Course code VadZ4041

Credit points 3

Business Information Management

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation22.11.2011

Responsible UnitInstitute of Business and Management Science

Course developer

author Uzņēmējdarbības un vadībzinātnes institūts

Lāsma Līcīte-Ķurbe

Dr. oec.

Course abstract

Students acquire knowledge of information as an economic and power resource, the relevant legal framework and the ways of information protection. Students build up an understanding of the importance of information and the main ways of acquiring information in the business environment, as well as skills in developing a crisis communication plan. After completing the course, students are able to independently acquire information, select it according to the purpose, structure and analyse it, as well as interpret and effectively present it.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Students will be able to: demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of information as an economic and power resource, the evolution of it and the importance of it nowadays – test, practical assignments.
2. Demonstrate the knowledge of the legal framework for information and the ways of protection of information – test, practical assignments.
3. Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of communication and crisis communication in business – independent work, practical assignments.
4. Manage processes regarding business information – search the information in databases and select, analyse and present it – independent work, practical assignments.
5. Reasonably explain and discuss the legal framework for information and the ways of protection of information – practical assignments.
6. Identify and analyse communication problems in an organisation – independent work, practical assignments.
7. Organise a meeting in an enterprise according to the agenda, applying meeting management tools – practical assignment.
8. Explain and present to others the results of their own work – independent work, practical assignments.
9. Responsibly plan the completion of the assignments given – independent work.
10. Cooperate with others – independent work, practical assignments.
11. Manage business information based on the acquired theoretical knowledge to ensure the efficient operation of the enterprise – independent work, practical assignments.
12. Define and give their own solutions to communication problems and identify the causes of the problems in the organisation – independent work, practical assignments.
13. Draw up a crisis communication plan based on the theoretical knowledge acquired – independent work, practical assignments.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. The essence of information – data, information, knowledge and knowledge capital (lecture – 1 hour, practical tasks – 1 hour)
2. Information and knowledge society – historical development, basic features and topicality nowadays (lecture – 2 hours, practical task – 1 hour)
3. Acquisition of business information in databases (lecture – 1 hour, independent work – 1 hour)
4. Information structuring and analysis (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 1 hour)
5. Information as a power resource – the most common ways and methods of manipulating information (lecture – 1 hour)
6. Legal aspects of information management (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 1 hour)
7. Legal and illegal methods of obtaining information (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 1 hour)
8. Information security and ways to protect it (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 1 hour, test – 1 hour)
9. Importance of information in management (lecture – 2 hours, practical task – 1 hour)
10. Information management in crisis situations (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 3 hours, independent work – 2 hours)
11. Social media – a tool for monitoring business information (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 1 hour)
12. Organization and management of meetings and discussions (lecture – 1 hour, practical task – 1 hour)

13. Presentations and presentation skills (lecture – 2 hours, practical task – 2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

During the course students have to pass test – knowledge test on theoretical aspects of information and ways of information protection.
During the study course an essay on the research topics defined in the study course must be elaborated, fulfilling the requirements set by the teacher. The work must be elaborated in accordance with the methodological rules.
Students have to develop 2 independent works. One of them is crisis communication plan in company “X that should be presented. Presentation – up to 10 minutes. Second independent work – students have to find information (scientific article) in the databases following the instructions given by the lecturer.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Independent work on searching business information in databases, the characteristics of the information acquired – 15 scores.
2. Test on the substance of information and the ways of protection of information – 30 scores
3. Essay on research topics defined in the course – 30 scores.
4. Independent work (presentation) on drawing up a crisis communication plan for problems identified in enterprise X – 25 scores.
A score of 10 is equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The assessment of the study course depends on the assessment of independent works, essay and test – a score of 10 is equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale.
Assignments are assessed in accordance with the assessment procedure established in the assignment.

Compulsory reading

1. Vispārīgā datu aizsardzības regula. Pieejams: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/LV/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016R0679
2. Lehtonens J., Siliņa R., Ābelniece B. Riska un krīzes komunikācija. Rīga: Turība, 2011, 198 lpp.
3. Herbsts D. Komunikācija uzņēmumā. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007, 184 lpp.

4. Bredberijs E. Izcilas prezentācijas prasmes. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2008, 139 lpp.

Further reading

1. Drukers P.F. Efektīvs vadītājs. Jelgava: Zoldnera izdevniecība, 2011, 220 lpp.

2. Dans P. Valdes sanāksmes. Rīga: Lietišķās informācijas dienests 2010, 152 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Centrālās statistikas pārvaldes datu bāze. Pieejams: www.csb.gov.lv
2. Eiropas Savienības Statistikas birojs Eurostat. Pieejams: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

3. Sciencedirect datu bāze. Pieejams: www.sciencedirect.com

Notes

Free elective course, ESAF academic undergraduate study program “Economics” and other study programs.