Course code VadZ1018

Credit points 6

Business Information Management

Total Hours in Course162

Number of hours for lectures32

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours98

Date of course confirmation19.02.2019

Responsible UnitInstitute of Business and Management Science

Course developers

author Uzņēmējdarbības un vadībzinātnes institūts

Lāsma Līcīte-Ķurbe

Dr. oec.

author lect.

Aija Jurevica

Mg. paed.

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 from databases, select it according to the purpose, structure, analyse and process it by means of appropriate computer applications 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 and understanding 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. Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of the requirements for the layout and formatting of ESAF study papers and data processing software – independent and practical assignments done with word processing, presentation and electronic spreadsheet software.
5. Manage processes regarding business information – search the information in databases and select, analyse, process and use it – independent work, practical assignments.
6. Apply information technologies to solve economic math problems, analyse and represent the results – tests.
7. Reasonably explain and discuss the legal framework for information and the ways of protection of information – practical assignments.
8. Identify and analyse communication problems in an organisation – independent work, practical assignments.
9. Explain and present to others the results of their own work – independent work, practical assignments.
10. Responsibly plan the completion of the assignments given – independent work, practical assignments.
11. Cooperate with others – independent work, practical assignments.
12. Manage business information based on the acquired theoretical knowledge to ensure the efficient operation of the enterprise – independent work, practical assignments.
13. Define and give their own solutions to communication problems and identify the causes of the problems in the organisation – independent work, practical assignments.
14. Organise a meeting in an enterprise according to the agenda, applying meeting management tools – practical assignment.
15. Draw up a crisis communication plan based on the theoretical knowledge acquired – independent work, practical assignments.

16. Do studies and research, comprehending and complying with the relevant content and technical requirements – practical assignments with textual and numerical information processing.

Course Content(Calendar)

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

18. Making presentations and presentation skills (lecture – 2 hours, practical task – 2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

At the end of the course students has to pass an examination on the topics acquired during the course.
During the study course students have to pass 3 tests (with Microsoft Word, with Microsoft Excel and knowledge test on theoretical aspects of information and ways to protect information). During the course an essay on the research topics defined in the course should be elaborated regarding methodical rules.
The students has to develop an independent work – crisis communication plan in company “X” and present it. Presentation – up to 10 minutes.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Essay on research topics defined in the course – 20 scores.
2. Test on the substance of information and the ways of protection of information – 10 scores.
3. Test with Microsoft Word – 10 scores.
4. Test with Microsoft Excel – 10 scores.
5. Independent work (presentation) on drawing up a crisis communication plan for problems identified in enterprise X – 10 scores.
6. Examination – 40 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 work, essay, tests and examination – 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[tiešsaiste] [skatīts 21.11.2019.]. . 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. Aizpuriete V. Microsoft Excel profesionālai izglītībai. Rīga, 2002. 252 lpp.
4. Herbsts D. Komunikācija uzņēmumā. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007. 184 lpp.
5. Bucki L. A. Microsoft Word 2013 bible: the comprehensive tutorial resource. Indianapolis, Ind.: Wiley, 2013. 1010 p.
6. Walkenbach J. Excel 2013 bible: the comprehensive tutorial resource. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley, 2013. 1012 p.

7. Wempen F. Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 bible: the comprehensive tutorial resource. Indianapolis, IN: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013. 804 p.

Further reading

1. Žemaitis V. Microsoft Word: no iesācēja līdz lietpratējam. 2. izd., ar labojumiem. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007. 164 lpp.
2. Bredberijs E. Izcilas prezentācijas prasmes. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2008. 139 lpp.
3. Drukers P.F. Efektīvs vadītājs. Jelgava: Zoldnera izdevniecība, 2011. 220 lpp.
4. Dans P. Valdes sanāksmes. Rīga: Lietišķās informācijas dienests 2010. 152 lpp.
5. Excel help center [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 21.11.2019.] Pieejams: https://support.office.com/en-US/Excel
6. PowerPoint help center [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 21.11.2019.]. Pieejams: https://support.office.com/en-US/PowerPoint

7. Word help center [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 21.11.2019.]. Pieejams: https://support.office.com/en-US/Word

Periodicals and other sources

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

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

Notes

Field professional specialization study course and information technology course (Part B2) for the ESAF professional Bachelor study programme “Entrepreneurship and Busine