ECTS credits: 2,5
Student workload: 70 hours (lectures, preparation).
Level of course: PhD
Course type: Mandatory
Study location: Bodø campus
Course coordinator: Professor Tommy Høyvarde Clausen
Teaching language: English
Teaching semester: Spring.
Costs: No tuition fees.
Course evaluation: Evaluation (survey) will be sent to PhD students after the seminar
Course description
The purpose of the course is to introduce PhD students in business to (i) theoretical foundations in the field of business research and (ii) current topics/phenomena within the field of business research which may challenge extant theory and/or identify opportunities for new theory development within the field. Examples of theories that will be discussed are behavioural theory of the firm, transaction cost economics, resource-based theory, and institutional theory. Examples of current topics/phenomena are ecological economics, financial crisis, and sustainability. Students need to write up a reflection note (about 2 pages) within two weeks after the seminar. The reflection note will be read and approved. Information about approval will be notified to PhD students on e-mail with a copy to the administrative officer of the PhD program (Grete Knudsen) who will register successful attendance.
Learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The candidate ...
Will obtain advanced knowledge about major theories in the field of business research
Will acquire an in-depth understanding of the research frontier within business research, particularly theoretical developments within the major theories in the field
Will be on the forefront of knowledge on chosen theories, their development over time, and interesting theoretical gaps that remain to be filled.
Will be able to critically assess major theoretical approaches in the field of business research, including their assumptions, factors, and boundary conditions
Skills
The candidate ...
Will be able to interpret seminal theoretical work within business studies and use this insight when carrying out practical research
Will be able to understand how they can build on and contribute to major theories in the field of business studies through their own research
Will be able to apply prominent theories in business studies to research projects
General competence
The candidate ...
Will be able to discuss new relevant business topics using major theories in business research
Will be able to participate on theoretical issues in academic debates
Will be able to critically challenge established theoretical knowledge in the field of business research
Prerequisites:
Must fulfil the requirements for admission to the PhD program.
Recommended previous knowledge:
Knowledge of writing essays. It is expected that students read assignments before each presentation.
Mode of delivery:
Face-to-face.
Learning activities and teaching methods:
Lectures and discussions.
Assessment:
Mandatory lectures. Students need to attend a seminar, participate in discussions during the seminar, and submit a reflection note. The reflection note will be assessed (pass/no pass).
Course literature and recommended reading
Tentative reading list, subject to revision.
Barney, Jay (March 1991). "Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage". Journal of Management. 17 (1): 99–120.
DiMaggio, P.J. , & Powell, W.W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48, 147-160.
Kotlar, J., De Massis, A., Wright, M. and Frattini, F. (2018), Organizational Goals: Antecedents, Formation Processes and Implications for Firm Behavior and Performance. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20: S3-S18. doi:10.1111/ijmr.12170
Mahoney, J. T. (2005). Economic Foundations of Strategy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Micelotta, E., Lounsbury, M., & Greenwood, R. (2017). Pathways of Institutional Change: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Management, 43(6), 1885–1910. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206317699522
Menard, C. and M. Shirley (2014), 'The Future of New Institutional Economics: From ´Early Intuitions to a New Paradigm?', Journal of Institutional Economics, doi:10.1017/S174413741400006X
Schilke, O., Hu, S., Helfat, C.E., 2018. Quo vadis, dynamic capabilities? A content-analytic review of the current state of knowledge and recommendations for future research.
Acad. Manage. Ann. 12, 390–439.
Thornton, P. H., & Ocasio, W. (2008). Institutional logics. In R. Greenwood, C. Oliver, K. Sahlin-Andersson, & R. Suddaby (Eds.) Handbook of organizational institutionalism (pp. 99–129). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Williamson, O. E. 2005. Transaction cost economics. In C. Menard & M. M. Shirley (Eds.), Handbook of the new institutional economics: 41-65. Berlin: Springer
Overlapping courses:
No.