare and substantiate the process, its outcome and its action proposals that are linked to the set objectives and criteria. You assess the development of your competence critically, comprehensively and in a diverse way. You report convincingly, presenting a logically coherent whole in which you combine things in a new way. You write convincingly, presenting a logically coherent whole in which you combine things in a new way. You show an ability for critical and argumentative writing.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree

Further information

The course will be implemented with special arrangements during autumn 2024. Course is available only for tourism and hospitality management (Master's degree students). This is the last implementation of the course.

What you have learned during the course will be assessed qualitatively based on learning outcomes, utilising the teacher's feedback and the student's own self-assessment. The operating environment analysis report accounts for 100% of the course grade.

During the course, the utilization of artificial intelligence, instructions and possible ethical questions follow the updated recommendations of Arene and Jamk's rules.