Course code VadZ6017

Credit points 4.50

Systemanalise of Entrepreneurship

Total Hours in Course120

Number of hours for lectures24

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes12

Independent study hours84

Date of course confirmation21.06.2018

Responsible UnitInstitute of Business and Management Science

Course developer

author Uzņēmējdarbības un vadībzinātnes institūts

Aina Muška

Dr. oec.

Course abstract

Master students acquire knowledge about the nature of a system, systematism and system thinking in entrepreneurship, get the understanding of necessity for system thinking, change management and restructuring in modern entrepreneurship and acquire theoretical knowledge of and practical skills in constructing causal loop diagrams, entrepreneurship models as well as applying change management instruments.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Students will be able to: demonstrate an in-depth and profound knowledge and understanding of a system, systematism and systemic thinking, as well as change management - multi-choice examination.
2. Independently construct cause-effect diagrams, a business model, as well as apply systemic thinking instruments and change management techniques in practice - independent assignments, seminar classes.
3. Reasonably explain, substantiate and discuss the need for change management and persistent enhancement as well as systemic thinking in business - independent assignments.
4. Explain and present the research results to others - seminar classes.
5. Work in a group - practical assignments, seminar classes.
6. Responsibly plan the completion of the assignments given - seminar classes.
7. Scientifically analyse business problems and simulate a situation - practical assignments, seminar classes, the multi-choice examination.

8. Integrate knowledge of various fields to make decisions and independently manage a change process at an enterprise - assignments, seminar classes.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Systematism and a system. System classification. System laws. Systematism cognition (lecture – 1 hour)
2. Theories on systems (practical – 1 hour)
3. System examination. Organisation as a system (lecture – 1 hour)
4. Causal loop diagrams: nature, necessity, direct and inverse relationships, cause-effect relationships. Systemic thinking instruments. Basic principles of systemic thinking. Drivers of growth and decline (lecture – 6 hours, practical – 4 hours)
1st independent assignment during the class (case study): System. Construction of a causal loop diagram (1 hour)
5. Laws for causal loop diagram construction (lecture – 1 hour)
6. Growth stimulation (lecture – 1 hour)
2nd independent assignment during the class (case study): Systemic thinking. Growth stimulation (1 hour)
7. Business model (lecture – 1 hour)
1st seminar: Business model (1 hour)
2nd seminar: Master paper research object system (2 hours)
8. Change management (lecture – 4 hours)
9. Partial change (lecture – 2 hours)
3rd independent assignment during the class (case study): Change models (1 hour)
10. Significant change (reengineering) (lecture – 4 hours)
11. Business restructuring (lecture – 2 hours)

4th independent assignment during the class (case study): Change management techniques (1 hour)

Requirements for awarding credit points

An examination in Moodle on all the topics studied in the course.
A mark of at least 4 has to be earned in all the independent assignments (case studies) and seminars with discussion.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student has to prepare for two seminar classes:
1st seminar: Business model (structured presentation of the topic; the presentation is limited to 15 min);
2nd seminar: Master paper research object system (structured presentation of the topic; the presentation is limited to 15 min).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the scores earned in: four independent assignments (maximum possible score of 40 or 10 for each assignment), two seminars with discussion (maximum possible score of 30 or 10 for the 1st and 20 for the 2nd seminars) and the multiple choice examination (40). The maximum possible total score is 110; a score of 11 is equal to one point on the 10-point scale.

Compulsory reading

1. Vedins I. Zinātne un patiesība. Rīga: Avots, 2008. 702 lpp.
2. Sherwood D. Seeing the Forest for the Trees: A Manager’s Guide to Applying Systems Thinking. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2002.
3. Kesterson R.K. The Intersection of Change Management and Lean Six Sigma: The Basics for Black Belts and Change Agent. Productivity Press, 2017. 196 p.
4. Кане М.М., Иванов Б.В., Корешков В.Н., Схиртладзе А.Г. Системы, методы и инструменты менеджмента качества: Учебник для вузов. СПб.: Питер, 2009, c. 479–502.
5. Forands I. Biznesa vadības tehnoloģijas. Rīga: Latvijas Izglītības fonds, 2009. 330 lpp.
6. Pārmaiņas. «Lessons Learned» grāmatu sērija.- Rīga: Lietišķās informācijas dienests, 2009. 104 lpp.

7. Gerber M. E. Uzņēmējdarbības meistarība: ko zina ikviens veiksmīgs uzņēmējs. Jelgava: Zoldnera izdevniecība, 2013. 219 lpp.

Further reading

1. Georgiou I. Thinking Through Systems Thinking. London: Routledge, 2007. 264 p.
2. Oganisjana K. Uzņēmējspēja un uzņēmība. Rīga: RaKa, 2012. 239 lpp.
3. Pārmaiņu vadība. Harvard business review on leading through change. Rīga: Lietišķās Informācijas dienests, 2008. 160 lpp. Grāmatu sērija "Harvard business review on".

4. Vadīt pārmaiņas. Change management. Tulkojums no angļu valodas L.Matuševiča. Rīga: Lietišķās Informācijas dienests, 2009. 160 lpp. Grāmatu sērija „Management Extra”.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Dienas Bizness: nedēļas laikraksts: Latvijas Biznesa avīze. Rīga: Diena: Dagens Industri, 1992. ISSN 1407-2041
2. Diena. Rīga: Diena, 1990. ISSN 1407-1290

3. Latvijas Vēstnesis. Latvijas Republikas oficiālais izdevums [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://www.vestnesis.lv/

Notes

Restricted elective study course for the ESAF academic Master study programme “Economics”, specialisation “Business and Logistics”