2008

International Business Administration Bachelor Guide 2007/2008

Contents

Contents 1 1.1 1.2 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.2.6 1.3 1.3.1 1.4 1.4.1 1.4.2 1.4.3 1.4.4 1.5 1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 1.5.4

General Information for Bachelor’s Students General Student Facilities Information Blackboard Computer Facilities Study Advice Library Special Examination Facilities International Students Student Associations The Faculty Research Education Committees Alumni Rules and Regulations Study recommendations for first-year students Monitoring study progress Conditions for admission Further information

9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 14 16 16 17 18 18 19 23 23 24 24

2 2.1 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.5.6 2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3

Bachelor’s Programme International Business Administration General Introduction Academic Calender The programme Description of the programme Mission Statements Main Aspects and Final Attainment Levels Teaching Examinations First-year programme Second-year programme Third-year programme Description of third-year programme Exchange Programme Third-year teaching schedule Enrolment courses third year Bachelor’s thesis Internship Master’s Programme Business Administration MSc Business Administration: entry requirements Other Master’s Programmes: entry conditions Conditional Admission to Master’s Programmes

25 25 25 25 26 26 28 30 31 31 32 33 33 34 35 37 37 37 38 38 39 41

3 3.1

Exam parts International Business Administration

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Contents

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3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3

first year second year third year

Contents

43 50 57

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International Business Administration

1

1.1

General Information for Bachelor’s Students

General Address Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Faculty of Economics and Business Administration De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam; the Netherlands 00 31 (0)20-598 6000 Faculty Board Prof. dr. H. Verbruggen, dean Prof. dr. J.W. Gunning, research Mr. P. Sneep, MSc, education Ms. S. Zwinkels, BSc, student-representative Managing Director Mr. F.A.M. Snijders, MSc

1.2 1.2.1

Student Facilities Information Most information concerning your studies you will find in this study guide and on the departmental website www.feweb.vu.nl. If you cannot find the information you need, you can visit the programme secretariat on the second floor of the main building (room 2A-16). Its staff can provide additional information on exams, registration, diplomas, et cetera. On the monitor screens across the secretariat you find last-minute announcements, changes in time schedule, locations of examinations and other information relevant to your studies. It is important to check the notice boards regularly. Important information on registration, deadlines or changes in the programme is sent to you by e-mail. Every student is provided with a personal University e-mail address. Information is sent to this address only! As you are also responsible for proper maintenance of your account, be certain to check this regularly. Information is also published in the departmental section of the University's newspaper Ad Valvas. This paper appears every Thursday and can be collected free of charge from several distribution points in the main building. Every student is supposed to be familiar with announcements made in Ad Valvas. Finally, relevant course information is published on Blackboard. You are advised to check this regularly.


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1.2.2

Blackboard Blackboard is the faculty's digital learning environment, accessible through the faculty website. A large part of the teaching is supported by this. Blackboard is used to hand out assignments, lecture sheets, additional literature and information on courses. Students are normally required to hand in assignments through Blackboard. All students are required to be familiar with this programme. Manuals can be found on the faculty website: www.feweb.vu.nl.

1.2.3

Computer Facilities The Faculty has ten computer rooms with circa 220 computers available to students. They are located on the third floor and in rooms 1B-04/14. All computers are equipped with standard software relevant to economic and business sciences.All students have free use of the computer network. This includes storage capacity and room for a personal web page on the network. Students all have their personal e-mail address.Opening hours are: Monday to Thursday from 9.00-21.45, Friday from 9.0017.00 and Saturday from 10.00-15.00 hrs. The computer rooms may be closed for personal use when they are needed for teaching purposes. During holidays, the computer rooms are closed in the evenings.The computer helpdesk will assist you if you experience difficulties. It also sells printing credits. The helpdesk is located in room 3A-16. Problems or questions can also be reported by e-mail: [email protected]. Besides faculty facilities, the University offers computer facilities that are relevant to students of all faculties. Examples of this are TIS (the automated Examination Information System), Blackboard, changing personal information such as address, etc. For more information, visit the University’s digital helpdesk at www.digidesk.vu.nl.

1.2.4

Study Advice The Faculty has four study advisors for student counselling. They offer assistance in planning your studies, and give information on courses and the programmes. They may also offer help when students are confronted with exceptional personal circumstances that hamper their progress. The study advisors for Economics and Business Administration are: · Mr. Wim Kluytmans, MA · Ms. Karin Loos, MA · Ms. Ella Noordhoek, MA The study advisors can be contacted daily from 13.00-14.00 hours or by appointment in room 2A-24. Contact is also possible by telephone 020-598 6116 daily from 12.00 - 13.00 hours and by e-mail: [email protected]. Appointments are to be made through the students' desk of the programme secretariat; 020 - 598 6111. The study advisor for Econometrics & Operations Research is: Dr. R. Nobel, e-mail [email protected], consultation by appointment only.

1.2.5

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Library The University has a well-stocked library, with a large collection of books and journals for economic sciences and business administration. The Economics department of the library is located on the third floor of the main building. The lending library is open daily from 9.00 – 16.45 hrs. During holidays, opening times may differ. Many journals and articles are also available electronically for use International Business Administration

elsewhere at the university or at home via the internet. For more information see the library's website: www.ubvu.vu.nl. Library instructions are an integral part of the first-year study programme. Students may also make use of other faculty libraries, such as Psychology (2nd floor) Social Sciences (7th floor), or Sciences (6th floor of the Science building). 1.2.6

1.3

Special Examination Facilities If you are dyslexic or suffer from a physical or sensory disability that may hinder you when taking exams, you can contact one of the study advisors to see what special facilities are available. Your request must be accompanied by a medical certificate, issued no more than one year previously, from a physician or a psychologist. In cases of dyslexia, your request should be accompanied by a statement from a generally recognised dyslexia testing institute. If your request is granted, you should report to the programme secretariat (room 2A-16) 40 minutes prior to the commencement of the examination.

International Students The faculty is fortunate to welcome many international students to its International Business Administration programme. An experienced International Office will help you register and settle in quickly into your new surroundings. The International Officer in charge of the co-ordination of the IBA programmes for international students is Mr. S.R. de Groot, MSc room 2E-70 (2nd floor of the main building) E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 31 (0)20-598 9485 Fax: 31 (0)20-598 6112 In written correspondence you can use the address below: Mr. S.R. de Groot, MSc VU University Amsterdam Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, 2E-70 De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands International students are requested to contact him on arrival in the Netherlands. He will assist you with any queries you might have and will help you register as well as apply for the residence permit. You can of course also contact him beforehand if you have any questions. Below you will find the most important details on visa, housing and registration. Please make sure you have read them carefully.


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Residence permit and visa requirements The rules for obtaining a residence permit vary, depending on your country of origin. Please check the information below at the Dutch embassy in your own country, or surf to www.nuffic.nl/immigration. Details of the procedure outlined in this section may have changed by the time you read this. Once you have received the letter of admission to the programme, the Office of International Affairs will apply, on your behalf, for an Authorisation for Temporary Stay (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf or MVV) and health insurance (which is compulsory for all foreigners) if applicable. Students from the following countries do not need a visa (MVV) to enter the Netherlands: Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Lichtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland,, the United States, Vatican City. Although students from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the United States and Vatican City do need a residence permit. If you are from a country other than those listed above then you must have an Authorisation for Temporary Stay (MVV) before entering the Netherlands. The Office of International Affairs will apply, on your behalf, to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for an MVV through an accelerated procedure. Please do not apply for this visa yourself as it is not possible to have more than one application running at the same time. Once this permit has been issued, you can obtain your entry-visa to the Netherlands at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country. Remember to ask for a combination visa when picking it up from the embassy, so that you are able to leave the Netherlands and enter it again. Without an Authorization for Temporary Stay, you will not be able to enter the Netherlands or obtain a residence permit. In order to obtain the permit you will require: • a valid passport (valid for a year and a month after entering The Netherlands) • two recent colour passport photographs • a letter of acceptance as a student of the VU University Amsterdam • adequate health insurance • proof that you have accommodation • proof of your ability to cover all study costs and other expenses • A legalized birth certificate (please study the following link for more information: http://www.english.vu.nl/prospective_students/index.cfm) Health insurance Before coming to the Netherlands, you should contact your own insurance company to find out whether it can provide extra medical cover for your stay abroad and whether you can take out a personal public liability policy. If you cannot obtain supplementary coverage in your home country, then you can take out a policy through the faculty's International Affairs Officer. To this end, the VU has concluded an agreement with Lippmann, a Dutch insurance company. This provides for supplementary medical expenses and a public liability policy. Without health insurance you will not be accepted for the MVV procedure (see above).

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Checklists Before travelling to the Netherlands you must have: • a valid passport (valid for one year and one month upon entry) • a visa or Authorisation for Temporary Stay (MVV), if applicable • a letter of acceptance confirming that you are taking part in a programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. • proof that you have the financial means to cover your stay in the Netherlands • a legalized birth certificate (in English, German, French or Dutch) • if you are married, a marriage certificate • three recent colour passport photos • a medical insurance policy with extra medical cover for treatment abroad, and a personal public liability policy. If you cannot obtain supplementary cover in your own country, you can take out a policy through the International Affairs Officer (see above, under 'Health insurance'). On Arrival in the Netherlands Once you have arrived in the Netherlands you must • contact the faculty's International Affairs Officer • register at the Student Admissions, Examinations and General Course Information office. This will be arranged together with the international office. • register with the local authority (civil register) if you intend to stay for more than four months. In order to register, you will need your passport and residence permit as well as a birth certificate (in English) and, if you are married, a marriage certificate. The international office will advise you in this procedure. Accommodation The Vrije Universiteit has rooms available for foreign students joining the IBA programme. When making a reservation, students are required to pay a deposit of 500 euro in advance to the Office of International Affairs. The Vu will arrange a room for you if your application form is received before April 1. Otherwise your name can go on the housing list but will not have priority , see also our website. Faculty registration Following your arrival, you should first contact the Office of International Affairs in order to complete your registration. The best way to contact the International Officer is by email ([email protected]) or by phone (++31 (0)20 5989485). In writing, please use the address above. When registering, you must bring the following documents with you • a valid passport • a visa or Authorisation for Temporary Stay (MVV) • proof of payment of the tuition fee (arranged after arrival0 • photographs • passport plus copy • copy of diploma • letter of admission plus copy


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It is important to realize that you should NOT send originals through the mail! Please send certified or attested copies and bring the originals (including the letter of admission) when you come to the Netherlands. Information Information about the Netherlands can be found in the booklets entitled 'An introduction to Living in Holland' and 'Practical Guide to Living in Holland', both of which can be ordered from Nuffic (Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education www.nuffic.nl). Information about Amsterdam can be found on www.iamsterdam.nl 1.3.1

Student Associations Aureus Aureus is the student association for all students of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at the Vrije Universiteit, except for econometrics students. Aureus functions as an intermediary between the students, the faculty and business life. It has 3000 members of which 125 are actively involved in our organization. Together they organize an array of activities, offering members self-development opportunities and valuable social contacts. Aureus aims to offer all Economics and Business students additional value during their studies by organizing academic, career, international and social activities in which they can participate. In this way students get to know fellow-students, learn vital job-application skills, gain organizational experience and get in touch with business life. Bookstore The Aureus Bookstore - room 2A-11 - offers study books, subtracts and summaries to Aureus members with a discount of 10-15%. The bookstore opening hours: Monday 11.00-15.00 Tuesday 11.00-15.00 Friday 11.00-15.00 Membership To become an Aureus member you only have to pay a one time membership fee of €35,-. After payment you are an Aureus member for the entire duration of your study period. The bookstore discounts add up so quickly that the membership fee can be earned back well within six months! Furthermore the passive membership enables you to make use of the Aureus intranet where you can find old exams and the internship database. Subscription forms can be found at the Aureus Bookstore. Active Membership All Aureus activities are organized by active members. They can be seen as the employees of Aureus. Becoming an active member of Aureus gives you the opportunity to gain great organizational experience, get to know other students and cooperate with renowned names in Dutch business life. You learn how to work in a team and how to set up an activity successfully. It is a greatest opportunity to put into practice what you learn in class! Aureus organizes monthly drinks for its active members and an active-member-weekend once a year.

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If you wish to become an active Aureus member, fill in the subscription form in the Aureus Bookstore, drop by the office - room 6A-03 - or send an email to [email protected]. International Aureus organizes several activities aimed especially at International Business Administration students and English speaking participants. Examples of this are: European Study Trip SVS International Research Project Amsterdam Career Days exchange activities introduction week These activities are organized by English-speaking students and are conducted in English as well. Are you interested in organizing or participating in one of these activities, write an email to [email protected]. Contact Study association Aureus, de Boelelaan 1105, room 2A-11, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Tel. +31 20 598 6135, www.aureus-vu.nl. Kraket Kraket organizes study-related activities for students of Econometrics and Operations Research. Business excursions to for example Price Waterhouse Coopers, ING, KLM or other enterprises serving as prospective working environment for econometrists are part of the programme. It also organizes study travels abroad. Kraket also publishes Aenorm, the faculty magazine on Econometrics, in which staff, students and alumni publish regularly on a variety of econometrical topics. The society works closely together with other student societies for students of Econometrics of other universities. Finally, Kraket makes sure that there is enough room for entertainment, drinks, sports tournaments and fun in general. Membership is cheap and gives you a 10% discount on study books, available from the Kraket bookshop. Kraket is located on the first floor of the main building, room 1a-13. E-mail: [email protected], website: www.kraket.nl. The Faculty Student Council (FSC) represents the interests of all faculty students. It consists of six members, yearly elected by students of the faculty through the University's election procedure. It participates – together with members of staff – in the joint assembly, which advises on, or approves of, decisions made by the Faculty Board. The FSC is also responsible for student participation in various committees, such as selection of students for membership of programme committees and a student representative attending meetings of the Faculty Board. All students can contact the FSC directly at [email protected].


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1.4

The Faculty The Faculty of Economics of the Vrije Universiteit was established in 1948. In 1987 the Faculty merged with the Faculty of Actuarial Science and Econometrics to form the Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics. Currently the Faculty is referred to as FEWEB (which stands for the Dutch equivalent of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration). FEWEB is a medium-sized faculty, with approximately 3000 students, 1500 postdoctoral students and about 400 academic and non-academic members of staff. The faculty is headed by the Faculty Board, consisting of the dean, the director of education and the director of research. A student-representative attends the Faculty Board meetings in an advisory capacity. Members of staff are organized into eight departments, each headed by a professor. These departments are responsible for the research and education programmes of the faculty: • • • • • • • •

1.4.1

Department of Economics and Development Economics Department of Accounting Department of Finance Department of Information Sciences and Logistics Department of Management and Organization Department of Marketing Department of Spatial Economy Department of Econometrics and Operations Research

Research Research at the faculty is organized into 16 research programmes. All education programmes are supported by scientific research. The major research fields of the faculty are regional economics, labour economics, econometrics and development economics. In these areas the faculty has relatively large, internationally outstanding research groups. Furthermore, there are four research institutes affiliated to the faculty: The Tinbergen Institute Tinbergen Institute (TI) is the graduate school and institute for economic research of the economics departments of Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR), Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). It was founded in 1987 by these three economics departments and is located in both Amsterdam and Rotterdam. TI currently has an annual influx of around 25 MPhil students, who receive training and supervision from the Institute’s senior research fellows. Centre for World Food Studies (SOW-VU): concerned with contract research in the field of food supply. Amsterdam Centre for Business and Economic Research (AMBER): concerned with contract research for companies and not-for-profit organisations in the fields of general economics and business economics.

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Amsterdam Research Centre in Accounting (ARCA): carries out research into financial accounting, management accounting and auditing. 1.4.2

Education The Faculty offers four undergraduate, eight full-time master, two part-time master and thirteen post-Master programmes. Three undergraduate programmes and the parttime and post-Master programmes are taught in Dutch, the bachelor’s programme International Business Administration and the full-time Master's programmes are in English. Admission to any of the post-Master programmes is dependent on the master you have taken. It leads to further specialisation and professional education. For more information on the post-Master programmes see the website: www.feweb.vu.nl. For more information on Research and Education you can contact Onderwijscentrum VU, telephone: 020-5989222, e-mail: [email protected], website: www.onderwijscentrum.vu.nl. Undergraduate programmes (Dutch-taught) • BSc in Economics and Business • BSc in Econometrics and Operations Research • BSc in Business Administration Undergraduate programme IBA (English-taught) • BSc in International Business Administration Master's programmes full-time (English-taught) • MSc in Accounting and Control • MSc in Business Administration • MSc in Econometrics and Operations Research • MSc in Economics • MSc in Finance, both regular and honours track Quantitative Finance • MSc in Marketing • MSc in Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics • MPhil in Economics, Econometrics or Finance (two-year research master) Masterprogrammes part-time (Dutch-taught) • MSc in Accounting and Control (in combination with post-master programme Accountancy) • MSc in Business Administration Post-Master programmes (Dutch-taught) • Chartered accountant (Registeraccountant) • Registered Controller • Controller in public en non-profit sector • Certified Management Accountant • Certified Financial Manager • Chartered Financial Analyst • Register EDP-Auditor • Management Consultant


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• • • •

1.4.3

Change Management Treasury Management Financial and Investments Specialist Research and Education (teacher training programme, full-time and part-time)

Committees There are several committees, often including student members, active within the faculty. These advise the Faculty Board. The Faculty places great emphasis on student participation. Any student following a course of study within the Faculty is eligible to participate in a committee. This usually involves the intercession of the Faculty’s Student Council. The following committees are of importance to students: Programme Committee These committees advise the Faculty Board on issues relating to teaching, such as the design of the programme, the Academic and Examination Regulations, and bottlenecks in teaching. The programme committee consists of members of the academic staff and students. Each programme has its own programme committee. Examination Board The examination board is responsible for maintaining proper procedure during examinations and for awarding the results. The examination board makes decisions concerning exemptions, and gives approval for the inclusion of extra-faculty optional subjects in the examination programme. In addition, they can consent to departures from normal procedure on the ground of exceptional circumstances. The examination board consists of members of the academic staff. Students can contact the examination board via [email protected]. Library Committee The library committee consists of four members appointed from among the academic staff, and one student appointed at the intercession of the faculty's Student Council. The library committee's task is to make recommendations concerning any written information pertaining to the Faculty’s teaching and research activities, and regarding the way in which the Faculty’s funds for collection building are dispensed.

1.4.4

Alumni All alumni receive the faculty’s relation magazine Vuurwerk and the University’s alumni magazine Gewoon Bijzonder twice a year. In addition, activities for graduates are organised regularly to promote contact between graduate economists, econometricians, and the staff of the Faculty. For the faculty to contact you it is important that we have your proper address. If you wish to remain informed, send any change of address also to: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; alumni bureau; attn. Ms Charlotte Vroon, room 1H-36; De Boelelaan 1091; 1081 HV Amsterdam; Netherlands. Econometrics Alumni Association The Econometrics Alumni Association at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was founded in 1997. Its purpose is to help graduates to stay in touch, both with one another and with the Econometrics Department. In addition to publishing the alumni newsletter Econometristen in Actie (Econometricians in Action), the Association organizes an annual reunion which is attended by many graduates who are keen to

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find out how everyone is getting on. A list of graduates is also published. All alumni can use this to find out what their contemporaries are doing these days, and where they are working.

1.5

Rules and Regulations All formal rules pertaining to teaching and examinations are laid down in the Academic and Examination Regulation. This document is accessible via the faculty's website: www.feweb.vu.nl. Below you will find a summary of the most important rules and regulations. 1. Registration for exams Students must register for each exam no later than eight days prior to the commencement of the examination in question. Registration is by means of the University's registration system TIS (the automated Examination Information System). TIS is accessible via http://tis.vu.nl. Failure to register may result in your being unable to take part in the exam. You can only take part if there is room in the examination hall and if there are sufficient examination papers. You can only get the result of your exam after you have paid a fine. 2. Examination timetable Students are given details of the examination timetable well in advance. This is done via the website www.feweb.vu.nl and via the programme secretariat. When drawing up the timetable for final examinations, the examination board can only take in account those public holidays and other free days that have been designated as such by the Executive Board of the Vrije Universiteit. 3. Starting times and examination halls On the day of the examination, the starting times and examination hall layout will be displayed on the monitors or notice-boards in the hall near the programme secretariat. Information displayed on the monitors is also accessible via the faculty website: www.feweb.vu.nl 4. Code of conduct for examinations 1. During a written examination, students are required to hand over their university registration card (or other means of identity bearing a photograph) so that their student number can be checked against the list of students registered for the examination. During written examinations, students are required to follow the invigilator's instructions concerning the maintenance of order in the examination room. 2. There is no free choice in seating: seating is allocated. 3. You may only bring with you: pen, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, ruler and calculator. Sometimes a graphic calculator may be used, subject to approval by the examiner. Other attributes may not be used and may not be present on your writing desk. 4. Students arriving after the examination has started may be excluded from participating in the examination. 5. Students may not leave the examination room until one hour after the start of the examination. General Information for Bachelor’s Students

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6. You will not be permitted to leave the examination hall within one hour of the start of the examination; 7. The use of mobile phones during the written examination is prohibited. 8. Students must hand in their examination papers to one of the invigilators and are required to sign the list of registered examination candidates. 9. Students are prohibited from removing examination writing paper after the examination has ended. 10. At the end of the examination students must remain seated until the invigilators have collected all examination papers. 11. If fraudulent acts are detected during a written examination, the relevant article of the Academic and Examination Regulations comes into effect. 5. Fraud In cases of fraud, the examination board awards the student in question a mark of zero points. The examination board can also bar the student from sitting one or more future examinations for that programme, for a period of no more than twelve months. 6. Examinations can also cover lecture notes Insofar as a given examination component includes teaching, questions may also be asked concerning the material covered in the lecture notes for the most recent academic year. 7. Examinations, marking and inspection Examiners must award the results of written examinations ten working days after the examination in question. You will subsequently be entitled to inspect the marked work. Such inspection usually takes place at one or more set times. Details of these times will be published by the examiner. During the inspection you will be able to familiarize yourself with the questions and assignments, the standard working involved, and means of standard setting. 8. Marking a. Marking International Business Administration and Business Administration, for years one and two Students must obtain a ‘satisfactory’ grade in all subjects. ‘Satisfactory’ is equivalent to a grade of 5.5 or above on a scale of 1 - 10. The final mark for a given subject is usually derived from the constituent mark for a written examination and the constituent mark for the case lectures or practical classes. In such cases, the constituent mark for the written examination is worth 60% of the total mark, while the constituent mark for the case lecture is worth 40%. These constituent examinations are subject to a threshold. This means that students must obtain a grade of at least 5.0 in both the written constituent examinations and the cases/practical classes. Credits will only be assigned if students obtain a satisfactory final mark for the subject in question.

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Sub-results are awarded for: • a written examination (grade on a scale of 0.1 to 10, to one decimal place) • working and presentation of a case/practical (grade on a scale of 0.1 to 10, to one decimal place) Marking International Business Administration and Business Administration, for year three Students must obtain a ‘satisfactory’ grade in all subjects. ‘Satisfactory’ is equivalent to a grade of 5.5 or above on a scale of 1 - 10. The final mark for a given subject can be arrived at by means of various separately assessed components. To this end, no constituent marks are awarded in the third year. The only grade awarded is the final grade for the complete examination. b. Marking Econometrics & Operations Research Examinations are either awarded a whole number grade in the series 1,2,…,10 or are marked as ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’. Constituent marks are graded to one decimal place. In special cases, such as fraud, a grade of 0 can be awarded. The result of an examination is considered to be satisfactory if it is awarded a grade of at least six, is marked as ‘satisfactory’, or if an exemption has been awarded by the examination board. A sub-result is considered to be satisfactory if the grade is 5.5 or above. c. Marking Economics and business, year one and two Students must obtain a ‘satisfactory’ grade in all examination components. ‘Satisfactory’ is equivalent to a grade of 5.5 or above. Throughout the period of activating learning methods you can be awarded a bonus point of up to a single grade point. However, you will only be awarded this grade if you have satisfied the attendance requirement and the participation requirement. If you miss one in three of these occasions, or if one of the assignments was unsatisfactory, then your maximum possible entitlement falls to half a bonus point. If you are absent on more than one occasion, or if more than one assignment is unsatisfactory, then you will forfeit your entitlement to a bonus point. If a subject includes six rather than three periods of activating learning methods, then at least five of your six assignments must be graded satisfactory if you are to retain your maximum entitlement of a single bonus point, and three out of four assignments must be satisfactory for half a bonus point. If less than three assignments are satisfactory then no bonus point will be awarded. ‘satisfactory’ means that you must be present! The lecturer retains the right to withhold your bonus if you fail to meet all reasonable requirements when it is your ‘turn’ in your working group. A bonus is only awarded at the first opportunity to sit the examination for the subject in question and at the ‘resit’ that follows immediately afterwards. Once these have passed, the bonus point will be nullified. Subjects which are worth three ECTS credits have only a single written examination. Accordingly, only a single grade is awarded. Where applicable, a case/assignment is an integral part of this written examination. Those theme assignments, courses, and subjects given in a practical period, are evaluated in the period in question.


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Marking Economics and business, year three Students must obtain a ‘satisfactory’ grade in all subjects. ‘Satisfactory’ is equivalent to a grade of 5.5 or above. The final mark for a given subject can be arrived at by means of various separately assessed components. To this end, no constituent marks are awarded in the third year. The only grade awarded is the final grade for the complete examination. 9. Sitting the same examination more than once If a student sits the examination for a given subject more than once, then it is the most recent mark that counts. 10. Period of Validity Successfully completed Bachelor's examination components from the first year remain valid until the end of the second year of registration (31 August). For example, if you started in September 2006 and you obtained a ‘satisfactory’ grade for Introduction to IBA in October 2006 (period 1.1), then this result will remain valid until 31 August 2008. A fully completed first-year programme remains valid until the end of the fifth year of registration. Using the example shown above: if you pass all of the first-year subjects within a period of two years, then all subjects will remain valid until 31 August 2011. The results of the subjects from the second and third year have a period of validity that lasts until the end of the fifth year of registration. In brief, this means that you can take two years to complete the first year of the Bachelor's programme, and five years for the entire Bachelor's Programme. 11. Non-validity of examination results Sometimes students must have express permission from the examination board to sit an exam. This applies, for instance, if you want an extra opportunity to sit the examination, if you want to take the examination in a non-standard way (e.g. oral rather than written) or if you have failed to satisfy the registration requirements for examinations. In such cases, lecturers (examiners) are not permitted to conduct examinations nor, as the case may be, to announce the results of an examination without the express permission of the examination board. If, in such cases, an examiner announces the results without the permission of the examination board, students cannot appeal to the examination board concerning the validity of the examination results. 12. Admission to components of the second and third year of the Bachelor's programme You are only permitted to take part in the examinations, cases, practicals etc. of the second and third years of the programme if you obtained at least 39 ECTS credits during the first academic year. At the end of your second year of registration you can only continue your studies if you have passed all of your first year examinations.

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13. Decisions Examination Board Students who submit a request to the examination board can request a verbal exemption from the administrative secretary of the examination board on the day after it meets. A written reply will be sent as soon as possible. Examination Board decisions of a general nature are published in the university newspaper, Ad Valvas, and on the Faculty’s homepage. 14. The Bachelor's degree examination You will have passed the Bachelor’s degree examination if you obtained ‘satisfactory’ grades in all examination components. ‘Satisfactory’ is equivalent to a grade of 5.5 or above. You must apply to the programme secretariat for the Bachelor’s degree examination, in person. The examination board checks whether you have met all of the examination requirements, and officially records the result of your Bachelor's degree examination. You will subsequently receive an invitation to a degree ceremony. The date on your degree certificate is the last day of the month in which you applied for the certificate. Degree ceremonies are held on several occasions during the year. The dates of these ceremonies are displayed at the Student Services desk. Unless you are able to show a valid proof of identity (passport, local authority identity card, or driving licence) at the degree ceremony, you will not be able to collect your degree certificate. 15. Right of appeal If you disagree with a decision made by an examiner or a board, contact the study advisor as soon as possible after the decision in question has been made known. The study advisor can provide you with information concerning possible avenues of appeal and the associated procedures. With regard to the possible avenues of appeal, further details are contained in the institute-specific section of the student statute. 1.5.1

Study recommendations for first-year students Before 1 July in the first academic year, you will receive from the examination board a non-binding study recommendation on whether or not to continue your studies.

1.5.2

Monitoring study progress Examination components that are graded as ‘satisfactory’ confer credits. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is used for this purpose. In this system, one academic year is worth 60 ECTS credits. These 60 ECTS credits are equivalent to a study load of 1680 hours. Thus, in order to obtain 1 ECTS credit, you must study for approximately 28 hours. The progress of your studies is measured in terms of the number of ECTS credits obtained. Each year, around March and before 1 October, you will receive from the examination board a summary of your study progress. If you fail to achieve the standard, which is set out in the Student Finance Act, then the Informatie Beheer Groep (IBG; the body charged with the implementation of a number of laws and regulations governing finance and administration in the education sector in the Netherlands) will be notified before 1 November. In a case like this, the VU’s Department of Student Services van de VU will inform you in good time (before 1 November) about the repercussions in terms of the professions that are open to you.


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1.5.3

Conditions for admission Economics and (International) Business Administration: a pre-university diploma (VWO within the Dutch system) with at least Mathematics A1,2 and Economics 1 (upper secondary phase) or Maths A or B (‘old style’). For Econometrics and Operations Research: a pre-university diploma (VWO within the Dutch system) with at least Mathematics B1 and Economics 1 (upper secondary phase) or Maths A or B (‘old style’). Those holding a foundation year certificate (from an institute of higher vocational education or a university) can also be admitted to the Bachelor's programme. With diplomas of this type, the examination board will determine whether the holder has sufficient background knowledge of mathematics. Bringing a student’s knowledge of mathematics up to standard If your examination subjects did not include mathematics, then your knowledge of this subject will be deficient (i.e. not up to the required standard). This deficiency must be eliminated before you can register for the programme. One way to eliminate a deficiency in your knowledge of mathematics is to obtain a certificate elsewhere, one that is equivalent to the pre-university subject Mathematics A1,2 or B1. To obtain admission to the programme in Economics or Business Administration, you have two opportunities each year to take a mathematics A1,2 examination given by the Faculty. Anyone wishing to sit such examination should contact one of the study advisers (+31-(0)20- 5986116). University admissions test (Colloquium Doctum) If you cannot meet the above mentioned conditions for admission and if you are above the age of 21, then you have the option of sitting a university admissions test. Further details can be obtained from the Student General Counselling Service at the Department of Student Services: www.vu.nl/diensten/studentenzaken, or the faculty's International Office.

1.5.4

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Further information Further information, and the rules on which these regulations were originally based, can be found in the: • WHW (Higher Education and Scientific Research Act), Article 7.12 fourth paragraph, 7.13 • VU statutes, Chapter II • Faculty regulations • Academic and Examination Regulations (OER); • Rules and guidelines for interim and final examinations (R&R); • and at the Faculty's website: www.feweb.vu.nl.


2

2.1 2.1.1

Bachelor’s Programme International Business Administration

General Introduction The bachelor's programme International Business Administration is set up according to the Bachelor's–Master's structure. This system was introduced to harmonize European university programmes, so as to make them more easily comparable. Accordingly, the degree programme International Business Administration consists of a three-year Bachelor's programme, which can be followed by a one-year Master's programme. The IBA programme gives you a thorough, theoretical grounding in business administration. At the same time, considerable attention is devoted to applying this theoretical knowledge to specific problems. This involves various academic skills, such as making reports and giving presentations. This guide gives a detailed description of the programme. It contains all sorts of information relevant to your studies. It also describes which Master's programmes you can take after you graduate. For the Master’s programmes themselves, see the study guide entitled Master’s Programmes. The paragraph Rules and Regulations is especially important. This contains the rules of the game, as it were, of the study programme. While such rules are undeniably important, bear in mind that they may change over time. Accordingly, no rights may be derived from the information contained in this study guide. The most up-to-date information can be found at the University website (www.feweb.vu.nl), on Blackboard and on the monitor screens at the programme secretariat. Details of amendments and other information will also be send to the e-mail address that was given to you by the University. You are advised to check this e-mail account regularly.

2.1.2

Academic Calender The planning for the 2007-2008 academic year is as follows: 03.09.07 – 12.10.07 lectures for period 1 15.10.07 – 19.10.07 self-study period 22.10.07 – 26.10.07 exams period 1 29.10.07 – 07.12.07 lectures for period 2 10.12.07 – 14.12.07 self-study period and resits period 1 17.12.07 – 21.12.07 exams period 2 07.01.08 – 01.02.08 lectures for period 3 28.01.08 – 01.02.08 exams period 3 04.02.08 – 14.03.08 lectures for period 4 17.03.08 – 21.03.08 self-study period and resits periods 2 and 3


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24.03.08 – 28.03.08 exams period 4 31.03.08 – 16.05.08 lectures for period 5 19.05.08 – 23.05.08 self-study period and resits period 4 26.05.08 – 30.05.08 exams period 5 02.06.08 – 27.06.08 lectures for period 6 30.06.07 – 04.07.08 exams and resits period 5 and 6 20.08.08 – 24.08.08 resits period 6 In 2007-2008 no lectures or examinations will be held on the following dates: 25 December - 4 January: Christmas Holidays Friday 21 March: Good Friday Monday 24 March: Easter Monday Wednesday 30 April: Queen's Birthday Thursday 1 May: Ascension Day Friday 2 May: Bank Holiday Monday 5 May: Liberation Day Monday 12 May: Whitsun 7 July - 20 August: Summer Holidays

2.2 2.2.1

The programme Description of the programme The IBA programme is geared towards professional business services. It focuses on business service providers and how they operate. Think for instance of banks and insurance companies, distributors and transport companies, consultancy firms, software houses, and Internet-based companies. However, industrial companies also have service-based processes. Some examples of these are internal consultancy services, an IT department, and a distribution centre. International Business Administration focuses - as the name implies - on professional business services in an international context. As a bonus, special attention is also paid to professional business services in a specifically European perspective. The professional service industry is entirely different from manufacturing companies or commercial concerns. Rather than manufacturing tangible products, companies in this sector supply intangible services. They maintain frequent contacts with their customers, the service is often specially attuned to the customer in question, and human aspects have a crucial part to play in the service process. Service implies made-to-measure products. It necessitates familiarity not only with the 'hard' aspects of the organization, such as structure, processes, and finances, but also with the 'soft' side, such as the people that are employed and the culture they work in. This is why you will learn to view business aspects from four different angles: •

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Economic sciences, which in turn focus on the economic and financial background to operational management


•

• •

Technology, both in its support role in existing business processes and information systems, as in its innovative role in organizing (or re-organizing) the service-based processes Social sciences, which address the issue of human behaviour in organizations Strategy and organisation, which focuses on the pivotal aspect of business administration. This discipline also involves efforts to integrate the above three disciplines.

The first two years of the bachelor’s programme revolve around the four basic disciplines: economic sciences, technical sciences, social sciences, and strategy and organization. The third year offers room for specialization as well as the possibility to select a number of optional courses. The guaranteed exchange programme is also scheduled in year three. The bachelor's programme is completed with a thesis, after which an official diploma is awarded. You will then be entitled to use the internationally recognized title of Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration (BSc in IBA). Each year’s programme has a study load of 60 ects (European Credit Transfer System) credits. The first two years of the programme each consist of four periods of eight weeks, in which lectures take place, and two periods of four weeks, during which integration projects are carried out and supplementary courses are taught. The exams are held at the end of each period. The resits are held at the end of the period following the first exams. Competent business administrator can use their comprehensive knowledge to solve issues in everyday situations. This is why International Business Administration is such an intensive study programme. Much of the teaching is done interactively: you have to study the theory, prepare questions about it, work out cases, prepare study assignments, and present your work to your own group. Many assignments have to be completed during the courses. These assignments help you to keep up with the content of the lectures, and teach you to apply theory to practice. In many courses, the grades obtained in these assignments influence the final mark. Studying successfully takes a lot of time. You must be prepared to make a forty-hour working week. Part-time jobs that take up much of your time will interfere with your studies, since a great deal of time is spent working on group assignments at the university. If you are entertaining any doubts about your abilities, your part-time job, or other issues, and their effect on your studies, you should discuss this with your tutor or the study advisors. They can assist you with any decisions on what would be best for you to do (or not to do) about this. For excellent students, the faculty offers the opportunity to participate in the VU Honours Programme. This programme starts in year two and consists of 30 credits of additional, special electives with a high degree of teacher-student interaction, small classes, and the opportunity to interact with talented and motivated students from other VU faculties. Students can apply for the Honours Programme at the end of your first year. Selection will be based on a written application including a letter of motivation. Excellent


27

Academic performance and motivation are requirements for enrolling in the Honours Programme. 2.2.2

Mission Statements Main Aspects and Final Attainment Levels The Programme carries the following mission statement: The bachelor’s Programme International Business Administration at VU University Amsterdam trains students for an academic degree in business administration with special expertise in the field of the professional services industry. Central to the mission statement are the concepts academic and business administration. These are described as follows: Academic The academic programme revolves around acquiring scientific knowledge and application of this. Acquisition and application of knowledge should meet criteria such as objectivity, convincing argumentation, critical analysis and, when application is to be judged in any specific situation, critical reflection. To this end, graduates have at their disposal specific academic and practical skills, such as literature research, data collection, argumentation, written and oral presentation skills. International Business Administration The objective of the programme is to provide thorough knowledge of the disciplines central to international business administration, to develop the skills needed to integrate knowledge from these disciplines, and to apply both skills and knowledge when solving everyday organizational problems. Graduates are able to analyse everyday problems through relevant theories from various disciplines, develop solutions within the context of a multidisciplinary team and to convey these solutions to customers. The graduate has learnt to take into account the effects of implementation on all business processes. Finally, the graduate can operate in an international context, and is sensitive to cross-cultural issues. Professional service industry The programme trains individuals for general management and consultancy roles. In addition, the programme pays extra attention to acquisition and application of knowledge in the framework of the professional service industry, such as financial institutions, IT companies, accountancy firms, consultancy firms, logistics and service-based departments of large industrial companies. As such, graduates possess not only general managerial skills, but also have specific expertise in the field of the professional service industry Target Group The programme aims primarily at international and local students having completed a secondary education equivalent to the level of Dutch pre-university education. Selection as to motivation, knowledge of English and Mathematics is part of the admission procedure. Working out the mission statement into main aspects The mission statement described above is worked out to into the following main aspects contained in the programme

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The programme International Business Administration: • •

•

• • • • • • • •

Teaches students to adopt an academic attitude: critical, reflective, and conscious of academic standards Provides students with thorough knowledge of the disciplines business administration, social sciences, economics, technology and law, the aim of which is to provide students with multidisciplinary knowledge Teaches students to integrate knowledge of these disciplines to solve managerial problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. Attention is paid to business processes and international issues. Pays attention to theory and application; including the acquisition of the necessary skills to apply theoretical concepts Focuses on the professional service industry Offers active participation; is attractive and challenging Teaches students to cooperate, present results orally and in writing, and debate Offers intensive guidance Offers an international context Can be completed in three years Is open to any qualified student, but is selective once the programme has started

Effectuating the core aspects as final attainment levels Appreciation of academic disciplines Students have an appreciation of the theoretical and methodological field of knowledge associated with international business as an academic discipline, together with the academic disciplines of economics, social sciences and technology. Students who have completed this programme will have sufficient basic knowledge to analyse business issues, and to develop solutions using business methods and techniques for collecting and analyzing data. In addition, these students will have had experience in setting up, conducting, and reporting on research projects in a scientifically sound manner. Access to academic knowledge Students must be capable of locating academic articles and professional publications that they need for their (academic or social) professional life, and of critically evaluating such publications. After completing the bachelor’s programme, students will be capable of conveying the central academic issues and theoretical frameworks, and of furnishing them with knowledgeable comments. Holders of a bachelor’s degree will also have developed sufficient expertise in the field of business services in their chosen specialization to enable them to tackle specific business issues. Academic attitude Holders of a bachelor’s degree: • have an understanding of the nature of academic knowledge, and how this is generated • are able to describe and explain business issues, using an academically sound approach


29

• • •

have an open mind when it comes to academic and social developments, as well as the attitude and skills needed for lifelong learning and professional growth are capable of producing clear written reports and oral presentations, attuned to a given forum, and can express themselves adequately orally as well as in writing have the conceptual and reasoning skills needed to conduct and apply academic work.

Practical skills Holders of a Bachelor’s degree are able to set up and implement projects systematically, and to operate as team players. They also possess the communicative and social skills needed when working in organizations, for cooperating with others, and when dealing with customers and opponents. Once they have completed the Bachelor’s programme, students are able to describe the bottlenecks and pitfalls commonly encountered during project implementation. They will be able to present solutions in the areas of organization, people (acceptance), and systems (both the production systems and the information systems). Professional skills After completing the programme, graduates have acquired the professional skills to work in a variety of markets. They are quality-conscious by habit; taking the set conditions into account, they deliver professional-quality products and services. Further, they are able to recognize circumstances in which independent, rational, disciplined thought is of the essence. At such times, they also have the strength and courage to put their abilities to the test. The programme’s broad international outlook means that holders of a bachelor's degree are able to operate in an international context, approaching business issues by integrating the views of economics, technical sciences, social general business administration. 2.2.3

Teaching The methods of teaching used are geared to the final objectives of the programme. This means that knowledge must be garnered, but also that students must acquire sufficient insight to evaluate the practical value of such knowledge and the skills to apply it. It is for this reason that great emphasis is placed on interactive ways of learning, such as discussion classes, case tutorials and projects. The process of working with theories and models provides valuable insights into their potential and limitations. You can employ cases and study assignments to practice using the application. Many lectures take the form of practical classes, relatively little use is made of formal lectures (about one third of all face-to-face contact time). These lectures are used to introduce students to the theoretical aspects. Teaching during the first and second year involves formal lectures, discussion classes, case tutorials, and practical classes. The discussion classes, case tutorials, and practical classes involve groups of 20 to 25 students. Formal lectures involve large groups of students. •

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Lecturers use formal lectures to introduce students to the theoretical aspects. On average, you should expect to have two formal lectures per week, each lasting for two hours.


•

•

•

There are also discussion classes. In the course of a discussion class, a lecturer guides a group of students in a critical discussion of the literature. As part of this, you will often be asked to complete short assignments. In case tutorials, you get the chance to apply what you have learned to real cases, derived from everyday life. You will usually work on a case as part of a team, consisting of two to three individuals. When working on a case, you have to define clearly the problem at hand, before determining how you are going to go about developing a solution for this problem. Finally, you resolve the case and draw up a written report. The teams present their case solutions during the case tutorial, after which they are discussed by the group. The main purpose of the practical assignments and cases is to promote understanding and to teach students how to apply the results. These lectures are subject to an attendance requirement. Practicals involve discussions of completed assignments. These lectures are subject to an attendance requirement.

Third-year courses involve a variety of teaching methods. Most courses are taught by means of formal lectures. In addition, working either individually or in small groups, you will prepare an essay or paper. The instruction in professional skills will be intensely interactive in nature. For more detailed descriptions of the learning methods, see the course descriptions. 2.2.4

2.3

Examinations Material that is taught in formal lectures is assessed by means of written examinations. These can contain both open and multiple choice questions. For further information on the marking of these examinations, see the section entitled General information for Bachelor's students.

First-year programme The first year consists of four periods of eight weeks and two periods of four weeks. In each eight-week period you will take two subjects, each worth six ECTS credits. The first six weeks are devoted to lectures, and the eighth week to exams. The two four-week periods, which each have a study load of six credits, are devoted to integration projects and supplementary courses. The first year starts off with an introduction to International Business Administration and an orientation on the business model used in the programme. In the introductory course you will get acquainted with the object of business administration: organisations in their international environment. You will study companies in need of improvement, analyse their processes and write a plan for improvement. You will learn which tools a business administrator can employ in situations like these. In addition to its academic aspects, the International Business Administration programme incorporates practical elements, allowing you to develop skills needed during your studies. Thus, attention will not only be paid to academic skills, such as writing texts, using the library, case analysis and problem definition but also to presentation skills and basic cross cultural skills necessary for recognizing cultural diversity and working with this within, for instance, the IBA student population.


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A study manual is made available via Blackboard at the start of every period. This contains extensive information about the objectives, working methods, and contents of a course. The descriptions of the various courses themselves can be found at the back of this guide. The schedule below shows the structure of the first-year teaching programme:

2.4

Period 1 (Sept-Oct)

Introduction to International Business Administration Marketing and Marketing Research

6 credits 6 credits

Period 2 (Nov-Dec) Period 3 (January)

Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping Business Mathematics Skills Lab Integration : Business Processes Business Research Methods

6 credits 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits

Period 4 (Feb-Mar)

Organizational Behaviour Logistics and Operations Research

6 credits 6 credits

Period 5 (Apr-May)

Finance and Financial Arithmetic Statistics I

6 credits 6 credits

Period 6 (June)

Cross Cultural Management (Basics) Economics

3 credits 3 credits

Second-year programme The second year consists of four periods of eight weeks and two periods of four weeks. In each eight-week period you will take two subjects, each worth six ECTS credits. The two four-week periods, which each have a study load of six ECTS credits, are devoted to integration projects and supplementary subjects.

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Period 1 (Sept-Oct)

Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping Information Systems

6 credits 6 credits

Period 2 (Nov-Dec)

Human Resources Management European Corporate Law

6 credits 6 credits

Period 3 (January)

Integration Project II Statistics II

3 credits 3 credits

Period 4 (Feb-Mar)

Financial Management Management Accounting Quantitative Business Analysis

3 credits 3 credits 6 credits

Period 5 (Apr-May)

Strategy Development, Implementation and Evaluation Services Marketing

6 credits 6 credits

Period 6 (June)

Business Plan Philosophy I

3 credits 3 credits


2.5

Third-year programme The aim of the third and final year of the programme is twofold. On the one hand, it is used for completion of your studies and to further expand on and integrate knowledge acquired in the first two years. On the other, it is used to give students the opportunity to select courses in order to prepare for entrance into a master’s programme, either at the faculty or elsewhere. The third year is also different from the first two years in that you are able to select courses you are interested in. A variety of courses is offered; the methods of teaching, however, may differ from year one and two. Some courses are obligatory for all students, some for a specific specialisation in the MSc Business Administration, others are entirely optional. The latter are intended to allow you to follow your own interests, or to prepare for a master other than Business Administration. A BSc in International Business Administration with appropriate choice of courses in your third year will allow you to enter the Master’s programme Business Administration without any difficulty, but other master’s programmes usually require you to pass additional courses in your third year. Greater freedom of choice, pleasant as this may be, also means greater responsibility for students. Unlike years one and two, you are now for a large part responsible for creating your third-year curriculum, for meeting the final examination requirements and for meeting any entry conditions of the master’s programme of your choice. You are therefore well-advised to start planning in an early stage, study master’s programmes, read course descriptions and compare the possibilities with universities abroad. The third year also includes courses on academic and professional skills and competencies. Academic competencies are necessary for you to carry out scientific research and require you to have insight into how scientific knowledge is gained. Professional competencies are needed in your day-to-day profession, in which social and communicative skills are of great importance. Finally, as the programme is an international one, part of the third year is reserved for exchange with a university abroad. The study-load of the third year is divided as follows: • Compulsory courses (27 credits) • (International) Business Administration / Economics courses (24 credits) • Optional courses (9 credits)

2.5.1

Description of third-year programme Compulsory courses (27 credits) A total of 27 credits is spent on the following five compulsory courses. This includes the bachelor’s thesis, written at the end of the year. • • •

Advanced Business Research Methods (6 credits) Professional Skills and Competencies (3 credits) Philosophy II (3 credits)


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• •

Social Network Analysis (6 credits) Bachelors thesis (9 credits)

(International) Business Administration / Economics courses (24 credits) You should spend 24 credits on Business Administration or (Business) Economics courses, of which at least half, that is, at least 12 credits, should be spent on courses having an international focus. A list of courses is provided in paragraph 3.5.3. Note that this list only includes courses taught in the faculty; you can add courses taught at other faculties or universities, including those taught abroad, as long as they are business or economics courses. Take care that these courses should be third-year courses or, when taken elsewhere, of equivalent level. This is usually indicated by the term intermediate level. Note further that at least 12 credits of these courses should have an international focus, that is to say, at least half of these courses should be Economics or Business Administration courses on international economics and management. Examples are: Development Economics, Diversity management, European Integration, International Economics, International Management, Intercultural Communication etc. International courses include those taught abroad and having a country-specific focus, e.g. Mexican Business Management or Japanese Technology Management. The courses listed in paragraph 3.5.3. also allow you to satisfy the entry requirements of a Master’s programme of your choice. Each master’s programme has its own entry requirements, sometimes specified per master’s specialization. Thus, should you wish to take a Master’s in Business Administration, specialization Finance, Banking and Insurance, you are required to take two courses on finance in your third year. The entry requirements for the faculty’s master’s programmes are listed in paragraph 3.6.1. ff. Optional courses (9 credits) A total of 9 credits can be spent on optional courses, which serve to give room to widening one's academic interest. These may be chosen from third-year courses taught within the faculty, in which case they are already approved of, or from other faculties, e.g., Psychology, Social Sciences or Law. Courses chosen from outside the faculty need to be approved of in advance by the Examination Board. Of course there is no problem at all if you decide to spend these credits on extra business administration or economics courses. 2.5.2

Exchange Programme For all third-year IBA students who meet the exchange criteria there is a guaranteed exchange semester in autumn. To this end, a number of places abroad have been earmarked for the exclusive use of IBA students. In addition, a number of universities abroad offer courses already pre-approved for selection and meeting, for instance, the entry requirements for Master’s programmes. You are, however, entirely free to select other universities or courses. In this case, the courses chosen must be approved of by the examination board before you leave. Although the third-year programme is geared towards exchange in the first semester, it is possible to go abroad in the period February-June. This may prove more

34


problematic, however, and will require greater flexibility on your part as more individual arrangements need to be made. Exchange programmes are arranged through the faculty’s International Office. The International Office can provide you with detailed information on courses on offer abroad and how to incorporate them into your third year, but also on arrangements for visa, insurance, allowance etc. Their website contains a wealth of information on studying abroad. It is well worth visiting this for orientation before you start making definite plans. See feweb.vu.nl > English > exchange. For information you can contact Ms Lara Hager, BA or Ms Tamar Pagrach, MSc, in room 2E-68; e-mail: [email protected]; office hours Monday-Thursday from 13.00-14.00 hrs or by appointment. The deadline for enrolling for an exchange programme with the international office is usually around 1st March, but check the website for precise dates. Remember also that you can only go abroad if, at the start of your third year, you have at least 90 credits and have completed all first-year courses. This means that you must have at least 78 credits when enrolling in order to be eligible for exchange. Although studying abroad is highly recommended, it is not obligatory, and, in case of foreign students, sometimes impossible because of visa-arrangements. Still, you are advised to take this opportunity as going abroad will greatly add to the value of your university degree. 2.5.3

Third-year teaching schedule The schedule below shows the structure of the third-year teaching programme. It contains the courses suitable for making up your 24 credits of (international) business administration or economics courses. The column Remarks gives further information on the status of the course and, in capital letters, for which master the course is required for entrance. It is important to check paragraph 3.6.ff., in which the entry conditions to the faculty’s master’s programmes are described, especially the entry conditions to other master’s than Business Administration. There you will find which courses to take from other programmes as well as other information relevant to their selection. Period 1 (Sept-Oct) Exchange OR Management Accounting and Control Strategic Management and the Strategy Process Advanced Human Resource Management Business Intelligence European Integration and Network Development (p. 1 and 2) Dutch-taught European Distribution and Supply Chain Logistics Technology and Innovation Financial Accounting Macro-economie Consumer Behaviour Midden- en kleinbedrijf Ondernemingsrecht Methoden en technieken AE/FE onderzoek

Credits 12

Remarks

6 6 6 6 See p. 2

BA-fbi; ACC BA-ms BA-ms BA-eb Int. course

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

BA-tdl


ACC EC MKT EC; FIN; STrE

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Period 2 (Nov-Dec) Exchange OR Organisation Perspectives and Dynamics Introduction to E-Business and IT-Industry Knowledge Management Microeconomics International Economics Urban Economics European Integration and Network Development (p. 1 and 2) Dutch-taught Accounting Information Systems Corporate Finance Enterprise Systems Economische en sociale geschiedenis Toegepaste kwantitatieve economie Introduction to Finance, Banking and Insurance Introduction to Transport, Distribution and Logistics Introduction to Consultancy Industry

Remarks

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

BA-ms BA-eb BA-ms EC Int. course

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Int. course

BA-fbi; FIN BA-eb. BA-fbi BA-tdl BA-ms

Credits 6

Remarks

See p. 4 6

MKT;

See p. 4

EC; STrE ACC MF

Period 4 (Febr-Mar) Advanced Business Research Methods Social Network Analysis Logistics Christian Philosophy in an International Perspective Development Economics Investments Marketing Research Transport and Network Economics Financial Risk Management Purchasing and E-Procurement Environmental Economics and Management Tutorial Marketing (periods 3 and 4)

Credits 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Remarks Compulsory Compulsory BA-tdl Int. course Int. course BA-fbi; FIN MKT

Dutch-taught Belastingrecht Boekhouden Bedrijfseconomisch practicum E-Business Financial Statement Analysis Organization Design Toegepaste data-analyse Werkcollege Finance, Accounting, Micro- or Macroeconomie (periods 3 and 4)

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Period 3 (Jan) Exchange OR Tutorial Marketing (periods 3 and 4) Optional courses Dutch-taught Werkcollege, Micro- of Macro-economie (periods 3 and 4) Werkcollege Accounting (periods 3 and 4) Werkcollege Finance

36

Credits 12


BA-fbi BA-eb; BA-tdl

BA-eb BA-fbi; ACC BA-ms

Period 5 (April-May) Professional Skills and Competencies Philosophy II start bachelor’s thesis Financial Management in not-for-profit Organisations International Marketing Labour, Care and Well-Being Strategy and Economics Strategy and Environment

Credits 3 3 See p 6 6 6 6 6 6

Dutch-taught Boekhouden Financial Statement Analysis Economie van het onroerend goed

6 6 6

Period 6 (June) Bachelor’s thesis

Credits 9

Remarks Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory Int. course

Remarks Compulsory

2.5.4

Enrolment courses third year For all third-year courses taught at the faculty you are required to register in advance in order to be admitted. You can do so at www.feweb.vu.nl/enrolment. For instructions, see Announcements in the opening screen. Failure to register may result in your being unable to take part.

2.5.5

Bachelor’s thesis Before you can start writing your bachelor’s thesis, you should have fulfilled two conditions: • •

You must have obtained at least 120 credits; You must have passed the course Advanced Business Research Methods

Usually students writing their theses are grouped into smaller groups, each supervised by a thesis supervisor. Group formation is usually done on basis of thesis subject. For a detailed description of the process of writing the thesis, supervision, and the enrolment procedure, see the Manual Bachelor’s Thesis, to be found on Blackboard. If you are unable to start your thesis in your third year, for instance because you did not satisfy the entry conditions, you can do so at the beginning of the following year. Thus, there are two opportunities for you to write your thesis: periods 5 and 6 of the third year and periods 2 and 3 of the fourth year. Please take due note of the fact that you cannot start any master’s programme without having completed your thesis. See also the paragraph on Conditional admission to master’s programmes below. 2.5.6

Internship It is possible to do an internship in your third year. This will take about eight weeks full-time work, although this may of course be spread over the year, or part of the year. A successful internship will be awarded 12 credits; of which 6 will be subtracted from your room for optional courses and 6 from the room for Business Administration of Business Economics courses. If you decide to take an internship,


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you have to spend 18 credits on Business Administration of Business Economics courses, rather than 24, and 3 credits on optional courses, rather than 9. Bear in mind that internships should allow you to carry out work on the level of junior business administrator, and should thus contain one or a number of assignments that can be completed by you. Further, internships should have an international focus, that is, they should either be carried out abroad, or at an internationally oriented company. Please observe that taking part in the exchange programme and doing an internship in the same year may prove quite a heavy burden as it implies your absence from the faculty for a large part of your third year. You may experience great difficulty in meeting final examination standards at the end of the year. You are therefore advised not to do both in one year. Internships should be approved of by you supervisor before you start. Should you wish to take an internship, read the Manual Internships International Business Administration, fill out the application form and hand this in. Manual and application forms are available from Blackboard.

2.6

Master’s Programme Business Administration Following your bachelor, you can opt for further study and specialisation by entering the Master’s programme Business Administration. This is a scientific programme, in which doing research and application of science play a central role. An important part of this programme is therefore reserved for carrying out an independent, academic research project and reporting on this in the master’s thesis. The Master’s programme takes one year and consists of a number of general courses and a number of specialisation courses. At the start of the programme, each student makes a choice for his area of specialisation from one of the four following: • • • •

2.6.1

Management Studies Finance, Banking and Insurance Transport, Distribution and Logistics E-Business

MSc Business Administration: entry requirements To prepare for any of the four specialisations of the Master’s programme in Business Administration you should spend 12 credits on third-year courses in the field of any of the four following. As stated before, these courses are part of the 24 credits you have to spend on business administration or economics in your third year programme. They can be taken either at the faculty or abroad. Bear in mind that these courses should be third-year courses or, when taken elsewhere, of equivalent level. This is usually indicated the term intermediate level somewhere in the title of, for instance, textbooks. Specialisation Management Studies (MS) For this specialization you should follow courses in the field of management and organization, such as Management of Change, Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Innovation Management, Knowledge Management,

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Organization Design, Consultancy, Organization Theory, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Project Management, etc. Specialisation Finance, Banking and Insurance (FBI) This specialization requires courses in the field of finance and financial services industry, such as: Corporate Finance, Investments, Treasury Management, or Management Accounting Specialisation Transport, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) For this specialization you can choose courses in the field of transport, distribution, logistics, transport economy, supply chain management, purchasing etc. Specialisation E-Business (EB) This specialization requires courses such as E-Commerce, Knowledge Management, Information Systems, Innovation Management, Outsourcing, Management of Technology etc. 2.6.2

Other Master’s Programmes: entry conditions Having a BSc in International Business Administration of course also allows you to enter other, related, master’s programmes as well. As with the MSc Business Administration, all of the faculty’s master’s programmes are scientific ones, in which doing research and application of science are central. The aim of any master’s programme is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to carry out an independent, academic research project and report on this in your master’s thesis. The following master’s programmes are taught at the faculty. All programmes take one year and start in September only. All programmes are taught in English. • • • • • • •

Master of Science in Accounting and Control Master of Science in Econometrics and Operations Research Master of Science in Economics Master of Science in Finance Master of Science in Marketing Master of Science in Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics Master of Philosophy (two-year research master)

Admission to any of these master’s programmes is dependent on the courses you take in your third year International Business Administration. These courses are listed below. Bear in mind, however, that these are usually third-year courses taught in the bachelor’s programmes Economics and Business or Business Administration and are therefore often in Dutch. See the table in paragraph 3.5.3. Many of these courses have their equivalents abroad, so should you wish to take these courses in English, you are well advised to try and complete them during your exchange period.


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Bachelor IBA + - Management Accounting & Control - Financial Accounting - Financial Statement Analysis

► MSc Accounting & Control 1

Bachelor IBA + - additional requirements specified by Examination Board Econometrics

► MSc Econometrics

Bachelor IBA + - Microeconomics - Macroeconomics - Tutorial micro or macro (werkcollege) 2 - Research Methods General and Financial Economics (Methoden en Technieken AE/FE) 3

► MSc Economics

Bachelor IBA + - Microeconomics - Tutorial Microeconomics (werkcollege) 2 - Research Methods General and Financial Economics (Methoden en Technieken AE/FE) 3

► MSc Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics

Bachelor IBA + - Corporate Finance - Investments - Tutorial Finance (werkcollege) - Research Methods General and Financial Economics (Methoden en Technieken AE/FE) 3

► MSc Finance

Bachelor IBA + - Tutorial Marketing (werkcollege) 2 - Marketing Research

► MSc Marketing

Bachelor IBA + - Good results - Interested in scientific research

► MPhil (two-year research master)

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Students wishing to enter the post graduate programme Accountancy without deficiencies can also follow the courses: Accounting Information Systems, Belastingrecht (Tax Law) and bookkeeping. This can be done during the third year, but also at a later point in time. Knowledge of Accounting Information Systems is prerequisite for the Master’s course Control and Audit; knowledge of Corporate Finance 3.2 is required for the master’s course Corporate Finance 4.2. Fluency in Dutch is required for the post graduate programme. 2

IBA students can only attend tutorials Marketing (English), Finance (Dutch), Macroeconomics and Microeconomics (both Dutch). In the latter two cases, students must also have followed the preparatory course Macroeconomics or Microecomics respectively. For the tutorial Accounting, should have completed the third-year course Management Accounting and Control. 3

Research Methods in General and Financial Economics (methoden en technieken AE/FE) may replace the course Advanced Business Research Methods. Sufficient knowledge of mathematics is required for this; IBA-students are advised to take the 1st year economics course, or the pre-master’s course on Maths in their second year. Both courses are taught in period 2.

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2.6.3

Conditional Admission to Master’s Programmes In order to enter any of the faculty’s master’s programmes, you should have a bachelor’s degree which satisfies the master’s entry requirements. If you have not completed your bachelor’s programme, you can be conditionally admitted to the master’s programme if you meet the following conditions: • • • •

You have completed year one and two You have passed all compulsory courses in year three You satisfy the entry requirements as specified above You have a backlog of 12 credits maximum, consisting of third-year optional courses, Philosophy II or Professional Skills.

If your backlog is greater than 12 credits, or if you do not meet the entry requirements, you cannot start your master’s programme until you satisfy these conditions.


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3.1 3.1.1 subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturer aim content

form of tuition

literature

examination format

Exam parts

International Business Administration first year Business Mathematics 61522020 3 24 hours (12 tutorial, 12 lecture) 2 drs. K. van den Hoeven dr. J.M. Sneek Business Mathematics provides a mathematical basis and skills for handling quantitative methods in Business Administration. This course is a new one and because of that the content is still under consideration. Additional information will be given on Blackboard in October 2007. Two lecture hours, one take home assignment and two tutorial hours per week. In the lectures an introduction, overview and some examples are given, in the tutorials students make exercises individually. The take home assignments require sometimes the use of computer software (probably) and they are marked and returned to the students and if necessary discussed in class. • Sydsaeter, Knut & Peter Hammond, Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis. 2e druk. Prentice-Hall, ISBN: 0-273-68180-X • Other materials can be downloaded from Blackboard written interim examination

subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

Business Research Methods 1.3 61532010 3 16 hours (8 case study tutorial, 8 lecture) 3 drs. C.M. van der Heijde Goals of this class are: • Understanding research in its different forms: scientific, applied and/or contract research • Development of analytical skills. This refers to understanding of texts and to distinguish between key and less important issues • Application of analytical skills. This goal refers to translating the analysis in research questions and methods • Ability to name research skills. content During Business Research Methods the student will learn methods and techniques of Business research. The following subjects will be discussed: • What is research and what types of research can we find • Research design (problem statement, concepts, hypotheses, literature, data collection) • Finding literature and dealing with references.

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form of tuition During the lectures theory and examples will be discussed. Attendance is recommended. During case classes the student will work on group and individual assignments. Attendence is obligatory. literature Van der Velde, M.E.G., P.G.W. Jansen & N.R Anderson, Guide into Business Research Methods. Malden: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2004 examination format written interim examination 60 % and assignment 40 % of the final mark. The University's library web course must be passed in order to receive a final grade. subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturer aim

content form of tuition

literature

examination format

subject code credits contact period co-ordinator

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Cross Cultural Management Basics 1.6 61562000 3 12 hours (4 group assignment, 4 working group, 4 lecture) 6 dr. S.N. Khapova MBA prof.dr. A.M.R. Trompenaars Learning objectives - knowledge: • Awareness of own cultural assumptions and respect for other cultural perspectives • Develop basic knowledge and understanding about the basic drives behind national and organizational cultural differences and the impact of cultural differences on cross cultural issues in organizations • Recognize cultural dilemmas and differences in a business context This course addresses basic principles and models of cross cultural management issues in organizations. The course consists of three main parts: lectures, seminars and a team assignment. In the lectures fundamentals of culture and models of crosscultural management will be explained. Interactive seminars will raise students' awareness about cultural dilemmas in business contexts. Before the first seminar students will be asked to complete a web-based Intercultural Awareness Questionnaire (see Blackboard for more details). Students' individual Intercultural Awareness Profiles (IAP) will be used in exercises during the first seminar. Student teams will work independently on a cross cultural dilemma-reconciliation assignment. For this assignment, students will use and integrate knowledge and skills acquired during the first year of the IBA program. The assignment will be presented during a poster conference during the last seminar. Trompenaars, F. & C. Hampden-Turner, Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2005 assignment the final grade for this course will be based on a sum of grades from: team assignment 40% and individual exam 60% Economics 1.6 61562010 3 20 hours (8 tutorial, 12 lecture) 6 dr. H.G. Bloemen


lecturers N.P. Lundborg; dr. E.I. Motchenkova aim Introduction to the basic principles of economic theory on consumer behaviour, firm behaviour, and market structure. content • Lectures: in Economics we study the theories of the behaviour of economic agents operating at the different sides of the market, in particular the consumers and producers. We study the different market structures, ranging from perfect competition to monopoly. With game theory we study the interdependent strategic behaviour of firms in oligopolistic markets. With transaction cost economics we pay particular attention to the formation of organizations and firms. Principal agent theory deals with the design of contracts between two sides with diverging interests, to provide the right incentives to get things done. Within organizations, the separation of ownership and control is an important application of principal agent theory. We pay attention to sources of market failure, like lack of information, moral hazard and externalities. • Cases: in Economics the behaviour of consumers, producers, and the functioning of markets are explained by economic models. The cases consist of applications of economic theory to (hypothetical) practical situations. literature Begg, D. & D. Ward, Economics for Business. Berkshire: McGraw Hill, 2007 examination format written interim examination 60 %, cases 40 % of final grade subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturer aim

Finance and Financial Arithmetic 1.5 61552000 6 32 hours (8 case study tutorial, 24 lecture) 5 prof. L. Keuleneer prof. L. Keuleneer The purpose of Finance and Financial Arithmetic is to provide an understanding of the most important issues in financial management and to learn how to use financial tools in managing companies. content Topics discussed: • Financial management and the ultimate objective of the company • Time value of money • The 'weighted average cost of capital' • Capital budgeting • The optimal financial structure of a company and overview of different types of funds • Valuation of companies and the risk-return relation • The dividend policy of a company • Financial risk management: the techniques literature Will be announced examination format written interim examination 60 %, cases 40 %

Exam parts

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Introduction to International Business Administration IBA 1.1 61512010 6 24 hours (4 discussion group, 8 case study tutorial, 12 lecture) 1 dr. P.J. Peverelli The aim of this course is to familiarise students with a number of general business concepts such as organization design, business environment and strategy. content This course is an introduction to organization, organization design and environment. literature • R.L. Daft, Organization Theory and Design. 8th edition. Thomson, South-Western. • Course manual and case material on Blackboard examination format written interim examination multiple choice 60 % and 4 case assignments 40 % subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturers aim

content

form of tuition

literature

examination format

remarks

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Logistics and Operations Research 1.4 61522010 6 40 hours (12 discussion tutorial, 28 lecture) and 4 topic exams. 4 dr. I.F.A. Vis dr. I.F.A. Vis; prof.dr. A.A.I. Holtgrefe The course Logistics and Operations Research provides you with an introduction to logistics and operational analysis. The objective of the course is to acquire knowledge, skills concerning and insights into qualitative and quantitative approaches for decision support at companies. After following this course you are familiar with terms such as • Supply Chain Management and Logistics • Materials Management • Physical Distribution • Linear Programming • Network Models • Project Management During the discussion meetings you can interactively work on exercises. All exercises are related to the subjects treated in the lectures and are a good preparation for the topic exams and exam. Topic Exams: each student individually needs to made assignments during four meetings. • Heizer, J. & B. Render, Operations Management. 8th edition. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006 • Other materials will be distributed via Blackboard written interim examination The grading for the course depends on the results of the written examination 60 % and on the results of the topic exams 40 %. Topic exams are compulsory.



Marketing and Marketing Research IBA 61512020 6 32 hours (10 discussion group, 8 case study tutorial, 14 lecture) 1 drs. M.H.P. Kleijnen The course objectives are two-folded: Conceptual objectives: To provide you with • a basic knowledge about marketing and recent developments in this field; • an understanding of how to identify, create, and deliver customer value from an international perspective; • a basic knowledge about (international) marketing research. Managerial objectives: • Understanding and applying marketing concepts in practice • Develop research skills • To enhance practical skills: • leadership versus teamwork • writing versus presenting content This course can be considered as providing a basic level of marketing and marketing research knowledge for undergraduate students, independent of their specialisation. The course is a prerequisite third-year and master's courses in marketing, but besides that the acquired knowledge will be valuable in any organisational or financial career as well. The main objective of this course is to confront you with the most recent developments in marketing, as well as the basic marketing knowledge required for every future academic or marketer. Additionally, a basic introduction to marketing research is provided. In relation to this, we illustrate the academic and practical use of marketing research by means of guest lectures, discussions and case assignments. Therefore, this course subsequently deals with • the latest developments in marketing (e.g., creating value and interactive media) • how to create marketing strategies from a customer-oriented perspective • how to learn from the market and its environment • creating a basic understanding of marketing research • how to develop a sound research proposal Another aim of this course is to provide you with the opportunity to link your theoretical knowledge to practice. This will be realized by writing your own research proposal. The general objective of the proposal is to develop a research plan for a company of your choice that investigates how this company can create value for its consumers in the virtual market place. form of tuition • Lectures • Discussion lectures • Case lectures Attendance case lectures is obligatory literature • Marketing: Perrault, William D. and E. Jerome McCarthy, Essentials of Marketing: A Global-Managerial Approach. 10th edition (International edition). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2006 • Research: Velde, Mandy van der, Paul Jansen and Niel Anderson (2004), Guide to Management Research Methods. Malden, MA: Blackwell

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Publishing Ltd Additionally, lecture slides as well as material case lectures (obligatory articles) are part of the obligatory literature • Possible changes and/or additions will be announced on Blackboard examination format written interim examination 60% (individual) assignment 40% (team effort) entry requirements No entry requirements •


content

form of tuition

literature examination format

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Organizational Behavior 1.4 61542000 6 24 hours (10 case study tutorial, 14 lecture) 4 drs. J.S.E. Dikkers The learning objectives of this course are first to gain knowledge and understanding of concepts and theories related to human behavior in organizations, and second how to apply this knowledge in practical situations. After this course, you are able to: • Define and explain key terms or concepts from social sciences relevant to Organizational Behavior • Describe the basic interaction between individual, group, and organization in such terms • Compare different theoretical approaches that deal with this interaction • Apply the above in trying to analyze and solve existing organizational problems • Identify practical solutions to Organizational Behavior related problems Organizational Behavior (OB) deals with the human factor in organizations. During this course we will look at behavior in organizations from different levels of analysis: the individual, the group, and the organization. • The individual level focuses on the person of the employee and his or her job. You will study personality and individual differences, work attitudes, perception and judgment, motivation, satisfaction and stress. • The group level deals with teams or departments and the interaction within and between groups in organizations. You will take a look at group and team performance and characteristics. • The organizational level looks at the interaction between managers and individuals, groups and the organization as a whole. You will study organizational consequences of national and organizational cultures, leadership, change and development. Case sessions: during these meetings student teams will work on group assignments and give presentations. Attendance is mandatory. Hearing lectures: during the lectures theories, concepts from Organizational Behavior and practical examples are presented. • Course manual and additional information on blackboard. • Book is to be announced on the Blackboard site written interim examination - MC exam (60 % of the final grade) - Presentation and team case report (40 % of the final grade).


Students have to complete both elements (with at least 5.0) in order to get a final course grade (which should be at least 5.5). See Blackboard for detailed examination criteria: - For case reports: content, structure, quality of the case analysis, extent to which the problem is solved; - For presentations: team presentation, content, presentation skills, interaction with the class. subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturer aim

content

form of tuition literature examination format

Skills Lab 61522030 3 24 hours (24 lecture) 2 lectures, 2 interactive sessions 2 dr. S.N. Khapova MBA dr. S.N. Khapova MBA (K. de Haan-Czako and other instructors) This course aims to equip students with relevant basic tools across 4 skills groups (i.e., English skills, academic skills, presentation skills and crosscultural skills) which can be used (a) for effective learning experience through out the IBA programme, and (b) for developing these skills further through out the programme to become better international professionals in the future. The course involves 4 sub-courses: (Business) English Skills - 5 x 2 hours • Writing skills: students will work on grammar exercises and written assignments including 3 essays on international business topics. For all assignments students will receive feedback on the format, structure, style, and grammar. • Conversation skills: students will learn English for business conversations to enable them to participate in the IBA programme courses and in a variety of international business situations. • Reading skills: students will learn effective reading techniques for improving their skills in reading academic textbooks and scientific journal articles in English. Academic Skills - 3 x 2 hours • Students will learn how to analyse a case study and write a case study analysis report. Presentation Skills - 2 x 2 hours • Students will learn how to make effective presentations. Video technology will be used to improve presentation skills. Students will receive explicit feedback on their presentation. Cross Cultural Skills - 2 x 2 hours • Students will be introduced to the key culture models, and exercise their basic understanding of these models in an interactive workshop. All sub-courses are taught in an interactive manner. To be announced written interim examination Final grade for this course will involve a combination of: exam 60% and individual and team course work 40%

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content

form of tuition

literature

examination format 3.1.2 subject code credits period co-ordinator lecturer aim

content form of tuition literature examination format entry requirements

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Statistics I 61542010 6 48 hours (24 tutorial, 24 lecture) 5 dr. J.M. Sneek The purpose of Statistics I is to provide a basic knowledge of how to draw conclusions from a dataset about the population from which this dataset has been drawn. In many areas of economics and business administration one encounters data. In Statistics I we start with an introduction to descriptive statistics, including graphical representations, frequency distributions and measures of central tendency and dispersion. One also often encounters data specifically collected to answer certain questions about one or more population(s). In Statistics I we provide some elementary knowledge about probability theory (probabilities, random variables, distributions and sample distributions) and use that to get a start in estimation and testing of certain population characteristics (mean, variance, proportion, median). Students are also exposed to the comparison of two populations and if time permits some regression analysis. Two times two lecture hours, one take home assignment and two times two tutorial hours per week. In the lectures an introduction, overview and some examples are given, in the tutorials students make exercises individually. The take home assignments may require the use of specialized computer software and they are marked and returned to the students, and if necessary discussed in class. • M.L. Berenson, D.M. Levine & T.C. Krehbiel, Basic Business Statistics. Concepts and Applications. 10th edition. Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13197581-1 • Other materials can be downloaded from Blackboard written interim examination second year Business Plan 61662010 3 6 drs. J.K. Verduijn drs. J.K. Verduijn The course Business Plan is an integration project. Aim of the course is to revisit and integrate theoretical concepts of all previous courses by means of writing a business plan for a new business. Theory of all previous IBA courses. There will be two lectures in total. Students will be working in teams; assistance will be provided through Blackboard. Course manual and literature of the previous 2 years. paper Students have to be familiar with all IBA courses.



content

form of tuition

literature

examination format

entry requirements

European Business Law 61622020 6 30 hours (8 question and answer session, 8 case study tutorial, 14 lecture) 2 mr. N.A. Jansen MBA (LLM) Developing a basic knowledge and understanding of Dutch, European and International law. Knowledge of the topics selected for this module will enable the student to plan and implement strategies and policies on a multi country, regional or global basis while taking into account the opportunities and limitations resulting from the miscellaneous legal environments. Introduction to the legal dimensions of: • environmental analysis specifically of the European Union • strategy development and implementation • growth strategies • internationalization • accounting and finance • international marketing and sales • risk management. In the weekly lectures the legal dimensions of business related topics will be introduced and explained. Theory subsequently needs to be applied by the students in business related questions, cases and projects. Assignments are to be presented and discussed by the students in the case lectures. The consultancy hours offer students the opportunity for personal coaching and help in preparing projects and assignments. • Jansen, Nico, Reader Business Law 2007/08. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit, 2007 • Davies, Karen, Understanding European Union Law. 3rd edition. Abingdon: Routledge-Cavendish, 2007 ISBN 978-0-415-41977-2 • Additional literature will be made available via Blackboard written interim examination Course work (40%) Written examination in true/false format (60%) No specific requirements.


Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping 61612010 6 34 hours (20 discussion tutorial, 14 lecture) 1 and 2 prof.dr. C. Camfferman RA To provide students with a basic understanding of financial statements and the bookkeeping process on which they are based. content In this course students learn the basic structure of financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement) and how these are used to provide management, investors and others with insight into the financial position and performance of an enterprise. Students will learn how the financial statements are based on the logic of double-entry bookkeeping, how individual transactions and events can be recorded on the same basis, and how financial statements can then be extracted from an enterprise's

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accounting records. form of tuition Lectures and case/discussion classes. Accounting is best learned by doing, so students enrolling for this course are expected to attend at the case/discussion classes. literature Belverd E. Needles & Marian Powers, Financial Accounting. Most recent edition. Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin . examination format written interim examination combined grade for assignments and written examination remarks FA and B, year 1: period 2 / FA and B, year 2: period 1 subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

Financial Management 61642010 3 12 hours (4 tutorial, 8 lecture) 4 prof. L. Keuleneer The purpose of Financial Management is to provide understanding of key concepts in finance (not yet discussed in Finance and Financial Arithmetic in year 1) and to learn how to use these financial tools in practice. content • Financial statement analysis • Short term and long term financial planning • Cash Budgeting, working capital management and cash management • Financial Risk Management and financial engineering • Leasing literature S.A. Ross, R.W. Westerfield & B.D. Joedan, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance. 7th edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, Alternate International Edition, 2006, ISBN 0-07-2991593 examination format written interim examination 60 % , cases 40 % subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

Human Resources Management 61622010 6 29 hours (7 question and answer session, 8 case study tutorial, 14 lecture) 2 drs. D.A. Driver-Zwartkruis • Introduce students to HRM concepts, principles, and practices • Heighten students' awareness to the inter-relationship of employee development and organizational goals • Apply relevant HRM concepts and principles in case study assignment • Further develop students' presentation skills content Human Resource Management is the design of formal systems in an organization to ensure the effective and efficient use of human talent. These formal systems should generate activities that involve the utilization and development of an organization's resources which include: personnel, technical equipment and policies. Thereby, an organization is equipped with essential elements to increase both the individual and the organization's potential to achieve stated goals. In this course special attention is given to the service industry. literature • Noe, Hollenbeck e.a., Human Resource Management. Gaining A

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Competitive Advantage. 5th edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, International Editional Edition, 2006 • Relevant articles for case study report examination format written interim examination mutiple choice 60 % assignment 40 % subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

content

literature

examination format

entry requirements

subject code credits period co-ordinator aim

Information Systems 61612020 6 22 hours (8 case study tutorial, 14 lecture) 1 drs. S. Meents The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between Information Systems (IS) and business strategy. This relationship is dual in nature and thus raises two questions that will be answered during the lectures. First, how can particular IS enable the organization to gain a competitive advantage? Second, given the importance of IS, how can an IS strategy be formulated that is carefully aligned with business strategy? • Strategic information systems • IS strategic planning • Alignment of IS strategy with the business strategy • The extended enterprise • Trust in business (relationships) • Outsourcing • Book: Applegate, L.M., Austin, R.D. & F.W. McFarlan, Corporate Information Strategy and Management. 7th edition (International Edition). New York: McGrawHill, 2007 • Articles: Will be posted on Blackboard written interim examination case module assignments The grade for the course will depend on the results of both the written examination (60 percent) and the case module (40 percent), both with a minimum grade of 5.0. Students are required to pass the written examination as well as the case module to obtain a final grade. All students are required to have followed the first-year course Business Information Technology or a comparable course that introduces topics such as Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), IS management, IS implementation and Business Process Redesign (BPR). Integration Project II 61632010 3 3 drs. F.E.J.M. Derksen The objective of this course is for students to demonstrate their scientific approach in conducting research related to field of Marketing and Information systems. Furthermore students should demonstrate their ability to

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communicate in writing their findings to the academic community. content Each team should evaluate the way in which a company's website contributes to the marketing strategy of that company. In order to do so you should first develop an instrument to measure the fit between a website and a marketing strategy. Typically this instrument should identify and measure attributes of a website that are relevant (contribute) to a marketing strategy. The marketing strategy itself should be described in a way that makes it possible to link the strategy to attributes of a website. In developing the instrument you can make use of the literature of the marketing course and the papers on measuring all kind of aspects of websites (available in blackboard). All the findings have to be reported in a paper written for the academic community. This means that the report (paper) should have the structure and layout of an academic paper. form of tuition Integration Project II is a 3 ects credit project, with an equivalent of ca. 80 hours. The project is done in teams of 3 students (this means 3 times 80 hours equals 240 hours available for the project). The final mark of the project is based on a written team report. literature Literature from second year, period 1 courses and research papers. subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim content


Management Accounting 61642020 3 34 hours (20 discussion tutorial, 14 lecture) 4 prof.dr. T.L.C.M. Groot To introduce students to the use of accounting information for the purpose of managerial decision-making and control. While accounting information as reflected in financial statements (balance sheet, income statements) is useful for managers, it typically needs to be supplemented by far more detailed and specific accounting-based information. Such information is necessary for making decisions (are certain activities profitable?) and to control the activities of subordinate managers and employees (is a department run efficiently?) This course introduces students to various types of costing systems that generate information of this kind. Lectures and case/discussion classes. Students enrolling for this course are expected to attend at the case/discussion classes. Horngren, Charles, Srikant M. Datar & George Foster, Cost Accounting. 11th edition or more recent. Prentice Hall written interim examination


Philosophy I IBA 61662020 3 24 hours (24 discussion tutorial) 6 dr. H. van Diest In the perspective of the notion 'reflective practioner' the course aims at learning how to pose reflexive and conceptual-analytical questions about management and organisations. content The goal will be operationalised by concentrating in a reflexive and

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conceptual way on human resource management, especially with regards to the relation between human resources, human beings and the organisational structures. literature reader examination format written interim examination subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturers aim content

form of tuition

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Quantitative Business Analysis 61642030 6 30 hours (18 working group, 12 lecture) 4 prof.dr.ir. C.A.G.M. van Montfort dr. J.R. van den Brink; dr. B.F. Heidergott; dr. D.A. van der Laan; dr. A.A.N. Ridder; dr. A.F. de Vos; prof.dr.ir. C.A.G.M. van Montfort This course provides an introduction to the application of quantitative modeling and analyses to business administration problems. The first part of the lectures emphasizes decision trees and game trees. Decision trees and game trees are tools of modern management in analyzing financial situations of decision that have a factor of uncertainty and in analyzing situations of negotiation that involves a number of participants. These quantitative methods of analysis will be discussed as part of practical applications by using auxiliary software for managerial purposes. The second part of the lectures will enter into skills for simulation, linear regression and forecasting. Simulation is a frequently used managerial skill in obtaining an insight in the influence of factors of uncertainty in situations of decision. The basic principles, the possibilities and the restrictions of computer simulations will be dealt with on the basis of applications in the field of finance. Linear regression and forecasting-skills will also be exemplified on as part of this kind of application. Learning how to deal with Excel-based software is an important element of the lectures. Six weeks on end there will be a weekly lecture (two hours) and a working group (three hours). The members of each working group have been subdivided into eight teams. Each team is expected to give one presentation of a case solution. A second team will be asked to comment on this presentation. Attending the working groups is obligatory. If you miss out on more than one working group session you have to solve an additional case study. Obligatory literature: • Montfort, C. van & J.R van den Brink, Quantitative Business Analysis. Essex, UK: Pearson Custom Publishing, ISBN 1 84479 110 6, Chapter T1, T2, T3, T4, E1, E2, E3 and E4 • The Powerpoint presentations of the lectures are to be downloaded from VU Blackboard practical test Four practical home assignments. written interim examination The solutions of the four cases that are handed in will be graded and are equally important. Your final result will be an average of these grades (40%) and the examination result (60%). The final result has to be 5.5 or higher. Furthermore, the result of the four cases and the result of the examination

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separately have to be minimally 5.0. subject code credits contact period lecturer aim

Services Marketing 61652020 6 22 hours (8 case study tutorial, 14 lecture) 5 to be announced • Acquire knowledge of and insight into concepts that are important to marketing of intangible products (services) • Being able to apply this knowledge and insight in practice content In services marketing, both customer and competitor orientation is important. Next, being able to translate these orientations into services concepts that help to attain company targets is essential. To be able to understand this, in this course the following topics will be discussed: • Classification of services and the services environment • Strategic aspects of services marketing • Service processes and the services marketing mix • Services innovation • Capacity management, and waiting time management • Quality and quality perception • Relationships and relationship marketing Both the consumer market (B2C) and business market (B2B) will be discussed. literature • Book to be announced on Blackboard • Articles • Cases provided by the coordinator examination format written interim examination and case analysis subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

Statistics II 61632020 3 22 hours (14 tutorial, 8 lecture) 3 dr. J.M. Sneek The purpose of Statistics II is to provide students with a basic knowledge of inferential statistics. content This course is a continuation of Statistics I. Many students will later in their professional life be exposed to data analysis (estimation and testing) and/or be required to understand scientific articles or conclusions based on empirical data. In Statistics II - assuming knowledge of the principles of Statistics I - several additional topics from testing and estimation are covered, including tests on means, proportions and variances in one, two or more populations, and including chi-square tests and other non-parametric tests applicable to one, two or more populations. Also regression analysis is one of the topics. There is some emphasis on understanding and analyzing computer output. form of tuition Two lecture hours, one or two take home assignments and two times two tutorial hours per week.

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In the lectures an introduction, overview and some examples are given, in the tutorials students make exercises individually. The take home assignments may require the use of specialized computer software and they are marked and returned to the students, and if necessary discussed in class. literature • M.L. Berenson, D.M. Levine & T.C. Krehbiel, Basic Business Statistics. Concepts and Applications. 10th edition. Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13197581-1 • Other materials can be downloaded from Blackboard examination format written interim examination entry requirements Some proficiency in Statistics I is assumed, though it is no formal prerequisite. subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

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Strategy Development, Implementation and Evaluation 61652010 6 22 hours (8 tutorial, 14 lecture) 5 dr.ir. P.W.L. Vlaar Acquire knowledge and insights into developing, implementing and evaluating strategies for business and other organizations. After following this course, students are able to apply the knowledge and insights concerning the strategic concepts and analyses that will be presented to actual cases in profit and non-profit organizations. Attributes and elements of strategy, strategic management processes, different perspectives on strategy, influence of the environment, role of resources, capabilities and expectations, scenario analysis, portfolio analysis, competitive advantage, culture and politics, competition and collaboration, strategic interaction, strategic options, allocation of resources, analysis of strategies, strategic change processes, and barriers to strategic change. Lectures and tutorials. During the lectures, theory will be explained and illustrated with actual examples. Throughout the tutorials, the theory is applied to concrete strategic issues and problems (by means of cases). Students elaborate on the cases in the form of written reports and/or oral presentations. Attending the tutorials is obligatory. • To be announced • Course manual and cases on Blackboard written interim examination written and oral presentations of case-assignments

3.1.3 naam code studiepunten contacturen

third year Accounting Information Systems 60341030 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) gecombineerd met activerende werkvormen periode 2 co-ordinator prof.dr. O.C. van Leeuwen doel Het leerdoel is het verwerven van een zodanige kennis van en inzicht in de grondslagen van de bestuurlijke informatieverzorging dat voor organisaties

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de bestuurlijke informatieverzorging op hoofdlijnen kan worden ontworpen en de opzet en de werking van de bestaande bestuurlijke informatieverzorging op hoofdlijnen kan worden beoordeeld. Cursisten hebben na afloop van de collegecyclus kennis van en inzicht in: • de verschillende te onderscheiden vormen van bestuurlijke informatie en de daaraan te stellen eisen in relatie tot het gebruiksdoel ervan in organisaties. Belangrijke eisen zijn eisen inzake de inhoud, de betrouwbaarheid, de tijdigheid en de presentatievorm van de bestuurlijke informatie • de organisatie van de informatieverzorging: de processen, de functies en de hulpmiddelen De inhoud van de cursus kent de hoofdthema's: • algemene grondslagen • fasen van de waardenkringloop • Starreveld, Van Leeuwen & Van Nimwegen, Bestuurlijke informatieverzorging. Deel 1: Algemene grondslagen. Meest recente druk. Groningen/Houten: Stenfert Kroese, ISBN 90 207 3052 5 • Starreveld, H.B. de Mare & E.J. Joëls, Bestuurlijke informatieverzorging. Deel 2A: Toepassingen. Fasen van de waardenkringloop. Meest recente druk. Alphen a/d Rijn: Samson Bedrijfsinformatie, ISBN 90 14 05695 8 • Bodnar, G.H. & W.S. Hopwood. Accounting Information Systems. Meest recente editie. Pearson Prentice Hall schriftelijk tentamen • Management en Organisatie • Financial Accounting Wijzigingen in de literatuur worden uiterlijk 1 maand voorafgaande aan de aanvang van het vak op de daarvoor geëigende wijze bekend gemaakt. Advanced Business Research Methods 61742010 6 18 hours (4 tutorial, 14 lecture) 2 feedbacksessions of 30 minutes 4 dr. R. Brohm dr. R. Brohm This course aims to familiarize you with the research process, the quality criteria, and the most important choices and considerations for designing a research. • Detailed step by step overview of research process • Exploratory vs. hypothesis testing research • General research approach: positivism vs. hermeneutics • Scientific problems to take into account when defining a problem definition and choosing a research design • Theoretical (Bachelor) thesis • Practice: how to write a research design? During the lectures students will be introduced to the reader. Since the material is complex the lectures are strongly recommended. During the course you will work in teams on writing two different research proposals. For each proposal their will be a feedback session with your tutor,


and after a week a tutorial where you and your team will present your proposal. literature There will be a reader available on Blackboard, which contains excerpts from several books, comments and introductions from R. Brohm. There will also be some additional articles. examination format written interim examination The grade will be based for 40% on your research proposals, and for 60% on your exam. In order to pass you will need to have a 5.5 minimum for both. entry requirements Business Research Methods (1st year course) subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

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Advanced Human Resource Management 61312000 6 20 hours (8 active participation, 12 lecture) 1 dr. Z. Sasovova In the last decades several views on managing human resources have been developed, investigated, and applied. During this course a number of these views will be discussed. The aim is to familiarize students with the developments in the field of the Human Resource Management (HRM). The themes that will be addressed are related to trends in management thinking: From the early systems thinking, via a variety of behavioral and economic perspectives to the current strategic view on HRM and social network theories. In the course Advanced Human Resource Management, theoretical models and main ideas behind Human Resource Management will be discussed, as they have developed over time. Several theoretical concepts on HRM will be treated and subdivided into three broad categories according to the reference disciplines of their origin (psychology, economics, and sociology). All three categories will be treated during separate lectures with ample time for discussion and application during active participation sessions (response hours). The basic concepts of the original theories will be considered together with their applications in the field of HRM. Lectures and response hours. During the lectures the obligatory literature will be addressed. In addition, a few guest lectures will be given by professionals from the HRM-practice. In the group seminars individual essays will be discussed and criticized. Both grades need to have a minimum score of 5.0 to pass the course. An up-to-date reader that is composed of 8 conceptual and empirical articles on HRM, published in acknowledged international journals. written interim examination 60% of the final grade. The exam will consist of open questions requiring short answers testing both in-depth knowledge and understanding of the material. essay 40% of the final grade. The intention of the essay is the application of the theoretical knowledge by addressing a current situation from HRM practice from at least two theoretical perspectives on Human Resource Management. The essay comprises a maximum of 5 pages and needs to be structured in such a way that on the basis of the discussed theories, one can give

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recommendations in a logic manner about the self chosen situation from practice. Furthermore, it is required to use additional literature to develop more in-depth understanding of the discussed Human Resource Management theories. entry requirements Basic knowledge of human resource management processes and practices is assumed (equivalent to the 2nd year course Human Resource Management). naam code studiepunten contacturen

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Bedrijfseconomisch practicum 60381030 6 24 (24 practicum) Interactieve workshops en praktijkopdracht voor MKB onderneming (opdrachtgever) in samenwerking met medestudenten (opdrachtnemer) onder begeleiding van docent. 4 drs. A.C. Guldemond Het doel van het vak is een leerervaring te bieden die economische activiteiten combineert met het concreet ervaren van samenwerken in een groep. Kernwoorden voor dit vak zijn: samenwerken, actief, inventief, nieuw, niet eerder gedaan, businessmodel, onderhandelen, gedrag, leren en feedback, zelforganisatie, initiatief, realiteitszin, analyseren en profileren. De adviesopdracht welke door een MKB bedrijf aan de studenten wordt gegeven vormt de kern van het vak. De inhoud wordt bepaald door het probleem en de studie tot op heden in een PVA welke door de docent wordt voorbereid in samenwerking met de klant. • Twee sessies per week en een introductiecollege • Bedrijfsbezoeken (3 keer klantbezoek), trainingen en overlegsessies Literatuur uit voorgaande vakken. opdracht Beoordeling van de adviesopdracht door de opdrachtgever (50 procent) en docent (50 procent) op inhoud en samenwerking. Er is geen tentamen, de eindpresentatie door de groep voor de klant is het tentamen en valt in de tentamenperiode. Af te raden is meer dan 2 vakken te doen tijdens een periode als BEP gevolgd wordt. Workshops op het gebied van samenwerken, communicatie en projectmanagement en tegelijkertijd een bedrijfsadviesopdracht in een middelgrote onderneming. Volgens een oud-student kun je van de docenten leren terwijl ze ook luisteren en je uitdagen op de dingen die je nog niet gedaan hebt. Hierbij kun je denken aan zelf onderzoeksvragen formuleren, interviews afnemen en onderhandelen met een opdrachtgever. De docenten zullen je uitdagen zelf kennis te maken en actief aan de slag te gaan. Het vak is geschikt voor studenten in de laatste fase van hun bachelorstudie met vragen over de praktische toepasbaarheid van de studie en over wat ze van werk kunnen verwachten. Het levert je plezier op, persoonlijk inzicht in jouw manier van samenwerken en in je persoonlijke kwaliteiten. Verder ga je bewust verbanden zien tussen vakken en krijg je inzicht in de complexiteit van het bedrijfsleven.Citaat van een student: 'Goed luisteren, organiseren en plannen worden op een zelfsturende wijze (met vallen en opstaan) geactiveerd'.


Een voorbeeld van een opdracht is de bedrijfseconomische analyse van De Kievitshoeve met als gevolg afstoting van activiteiten, verbetering van economische performance en inzicht in toekomstperspectief van de onderneming www.kievitshoeve.nl naam code studiepunten contacturen periode coördinator doel

Belastingrecht 60341070 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) 4 mr. H.A. Brasz Economen die werkzaam zijn in bestuurlijke functies en bedrijfsleven worden in toenemende mate geconfronteerd met gecompliceerde problematiek, waarbij fiscale aspecten een belangrijke en veelal doorslaggevende rol spelen. De econoom dient als intermediair te kunnen fungeren tussen opdrachtgevers (bijvoorbeeld ondernemingen en/of particulieren) en fiscale specialisten, m.a.w. fiscale problematiek te onderkennen. Dit wordt van steeds meer belang nu het belastingrecht jaarlijks gecompliceerder wordt en de fiscale gevolgen van allerlei beslissingen materieel een voortdurend grotere rol spelen. Het internationaal belastingrecht wint daarbij sterk aan betekenis als aspect van internationale juridische en economische betrekkingen. Hiertoe dient men kennis te hebben van het positieve belastingrecht, zoals dat is vastgelegd in heffingswetten en inzicht te verwerven in de onderlinge samenhang van de verschillende belastingen. Voorts dient men de basiskennis te verdiepen door deze toe te passen op aan de praktijk ontleende feitencomplexen in de vorm van cases, zodat men later in de praktijk fiscale aspecten kan onderkennen. Het is daartoe wenselijk de studie in het vak belastingrecht vanaf de aanvang van het studiejaar ter hand te nemen, aangezien het programma is gericht op het verwerven van (kritisch) inzicht en het leggen van verbanden met andere maatschappelijke en economische vraagstukken. Het belastingrecht is aan permanente verandering onderhevig. In verband hiermee is de studie van dit vak gericht op het leren onderkennen van de fiscale problematiek, die voortvloeit uit bepaalde juridische en economischmaatschappelijke vraagstukken. Deze methodiek prevaleert daarom boven het verwerven van parate-feitenkennis, zonder nochtans dit laatste te onderschatten. inhoud In de hoorcolleges wordt de stof uit de voorgeschreven studieboeken, die het positieve belastingrecht tot onderwerp hebben, verduidelijkt. Daarnaast worden capita selecta uit de belastingwetenschap behandeld, zoals de economische betekenis van de belastingen; het verband tussen belastingen, maatschappij en recht; grondslagen van een rechtvaardig belastingstelsel in het licht van inkomensverdeling en collectieve uitgaven, e.d. Aan het begin van het collegejaar wordt daartoe een gespecificeerd collegeprogramma uitgereikt. werkwijze Met ingang van collegejaar 2007-2008 bedraagt de studielast van het vak Belastingrecht 6 ects. Studenten die voor 2007 tentamen aflegden voor 12 ects en alsnog een herkansing dienen te doen, kunnen contact opnemen met de coördinator of kiezen om het 6-puntsvak te doen.

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literatuur Verplichte literatuur • Hofstra, H.J., e.a., Inleiding tot het Nederlands Belastingrecht. Laatste druk, Deventer • Stevens, L.G.M., Elementair Belastingrecht voor Economen en bedrijfsjuristen. Deventer, 2007/2008 (bedoeld als inleiding en orientering op de stof) • Heithuis, E.J.W. & R.P. van den Dool, Compendium Vennootschapsbelasting, Deventer: Kluwer, 2007 • Belastingwetten, SDU of Kluwer of Vermande, uitgave 2007 • M.P. van Overbeeke/H.A. Brasz, Syllabus Internationaal Belastingrecht. 2007; verkrijgbaar bij de VU Boekhandel toetsing schriftelijk tentamen blackboard Bij deze cursus wordt Blackboard gebruikt. subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturers aim

Business Intelligence 61312020 6 18 hours (6 tutorial, 12 lecture) 1 dr. J.F.M. Feldberg prof.dr. A.E. Eiben; dr. J.F.M. Feldberg The primary aim of this course is to establish an elementary frame of reference concerning business intelligence. Despite the fact that the course focus is primarily managerial and not technical, an important objective is to train students in the successful application of a popular decision support tool (Cognos Powerplay). By means of 'learning by doing' elementary skills in the usage of decision support systems are acquired. Students completing this course successfully, will be able to actively collaborate in sensible thinking and deciding about the benefits, development, application, and implementation of business intelligence solutions. The realization of business objectives and sustainable competitive advantage are keywords in this context. In addition to this, the frame of reference offers a point of departure for further self-study to deepen and broaden the knowledge offered. content Modern organizations, in particular the management of these organizations, tend to suffer more from an overload of data than from a lack of data. To a great extent this overload is caused by the overwhelming growth of information systems in organizations. Enterprise Systems (ERP), Customer Relationship Systems (CRM) as well as the growing number of Internetbased applications (e.g. e-commerce) are all important sources for the explosion of financial, production, marketing and other business data. The challenge for most organizations is to develop and build systems that support the transformation of the collected data into knowledge. To be successful in this transformation processes organizations have to develop the capability to aggregate, analyze and use data to make informed decisions. This course deals with the theory concerning business intelligence as well as with the application of business intelligence solutions. To be able to successfully implement business intelligence solutions, one has to have knowledge about their functioning and proficiency in using them, as well as knowledge about their field of application, e.g., how to select, transform, integrate, condense, store and analyze relevant data. This course uses the term 'business

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intelligence' in a broad sense. A narrow interpretation would only deal with software solutions ('data warehousing' and 'online analytical processing'). The broad interpretation - to be used in this course - also includes: theories concerning decision making, related decision support systems and their application for management, i.e., data warehousing, online analytical processing and data mining. • Book (to be announced) • Various papers. written interim examination 65% practical test (weekly) business intelligence tutorial tests (35%). All tests and exams will be administered through a digital test environment. • Basic course in Information Systems, f.e. on the level of Laudon & Laudon, Management Information Systems, Managing the Digital Firm. 9th edition.Prentice Hall, 2004 • O'Brien, James A., Introduction to Information Systems. 12th edition. Mc Graw Hill, 2005

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Christian Social Philosophy in an International Perspective 60342060 6 24 hours (12 active participation, 12 lecture) 4 prof.dr. J.J. van Dijk Christian social philosophy has an international background, which is translated in every European society in its own national form. The aim is to give insight in the reasons for the different national translations of christian social philosophy in economic en governmental institutions. content Christian social philosophy has had a lot of consequences for the socioeconomic infrastructure of the Netherlands. Typical Dutch institutions, like the Social Economic Council (SER), Foundation of Labour, the legally binding procedure of the collective bargaining procedure and the role of the works council in Dutch organisations are based on the principles of Christian social philosophy. But Christian social philosophy is not a mere Dutch phenomenon. Also in other European and American countries Christian social philosophy is very vital. Every country has had its own national developments in thinking, which had also other consequences for the socio-economic infrastructure. What were the main developments in Christian social philosophy in some other countries? Might one say there is a mainstream thinking at international level? What are the differences between the different countries and what is the reason for these differences? literature Will be announced later examination format paper based on international literature the students have to write a paper of 15 pages in which they deal with the developments in Christian social philosophy in one country.

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Consumer Behaviour 60311050 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) 1 Aan het einde van dit onderdeel is de student bekend met de belangrijkste wetenschappelijke inzichten in consumentengedrag. Daarbij ligt de nadruk op de psychologie van de consument en de invloed van de omgeving op het koopgedrag. Tevens is de student in staat deze kennis te vertalen naar het marketingbeleid van een organisatie Marketing begint en eindigt met de consument. Het begint bij het bepalen van consumentenbehoeften en eindigt bij het bepalen van tevredenheid na aankoop. Het verkrijgen van inzicht in koopgedrag van consumenten is daarom essentieel voor een succesvol marketingbeleid. Binnen de (micro-)economie ligt de nadruk veelal op het keuzegedrag van een rationele consument, die bereid is een bepaalde prijs te betalen voor goederen. Echter, vaak is het keuzegedrag van consumenten niet rationeel, maar wordt het beïnvloed door vooroordelen, reclame, of het bij een groep willen horen. In het vak consumentengedrag ligt de nadruk juist op deze minder rationele aspecten van keuzegedrag. Om deze aspecten te begrijpen en erop te kunnen inspelen worden in de cursus theorieën uit bijvoorbeeld de psychologie gebruikt, zoals theorieën over geheugen, leren, perceptie, attitude en motivatie. Consumentengedrag, dat eerder in de studie kort is behandeld, wordt in deze cursus verder uitgediept, deels aan de hand van extra artikelen en cases. Daarbij ligt de nadruk op inzicht in en toepassing van de verschillende theorieën. Wordt nog bekend gemaakt. schriftelijk tentamen (70%) en wekelijkse opdrachten (30%) • Bachelor Economie en bedrijfseconomie: Marketing 1.1 en Marketing 1.2 of • Bachelor Bedrijfswetenschappen: Marketing of • Toelating tot het Premaster programma voor de Master of Marketing

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Corporate Finance 60321010 6 36 (12 activerende werkvormen, 24 hoorcollege) 2 dr. A.B. Dorsman; prof.dr.ir. H.A. Rijken Introductie in de theorie en de praktijk van ondernemingsfinanciering en een introductie in de waardecreatie bij ondernemingen. inhoud Het college zal bestaan uit een mix van theoretische concepten en praktijk. Gestart wordt met het Modigliani en Miller raamwerk voor de ondernemingsfinanciering (irrelevantie solvabiliteit voor de waarde van de onderneming en de dividendpolitiek). Vervolgens wordt dit concept verder uitgebouwd met vennootschapsbelasting en faillissementskosten. Ook wordt in ruime mate aandacht besteed aan de bepaling van de kasstroom en de kostenvoet. Ook komt ruim aan bod het waarderen van ondernemingen en

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het bepalen of ondernemingen waarde creëren. In de bijbehorende werkcolleges zal theorie worden toegepast met het uitwerken van opgaven en praktijkcases. activerende werkvormen 1 x per week 2 uur hoorcollege 2 x per week 2 uur Literatuur wordt bij het begin van het college bekend gemaakt. Dit vak is een kernvak voor studenten Economie en bedrijfseconomie en een keuzevak voor studenten BWS en andere richtingen. Het is een toelatingsvoorwaarde voor de Master of Finance en het vak Corporate Finance 4.2. Het vak wordt gedoceerd in het Nederlands. Development Economics 60332050 6 24 hours (24 lecture) + 1 day Africulture simulation game 4 dr. R.H. Oostendorp; dr. J.J.Y. Schipper The course introduces students to current economic research on development issues. The course is aimed both at students who have a general interest in developing countries and those who expect to deal with developing countries in their future career. Lectures are on important topics in economic development: income growth, poverty, inequality; markets for land, credit and insurance; foreign aid and corruption. The emphasis throughout the course is on the microeconomic analysis of decisions by households, policy makers, village leaders and other such agents. A central theme of the course is the relationship between poverty and development. How do poverty and inequality affect the functioning of rural markets and what are the effects on long-term growth? How do market failures such as information asymmetries determine outcomes in credit markets and what is the role of microfinance? Is development aid effective? What do we know about corruption and how to fight it? The lectures provide students with both a critical understanding of the theory as well as an empirical knowledge regarding these issues. A special feature of this course is the Africulture simulation game in which students experience microeconomic decisionmaking as a member of an African rural household: participants have to devise the best allocation strategy (which crops? migrate to the city? how large should the family be?) in a risky environment with various types of shocks (drought, illness). Good thinking allows the family to prosper. Selected chapters from Debraj Ray, Development Economics, 1998 written interim examination The participants are expected to have some basic familiarity with the subject of development economics and preferably have a background in microeconomics. For information contact Mrs. T. Heemskerk, [email protected], tel.: 020-598 6140. See also our web-site http://www.feweb.vu.nl/

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E-Business 61331070 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) indien mogelijk zal de cursus worden ondersteund middels activerende werkvormen gericht op het werken met mainstream E-Business toepassingen. 4 dr. T. Verhagen Het doel van het college is om basiskennis bij te brengen op het gebied van E-Business. E-Business wordt beschouwd vanuit een management perspectief. Aan de orde komt wat E-business is, wat de belangrijkste Ebusiness vormen zijn, en welke aspecten een rol spelen bij het laten slagen van E-Business activiteiten. Ook wordt er ruim aandacht besteed aan de koppeling tussen theorie en praktijk. Hoewel de primaire focus van deze cursus B2C zal zijn, komen ook belangrijke B2B aspecten aan de orde. In de colleges zullen de navolgende thema's en onderwerpen vanuit diverse vakgebieden - bedrijfseconomie, marketing, informatiekunde - worden uitgediept: • E-Business modellen • E-Marketplaces • E-Business strategie • E-Marketing en CRM • Mobile commerce • E-Government • Back-office integration (ERP) • Effectief website design • Online research In de collegeserie zal naast de theorie ook ruimte zijn voor gastsprekers die de E-Business praktijk toelichten. • Turban, e.a., Electronic Commerce: A Managerial Perspective. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. De editie wordt later bekendgemaakt. • Aanvullende artikelen worden via de digitale leeromgeving dan wel dmv een reader ter beschikking gesteld schriftelijk tentamen open vragen. Economie van het onroerend goed 60341050 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) hoorcolleges, tweemaal wordt een prakticum/werkcollege gegeven waarin een opdracht moet worden uitgewerkt. 5 dr. J. Rouwendal; dr. F.R. Bruinsma; drs. R. Vreeker Economie van het onroerend goed geeft een inleiding tot de theoriën en methoden die betrekking hebben op de markt voor onroerend goed (woningen, kantoren, winkels, bedrijfsterreinen, etc.). Het vak biedt een veelheid aan inzichten in de werking van de vastgoedsector zoals locatiekeuze, werking van de grondmarkt en ruimtelijke ordeningsbeleid. Een belangrijk deel van de investeringen in Nederland vindt plaats in


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onroerend goed. Het gaat om investeringen met een lange levensduur die een stempel zetten op de ruimtelijke inrichting van het land. Economische dynamiek manifesteert zich bij uitstek in de vastgoedmarkt (bouwactiviteiten, leegstand). Vanuit beleggersoogpunt is vastgoed een belangrijk deel van de portefeuille. Voor Amsterdam geldt dat de meest interessante ontwikkelingen op het gebied van onroerend goed zich de komende jaren zullen afspelen op de Zuidas. De onroerend goed markt is nauw verbonden aan de grondmarkt. In Nederland is die markt sterk gereguleerd, voornamelijk via het ruimtelijke ordeningsbeleid. Onderwerpen die aan bod komen zijn: deelmarkten (woningen, kantoren, bedrijfsgebouwen en grond), actoren op de onroerend goed markt (gebruikers/bewoners, bouwondernemingen, projectontwikkelaars, beleggers), prijsvorming, overheidsbeleid, speculatie, huren of kopen, korte versus lange termijn, kosten-batenanalyse. • Denise DiPasquale & William C. Wheaton, Urban Economics and Real Estate Markets. Prentice Hall, 1996 • Syllabus over het Nederlandse ruimtelijke-ordeningsbeleid • Additioneel studiemateriaal en powerpoint slides met hoorcollegestof zullen via Blackboard beschikbaar worden gesteld schriftelijk tentamen met open vragen geen Het vak heeft relaties met diverse andere keuzevakken uit het derde jaar, waaronder Urban Economics en Environmental Economics and Management. Het bevat een aantal aantrekkelijke toepassingen voor studenten uit de algemene en bedrijfseconomische afstudeerrichtingen.

naam code studiepunten contacturen periode coördinator docenten doel

Economische en sociale geschiedenis 60321060 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) 2 dr. T.L.M. Kint prof.dr. C.A. Davids; dr. T.L.M. Kint Het bijbrengen en verdiepen van inzicht in de ontwikkelingsgang van hedendaagse economische en sociale structuren in de wereld en daarnaast vergroting van de economische en sociaal-historische kennis. inhoud Ondanks een grote verscheidenheid op bijna alle gebieden van maatschappelijk leven kan de wereld van vandaag gezien worden als een 'global village'. Zij is het resultaat van velerlei integratieprocessen, die vooral sinds de 19de eeuw op gang zijn gekomen, gekenmerkt worden door een eigen dynamiek en in onderlinge verwevenheid op permanente voortgang gericht zijn. Op het economische en sociale deelveld van integratie zal aandacht worden besteed aan mondiale ontwikkelingen van na 1850, zoals internationale handel, internationale migratie en internationale kapitaalstromen. Ook onderwerpen die meer op zichzelf lijken te staan, zoals b.v. de geschiedenis van het coöperatiewezen, komen - ingepast in de integratievisie - aan bod. literatuur • C.M. Cipolla, Before the Industrial Revolution, European Society and Economy. 3rd edition. London / New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1994

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D. S. Landes, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, Why some are rich and some so poor. London / New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1998; dan wel de vertaling: Arm en Rijk, 2e druk 2002, Het Spectrum, Utrecht (een aantal hoofdstukken in overleg met de docent vast te stellen). toetsing mondeling tentamen opmerkingen • Tijdens de colleges wordt veel aandacht besteed aan het stellen en beantwoorden van vragen, aan discussie en aan het trekken van historische parallellen • De cursus wordt gedoceerd in het Nederlands •

naam code studiepunten contacturen periode docent doel

Enterprise Systems 61321060 6 24 (24 hoorcollege) 2 dr. E.R.K. Spoor Aan het eind van de cursus is de student in staat om, gefundeerd op wetenschappelijk onderzoek, uiteen te zetten wat Enterprise Systems voor organisaties (kunnen) betekenen, welke veranderingen de selectie, invoering en exploitatie van deze systemen in organisaties teweegbrengen en met welke modellen deze veranderingen zijn te verklaren. inhoud Enterprise Systems (ES) zijn complexe bedrijfsbrede informatiesystemen, die in de regel modulair zijn opgebouwd en instelbaar zijn met behulp van honderden parameters. Een ES heeft de pretentie een 'standaard pakket' te zijn. Het is echter slechts de visie van de leverancier van het ES op de processen in een bedrijfssegment. Leveranciers noemen zo'n visie ook wel een 'industry-solution' of 'branche-solution'. De verschillen die de leverancier tussen (potentiële) klanten in een segment ervaart of voorziet worden in het pakket vertaald naar modules en parameters. Daarmee is het pakket in bepaalde mate instelbaar voor de individuele organisatie. Ideaal dus, zou op het eerste gezicht kunnen worden geconcludeerd. Maar zo eenvoudig blijkt het niet te zijn. In de praktijk ervaren bedrijven, die willen overgaan op een ES, grote discrepanties tussen hun bedrijfsprocessen en de ondersteuning die ES-pakketten voor deze processen kunnen bieden. En toch worden ES erg veel en steeds meer toegepast, vooral bij grote bedrijven. Waarom kiest een bedrijf voor een ES? Zijn er alternatieven? En als er een ES wordt gekozen, wat moet er dan worden aangepast: de bedrijfsprocessen of het ES-pakket? Wat zijn de consequenties? Deze keuzes zijn moeilijk en de gevolgen kunnen enorm zijn. Het college behandelt enterprise systems eerst vanuit de leverancier. Aan orde komen: de architectuur en inrichting van ES, de opkomst van servicegeoriënteerde architecturen en de gevolgen voor de ES-markt, het implementatietraject en de projectinrichting. Daarna wordt de medaille omgedraaid en staat de problematiek van de invoering en het gebruik van een enterprise system, bezien vanuit de organisatie, centraal. Ervaringen met deze systemen en problemen met aanpassing van de organisatie en/of het ES laten zich vertalen naar ideeën over succes. Verschillende manieren om tegen organisatorische verandering aan te kijken geven een ondergrond voor de rol van creativiteit in het veranderingsproces, voor het omgaan met tegenstellingen tijdens de

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implementatie en voor het lastige proces van het kiezen van een ES. Beide kanten van de medaille geven een beeld van het spanningsveld tussen de leverancier met diens generieke oplossing en de organisatie met diens specifieke procesvoering. Gedurende de collegeweken kunnen studenten deelnemen aan een cyclus van wekelijkse opdrachten. Studenten ontvangen iedere week via Blackboard een aantal vragen over de te bestuderen literatuur. De antwoorden op die vragen, ingeleverd via Blackboard, worden wekelijks nagekeken en van een cijfer voorzien. Studenten kunnen hiermee 40 procent van hun eindcijfer verdienen. Deelname is niet verplicht. Een aantal artikelen, welke op Blackboard ter beschikking worden gesteld. schriftelijk tentamen 60% van het eindcijfer. opdracht 40 % van het eindcijfer. Als het gemiddelde cijfer van de opdrachten lager is dan het tentamencijfer, of als er niet is deelgenomen aan de opdrachten, dan telt alleen het tentamencijfer.

subject code credits contact period docent aim

Environmental Economics and Management 60332100 6 24 hours (24 lecture) 4 prof.dr. C.A.A.M. Withagen Environmental economics and management deals with the relationship between natural resources, environmental quality, sustainable development and environmental policy. Attention is given to economic as well as business and managerial aspects of environmental processes and problems. content Environmental economics and management studies environmental problems from an economic and managerial perspective. In particular it focuses on the structural relationship between the environment, nature, economic systems and economic changes. The environment is the material basis of economic development, and thereby functions as a fundamental source of welfare. This source function is jeopardized by pollution and overexploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Environmental policy aims at controlling these processes. The objective of the course is to offer a balanced combination of theories, real world examples and appropriate methodology at different levels, ranging from the firm level to the world scale. The following subjects will be treated. • Economic growth, sustainable development and the environment • The theory of externalities and policy instruments • National and international environmental policy in practice • Natural resource economics • Theory and applications of environmental valuation • Cost-benefit analysis of environmental changes and projects • Economic approaches to international environmental problem, including acid rain and the greenhouse effect (climate change) • Environmental management, including strategy, marketing, organisation, information systems, technology, environmental reporting and waste

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management Classes 24 hours • Cases 16 hours • Self study 120 hours literature • Kahn, J.R. (2005), The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources. 3rd edition. Texas, USA: The Dryden Press, Forth Worth • Articles from books and journals will be made available • Powerpoint slides with lectures will be made downloadable through Blackboard remarks The course contains attractive applications of theories and methods taught in earlier general and business economics courses (microeconomics, growth theory, international economics, accounting, marketing, organisation and management).

form of tuition

•


European Distribution and Supply Chain Logistics 60331030 6 24 (4 werkcollege, 20 hoorcollege) 1 prof.dr. A.R. van Goor Door samenwerking op Europese schaal met leveranciers en afnemers is het distributiebeleid voor veel ondernemingen drastisch gewijzigd. In dit vak gaan we in op de logistieke aspecten waarmee producenten, retailers en logistieke dienstverleners te maken krijgen als ze overgaan van nationale distributie op Europese distributie. inhoud Distribution and Supply Chain Management: • Trends in European Distribution • Trends in Supply Chain Management Fundamentals of European Distribution Logistics: • Integrated Concept European Distribution Logistics • Distribution Logistics and Product Characteristics • European Transport Network • European Warehousing and Site Selection • Inventory Management and DRP • Cost Management • Economic Trade Off Decisions • Pipeline Management • Contract logistics • European Distribution Strategy Development Approach • ICT in European Distribution Logistics Demand and Supply Chain Management: • Integrated Concept DSCM • E-business and E-Logistics • Efficient Replenishment Upstream • Advanced Planning and Scheduling Supply Chain Control and Realization literatuur • A.R. van Goor, M.J. Ploos van Amstel & W. Ploos van Amstel. European Distribution & Supply Chain Logistics. Groningen: Wolters / Stenfert Kroese, 2003

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• Reader (electronisch) met geselecteerde artikelen toetsing schriftelijk tentamen 70% van het eindcijfer werkstuk 30% van het eindcijfer opmerkingen Met name voor studenten bedrijfswetenschappen die een specialisatie TDL overwegen wordt strongly advised om dit vak te volgen. Logistieke dienstverleners (het accent bij Intro TDL) maken gebruik van alle concepten, die in dit vak (EDSCL) worden besproken. Maar dit vak vormt een zelfstandig en afgerond geheel en behoort eigenlijk tot de bagage van alle BWS-studenten. Het vak EDSCL heeft geringe overlap met het vak Logistics.


toetsing opmerkingen

Financial Accounting 60311080 6 36 (36 hoorcollege) afgewisseld met behandeling van vraagstukken en cases 1 drs. P.W. Boone Dit kernvak bouwt voort op de basiskennis uit het vak Financial Accounting en boekhouden. Het doel is om de kennis van de externe financiële verslaggeving uit te breiden en te verdiepen door behandeling van enkele van de meer complexe problemen die zich hierbij in de praktijk voordoen. Uitgangspunt hierbij is de huidige internationale regelgeving op dit gebied. Na het volgen van dit vak beschikt de student over de kennis en vaardigheden om zich een gefundeerd oordeel te vormen over veel van de vraagstukken rond verslaggeving zoals die de laatste jaren met enige regelmaat in het nieuws verschijnen. Inleiding institutioneel kader externe verslaggeving: het 'conceptual framework' van de International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), inleiding op International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) van de IASB, de geconsolideerde jaarrekening en de verwerking van fusies, overnames en deelnemingen. Verder komen ook specifieke onderwerpen aan bod (o.a. immateriële vaste activa en impairment, belastingen, leasing, vreemde valuta). • Klaassen, J. & M.N. Hoogendoorn, Externe verslaggeving. 6e druk. Groningen: Stenfert Kroese, 2004, ISBN 90-207-3277-3 • Syllabus Externe Verslaggeving • Twee jaarrekeningen schriftelijk tentamen Dit vak behoort tot de ingangseisen van de master Accounting & Control.

subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturers

Financial Management in not-for-profit Organisations 60342010 6 24 hours (24 tutorial) 5 drs. G.T. Budding drs. G.T. Budding; prof.dr. T.L.C.M. Groot

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aim The most important goals of this course are: • To gain more insight into governmental and not-for-profit organizations • To gain more insight into financial management (particularly Accounting) techniques • To develop a critical attitude towards the use of financial management techniques in the context of not-for-profit organizations content Not-for-profit organizations play an essential role in society. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to these organizations. In using financial management (particularly Accounting) techniques, one has to take into account the sector specific characteristics of these organizations, such as the political environment, problems in measuring the output and the reimbursement by taxes or subsidies instead of prices. These specific conditions as well as the complications they bring about are dealt with during this course. literature To be announced examination format assignment presentation subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

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Financial Risk Management 61332080 6 24 hours (24 lecture) and active participation 4 ir. F.W. van den Berg This course expands on financial topics covered in the first and second year. While in Financial Management / Corporate Finance the financial function of an industrial or trading corporation is analyzed, we concentrate in this course on Financial Markets and Financial Institutions and analyze how these institutions protect themselves against financial risk (credit, foreign exchange, interest rate, international, operational etc.). The structure of financial markets is also analyzed. Hedging of (financial) risk through various advanced instruments (derivatives et al) is explained. The aim is to prepare students for a (possible) career in the FBI sector: Finance, Banking (commercial and investment) and Insurance, incl. pension funds, investments funds, stock markets, Euronext, DNB, ECB, AFM etc. The following topics, issues and concepts will be dealt with: • Determination and management of various financial risks, such as Liquidity risk, Sovereign risk, Insolvency risk, Interest Rate risk, Foreign Exchange risk etc. including concepts as Value-at-Risk, Stress Test, Gap analysis, Immunization, (Modified) Duration, Disintermediation, Securitization. • Asset Liability Management (at basic level) and (International) Financial Risk Management (incl. application of derivatives such as swaps, options, futures and forwards) to hedge against the volatility of interest rates and exchange rates. • Credit extension by banks: credit analysis, risk classification, financing need projections, credit classification, pricing, collateral, procedures, covenants, legal lending contracts. • Financial products: types of loans such as mortgages, revolving credits,


form of tuition literature

examination format entry requirements

term loans; convertible / subordinated bonds, commercial paper, money market instruments, trade credit, preference shares, venture capital, mezzanine financing, warrants. • Several Financial Scandals which are (partly) the result of insufficient control, such as: Barings - Nick Leeson; junk bonds - Michael Milken; Savings & Loans banks in USA; Wall Street crash '29 - '33; Octobre 1987 crash; LTCM - Long Term Capital Mgt.; problems with Continental Illinois Bank, Penn Square Bank, Bankers Trust Co., BCCI, Herstatt Bank, Credit Lyonais / Slavenburg Bank; insider trading - Ivan Boesky; derivatives problems with Orange County / Procter & Gamble; Enron; Parmelat; Amaranth; Tyco; WorldCom. Lectures, discussions, videos Saunders, Anthony & Marcia Millon Cornett, Financial Institutions Management: A Risk Management Approach. 5th edition. McGraw-Hill, 2005/6 written interim examination This course is a core course for Business Administration students specializing in Finance, Banking & Insurance (FBI). Students must be familiar with Corporate Finance / Financial Management as covered in the 1st and 2nd year. Pre-master students (from a finance, economics, accounting or equivalent background) must familiarize themselves with this material beforehand. This is not a basic finance course. Knowledge of financial accounting and corporate finance is a prerequisite.


Financial Statement Analysis 60311090 6 24 (19 hoorcollege, 5 casecollege) 5 drs. E. de With Accounting-informatie vormt in veel ondernemingen de kern van de financiële informatieverstrekking aan managers, vermogensverschaffers, beleggers en andere partijen. Het doel van dit keuzevak is om de student te leren dit soort informatie te analyseren en te gebruiken, door het aanbieden van zowel een fundamenteel denkkader als praktische technieken. inhoud Financial Statement Analysis (FSA) houdt zich bezig met het analyseren van financiële informatie van ondernemingen, met name informatie uit de financiële overzichten. Na een inleiding wordt aandacht besteed aan 'standard setting'. Vervolgens worden de belangrijkste elementen van de jaarrekening (balans, resultatenrekening en kasstroomoverzicht) behandeld. Daarna wordt begonnen aan de daadwerkelijke analyse van de jaarrekening. Deze analyse bestaat uit vier onderdelen: Strategy Analysis, Accounting Analysis, Financial Analysis en Prospective Analysis. Aan het einde van de collegecyclus wordt ingegaan op twee toepassingen: kredietwaardigheidsonderzoek en waardering van acquisities. Bij het laatste onderwerp wordt ook kort aandacht besteed aan reële opties. literatuur Palepu, Krishna G., Paul M. Healey & Victor L. Bernard, Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases. 3rd edition. Thomsom/South Western, 2004, ISBN 0-324-20252-0. toetsing schriftelijk tentamen

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entreevoorwaarden Financial Accounting 3.1 opmerkingen De case-colleges (activerende werkvormen) houden in dat gedurende vijf colleges cases worden behandeld. Door het vooraf voldoende uitwerken van deze cases kunnen bonuspunten worden behaald. De cases zijn ontleend aan de jaarrekeningen van toonaangevende Amerikaanse en Nederlandse beursfondsen, zoals Microsoft, Mc Donald's, Home Depot, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Dell Computer, Procter & Gamble, Philips, Shell en Akzo Nobel. Dit vak behoort tot de ingangseisen van de master Accounting & Control en is ook een toelatingseis voor de postgraduate opleidingen tot registeraccountant en registercontroller. subject code credits contact period lecturers aim

International Economics 60322050 6 36 hours (12 practical, 24 lecture) 2 dr. C.T.M. Elbers; prof.dr. J.W. Gunning; prof.dr. H. Visser; dr. J.A. Jordaan • Making students acquainted with the 'body of knowledge' of international economics at a sufficiently high level for them to be able to read and understand articles on International Economics in such journals as the Economic Journal, Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv or the American Economic Revue without undue difficulty and, furthermore, to be able to explain economic news to others • Training students to apply theoretical models to real-life problems and making them discover the breadth and scope of these models, but their limitations as well content The course is divided into two parts: • International Trade Theory and Policy (taught by Dr Elbers, Professor Gunning & Dr. Jordaan) • International Monetary Economics (taught by Professor Visser) International Trade Theory and Policy includes such topics as globalisation, trade policy, the economics of trade blocs, trade and environmental and social standards and the effects of trade on productivity at the level of the firm. International Monetary Economics covers such subjects as exchange rate theory, exchange rate policy, exchange rate crises, liberalisation of capital flows, the Tobin Tax, currency boards and dollarisation. form of tuition The course will be given in the form of a series of lectures with separate hours devoted to exercises. literature • Study Guide International Monetary Economics 2007-2008. Which includes problems to be discussed in the classroom. The Guide is available on Blackboard • Visser, H., The International Monetary Economics course book. 2006 or 2007 edition • or: Visser, H., A Guide to International Monetary Economics. 3rd edition. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2004 (pb 2005) • or: Visser, H., Guoji Huobi Jingjixue Daolun: Huilü Lilun, Zhidu yu Zhengce, Beijing: China Financial Publishing House, 2006 (a treat at RMB 45 = 4,50 euro). • Reader International Trade Theory and Trade Policy. • Additional handouts and/or Blackboard files

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• Students are expected to read additional material examination format written interim examination entry requirements Students are required to have a good working knowledge of Macroeconomics (including Money and Banking), Microeconomics and basic International Economics.


content


naam code studiepunten contacturen periode coördinator doel

International Marketing 60332060 6 24 hours (24 lecture) and case discussions 5 dr. H. van Herk to be announced • To become familiar with the structure on international business marketing; • To understand the concepts and tools used in analyzing prospective arenas for product development and marketing; • To gain appreciation of the international marketing environment with special emphasis on cross-cultural factors; • To increase awareness of the importance of international marketing activities in today's world; • To communicate effectively about international marketing This course approaches international marketing from theoretical and managerial perspectives. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to global characteristics and interdependencies, as well as to the objectives, strategies, and tactics of marketing programs related to various countries and cultures. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a global perspective in approaching marketing topics (stressing the theoretical underpinnings of cross-cultural challenges of doing business in the international environment), on gaining knowledge of the tools available to aid international marketers, and on practical applications of the course concepts. Czinkota & Ronkainen, International Marketing. 7th edition. Thomson / South-Western, 2004, ISBN 0-324-282289-3 (International Student Edition) written interim examination / class discussion / case analysis Students are expected to be familiar with: Marketing 1.1. & 1.2 (BE) or Marketing (BWS) Introduction to Consultancy Industry 61321020 6 24 (10 werkcollege, 14 hoorcollege) 2 prof.dr. G.R.A. de Jong De consultancy industry is vandaag de dag niet meer weg te denken als onderdeel van de zakelijke dienstverlening. Het vak, wat een eerste kennismaking is met deze sector, is gericht op het verkrijgen van kennis van en inzicht in de plaats die de consultancy industry inneemt in de maatschappij. Tevens wordt inzicht verschaft in hoe organisaties

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georganiseerd zijn binnen de consultancy industry en op welke wijze professionals daarbinnen werkzaam zijn. Daarbij wordt de kennis en inzicht opgedaan in de eerste twee studie jaren geïntegreerd en toegepast op de consultancy sector. Het gaat hierbij om kennis en inzicht op het terrein van strategie en marketing, organisatie en HRM, economie en financiën. De consultancy industry wordt belicht vanuit drie invalshoeken, te weten een maatschappelijk-, bedrijfskundig- en individueel perspectief. Wanneer de sector vanuit de maatschappelijke invalshoek wordt geanalyseerd, komen thema's aan bod als 'economische en maatschappelijke betekenis van de branche', de 'structuur van de branche' en 'de consultancy industry in historisch perspectief'. Wanneer de consultancy industry vanuit een bedrijfskundig perspectief wordt belicht, ligt de nadruk op de wijze waarop organisaties in deze branche worden georganiseerd en bestuurd. Hierbij zullen theorieën en modellen worden gebruikt om organisaties binnen de consultancy industry te beschrijven en te analyseren. Daarbij wordt ingegaan op: • de zogenaamde 'alignment' tussen de belangrijkste stakeholders te weten, de cliënten, de professionals, de eigenaren; • de bijzondere betekenis van management en cultuur in dit soort organisaties; • de totstandkoming van strategie en de positioneringvraag van consultancy organisaties in een competitieve markt; • organisatiekundige vraagstukken en de uitdagingen voor HRM; • het business model en de financiële besturing. Ten slotte wordt aandacht besteed aan de individuele professional. Thema's die hierbij aan bod komen zijn onder andere 'typen, rollen en posities van consultants', 'ontwikkeling, competenties en loopbaan van consultants' en 'ethische vraagstukken en maatschappelijke verantwoordelijkheid'. Het vak wordt gegeven in de vorm van hoorcolleges, waarbij ook gastdocenten vanuit de consultancy praktijk zijn betrokken. Naast de hoorcolleges vinden werkgroepbijeenkomsten plaats, waarin kernthema's uit consultancy firma's worden uitgewerkt. Wordt nader bekend gemaakt. schriftelijk tentamen 60 % opdracht 40 %


Introduction to E-Business and IT-Industry 61321030 6 24 (12 hoorcollege, 12 discussiecollege) Voor de discussiecolleges maken groepen studenten een werkstuk waarin ze een type bedrijf uit de sector onderzoeken en daarover rapporteren. periode 2 coördinator prof.dr.ir. J.W.M. Gerrits doel Studenten weten na afloop hoe de E-Business- en IT-sector er in hoofdlijnen uitziet. Ze weten welke partijen daarin welke rol spelen en kennen de

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belangrijkste bedrijfskundige vraagstukken van de bedrijfstak. inhoud Het introductievak moet vooral worden gezien als een integratie van bedrijfskundige gebieden, die in de BWS-opleiding aan de orde zijn geweest. Aan de hand van gastsprekers wordt de sector-specifieke invulling van de verschillende bedrijfskundige gebieden gepresenteerd. 1. Sector overview: overzicht van alle soorten bedrijven in de sector. De sector wordt breed genomen en omvat onder andere: • hardwarefabrikanten & softwarefabrikanten • telco's & netwerk-providers • hosting-providers & ASPs • IT-oursourcing providers • IT-consultants, business consultants & strategy consultants • implementatie-consultants (ERP en CRM) • websitebouwers & websitedesigners • reclamebureaus, media 2. Sectorspecifieke invulling van de bedrijfskundige gebieden literatuur Artikelen, wordt nader aangekondigd toetsing schriftelijk tentamen 60% werkstuk 40% entreevoorwaarden geen naam code studiepunten contacturen periode coördinator docenten doel

Introduction to Finance, Banking and Insurance 61321050 6 32 (8 activerende werkvormen, 24 hoorcollege) 2 dr. A.H. Siegmann prof.dr. D. Schoenmaker; drs. P.V. Trietsch; dr. A.H. Siegmann Het doel van het vak is het verkrijgen van inzicht in de werking van financiële markten en instellingen. Het vak bouwt voort op de integratie van de verschillende vakken uit de opleiding en biedt nieuwe kennis op het gebied van de (internationale) financiële dienstverlening. Als introductievak op het masterprogramma FBI biedt het inzicht in de actuele ontwikkelingen binnen de sector en problematiseert de belangrijkste uitdagingen voor het management van financiële instellingen. Daarnaast wordt aandacht besteed aan de wisselwerking tussen financiële omgeving en financiële actoren zoals banken, institutionele beleggers en multinationale ondernemingen. Na afloop van dit vak is het duidelijk geworden welke belangrijke financiële vragen die op bedrijven en beleidsmakers afkomen, in Nederland, Europa en de VS. inhoud Aan de hand van het boek van Mishkin zijn er drie hoofdthema's in dit college. Ten eerste de financiële fundamentals, zoals rentes, de aandelen- en obligatiemarkt. We gaan uitgebreid in op het waarderen van aandelen en obligaties, het kunnen begrijpen van de yield curve en veranderingen daarin. Ten tweede komen financiële instellingen aan bod, zoals de centrale banken, het IMF en de banken. Deze spelen een belangrijke rol in het financiële systeem, en dus belangrijk om te begrijpen hoe ze functioneren, welke instrumenten ze gebruiken, en wat hun rol is in het internationale financiële systeem. Het derde thema betreft de rol en het functioneren van

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pensioenfondsen, beleggingsfondsen en verzekeringsmaatschappijen. Naast banken zijn dit de instellingen die het dichtst bij de gewone burger staan en ze spelen een steeds belangrijkere rol in de economie. werkwijze Het vak wordt gegeven in de vorm van hoorcolleges. Parallel aan de hoorcolleges wordt een actieve werkvorm georganiseerd. De colleges worden gegeven in het Nederlands, het collegemateriaal is in het Engels. literatuur Frederic S. Mishkin & Stanley G. Eakins, Financial Markets and Institutions. 5th edition (International edition). Pearson Education, ISBN 0321-30812-3 toetsing schriftelijk tentamen 60 % paper 40% naam code studiepunten contacturen

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Introduction to Transport, Distribution and Logistics 61321040 6 36 (12 werkcollege, 24 hoorcollege) Naast een wekelijks hoorcollege over de transportsector en een wekelijks hoorcollege over de logistieke dienstverlenening is er een werkcollege. De student moet in een kleine groep een werkstuk schrijven over een actueel onderwerp in transport of logistieke dienstverlening. 2 prof.dr. A.R. van Goor prof.dr. A.R. van Goor; dr. A.J.H. Pels Nederland heeft een lange traditie als Distributieland. Bekende bedrijven zijn onder meer: Frans Maas, Schiphol, KLM, ECT Rotterdam en de NS. Veel Amerikaanse en Japanse bedrijven hebben hun Europese Distributiecentrum (EDC) gevestigd in ons land. Maar Nederland moet op het gebied van de zakelijke dienstverlening binnen transport, distributie en logistiek (TDL) alle zeilen bijzetten om een toonaangevende rol te kunnen blijven spelen. Verladers en vervoerders moeten daartoe meer bedrijfskundige kennis in huis halen. Het vak TDL richt zich op de belangrijkste bedrijfskundige vraagstukken, die van belang zijn voor de continuïteit van de sector, zowel als aan verladers- als vervoerderszijde. In het vak Introduction to TDL worden transport vraagstukken en logistieke beslissingen evenwichtig op elkaar afgestemd. Studenten worden vertrouwd gemaakt met de bedrijfskundige logistieke ontwikkelingen binnen vier soorten ketenpartners: • Verladers als IBM, Unilever, Vendex-KBB, etc. • Mainports als Rotterdam / Amsterdam, Schiphol • Transporteurs als NS, KLM, Connexxion • Logistiek dienstverleners als DHL, TNT, DSV Het introductievak moet vooral worden gezien als een integratie van bedrijfskundige gebieden, die in de BWS-opleiding aan de orde zijn geweest. Bij Intro to TDL blijft het de bedoeling dat we focussen op een bepaald bedrijf uit de sector en daar kennis over het merendeel der bedrijfskundige functies toepassen. Voor bijvoorbeeld DL betekent dit dat de studenten in een groepje een theorieverhandeling schrijft over 'the state of the art' van een functioneel gebied (strategie, marketing, ICT, etc. ) in de sector logistieke


dienstverlening en dat zij vervolgens toetsen in hoeverre het pilotbedrijf voldoet aan de theorie. Aanbevelingen worden gedaan aan het management van het bedrijf, dat bij het eerste en het laatste college aanwezig is. Op deze wijze gaat een sector voor de studenten leven en vormt het vak een prachtige afronding van de bachelorstudie. Voor T betekent dit dat de studenten in een groepje een werkstuk schrijven over bijvoorbeeld de strategie van de haven van Amsterdam, de internationale strategie en marketing van een mainport als Schiphol of een internationale vervoerder. De toepassing van de theorie moet leiden tot duidelijk geformuleerde beleidsaanbevelingen. literatuur • Wordt nader aangekondigd • Reader met artikelen en afdrukken collegesheets toetsing schriftelijk tentamen 70 % werkstuk 30 % subject code credits contact period co-ordinator lecturers aim

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Investments 3.4 60332090 6 32 hours (32 lecture) Lectures (6 hours), case assignments 4 prof.dr. A. Lucas prof.dr. J.M.G. Frijns; prof.dr. A. Lucas This course aims to make students familiar with the insights from investments and portfolio management theory. Students also have to be able to apply these insights in practical situations involving portfolio decisions and investment management for both individuals and institutions. Investment decisions take a prominent role in everyday life. We can think of investment decisions taken by institutional investors (banks, insurance companies, pension funds, mutual funds), but also financial decisions taken by individual households (additional pension savings, saving for ones children's education (and how), buying a house, etc.) Investment theory is also strongly linked with risk management. The importance of sound decision making in this field has been underlined by recent experiences on financial markets, law suits involving complex financial products for retail clients, the debate about the (in)solidity of pensions, etc. The Investments course aims to provide an overview of the principles of investment analysis. A framework is developed that allows one to address a variety of (at first sight) completely different investment problems in a unified way. The theoretical underpinnings are developed from modern portfolio theory, with mean-variance optimization and the CAPM as key ingredients. The second component of the course deals with the empirical research for financial markets and the actual mechanisms driving these markets. Factor models for returns on financial products are very important here. The third component consists of valuation and risk attribution (including performance attribution) for individual financial products as well as portfolios of these products. Bodie, Z., A. Kane, & A.J. Marcus, Investments. 6th edition. McGraw Hill, 2005 written interim examination

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case work Exam questions are meant to test the candidate's theoretical insight as well as analytical and computational skills. Case work is used to test students implementation skills in Excel of the material treated in the course. entry requirements Students are expected to be familiar with: • Economics and Business Economics students: Finance 2.1 (IBA), 2.2 and 2.5; Quantitative Methods 1.2; Research Methods for Economics and Finance 3.1 • (International) Business Administration students (BWS/IBA): Finance and Financial Arithmetic, Financial Management 2.4, Quantitative Business Analysis, Statistics; Research Methods for Economics and Finance 3.1 • Students are at an advantage if they also completed Financial Modelling 2.2 remarks The course is taught in English subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

Knowledge Management 61322100 6 32 hours (8 seminar, 24 lecture) 2 prof.dr. M.H. Huysman Gain understanding of the importance and implications of knowledge as the main organizational resource for knowledge intensive organizations such as professional service organizations. Also, by getting introduced to ongoing research projects: gain experience with conducting research in the field of knowledge management. content Knowledge has become the most important factor in economic life. This is widely recognized by researchers, policy makers and organizational practitioners. The importance of knowledge as main production factor and main competitive resource has serious implications for amongst others management, leadership, strategy, technology, cooperation and coordination and (new) organizational forms, such as networks and virtual organizations. Knowledge management is a field that focuses explicitly on this significant role of knowledge and its implications for management and organizations. The field has received attention as a new and promising perspective on organizations, finding connections with the multi-disciplinairy field of Business Administration, such as marketing, organizational strategy, technology and innovation, human resources, information technology as well as related fields such as regional economics and geography. Topics that will be discussed are: knowledge as a key production factor; the knowledge worker, knowledge economy and knowledge society; managing knowledge sharing and innovation; organizational learning; knowledge processes in networks and distributed organizations; motivating and managing knowledge workers; power and conflict in knowledge management; communities of practice; knowledge brokering, open innovation and knowledge transfer in strategic alliances. form of tuition A number of lecturers will be given by Prof.dr. M.H. Huysman. The lectures are intended to map out the field and give an overview of various issues and

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trends. In addition, students will work in small groups clustered around a specific topic based on ongoing research projects conducted at the research group Knowledge and Organization (http://feweb.vu.nl/ko). Groups collaborate on a particular research related to the broad field of knowledge management and meet four times. The final result of the group work is a research paper. literature • Hislop, D., Knowledge Management in Organizations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005 • Scientific articles examination format written interim examination (60%) based on the lectures and the compulsive reading material (book and articles). Furthermore, students will produce a group research paper (40%) that falls within the area investigated in their working group. subject code credits contact period lecturers content

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Labour, Care and Well-being 60342020 6 24 hours (24 lecture) 5 prof.dr. F.A.G. den Butter; prof.dr. M. Lindeboom The social and health care system are the heart of the economic policy debate in most western societies. This has to do with the fact in the past decades there have been a rapid increase of expenditure on social security and health care. To a large extent this is due to the demographic trends towards ageing. It remains however, that the rapid growth of expenditures will have consequences for the sustainablility of these systems and the functioning of the labour market. This course starts with facts and presents the relevant policy issues. We next use the modern economic literature on the incentive effects of social insurance programmes and the effectiveness of active labour market programmes to provide the answers to these prominent policy questions. So we will discuss both from the theoretical and from the practical perspective the relevance of various policy options Articles on several subjects from scientific magazines. To be announced at the start of the course. written interim examination The participants are expected to have studied the 3rd year courses in micro and macro economics. This course is compulsory for all third-year students Business Administration and can be chosen as optional by third-year students International Business Administration. Logistics 61332060 6 36 hours (12 casecollege, 24 lecture) 4 prof.dr. A.R. van Goor prof.dr. A.R. van Goor (and Ir. H.M. Visser) • The introduction of a number of logistics concepts that can be used for a

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logistics screening of production, trade and distribution companies To be able to calculate with different logistics tools • A first introduction into Supply Chain Management. content A. Logistics concept of purchasing, production, distribution and reverse logistics • Terms and definitions in logistics; logistics costs • Competitive strategy and logistics • Interfaces with marketing, procurement and ICT • Integrated logistics concept • Demand forecasting and inventory control B. Logistics Subsystems • Purchasing logistics and E-procurement • Production logistics, MRP, JIT and OPT. • Distribution logistics, DRP, E-logistics; • Reverse logistics C. Supply Chain Management • Terms and definitions • Supply Chain Logistics • SCM trends and research literature • Visser, H.M. e.a., Logistics: Principles & Practise. Groningen: Wolters, 2006, ISBN 90.207.3304.4 • Electronic reader with selected articles examination format written interim examination (70%) and case and working paper (30%) •

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Macro-economie 3.1 60311020 6 36 (12 activerende werkvormen, 24 hoorcollege) 1 prof.dr. E.J. Bartelsman • Verdieping en verbreding van macro-economie 2.4 • Overdracht van recente inzichten uit macro-economisch onderzoek • Exploratie van beleidsvragen die wel en (nog) niet beantwoord kunnen worden met macro-economische theorie en empirie inhoud In dit vak wordt inzicht verschaft in de samenhang tussen productie, werkloosheid, en prijzen. Daarbij wordt bestudeerd hoe deze grootheden het resultaat zijn van decentrale beslissingen van huishoudens en bedrijven, en van het beleid van supra-nationele en nationale overheden en centrale banken. Voorts wordt gekeken naar de oorzaken en gevolgen van conjunctuurschommelingen op korte termijn en reële groei op langere termijn. Ook worden de verschillende theoretische invalshoeken om bijvoorbeeld consumptie, investeringen, of overheidsbudgetten te analyseren geconfronteerd met bevindingen uit de empirische literatuur. Hiermee kan met een kritisch oog gekeken worden naar de mogelijkheden voor het geven van beleidsadvies aan centrale bankiers of EU / nationale overheden. literatuur • Gärtner, M., Macro Economics. 2nd edition. FT/Prentice Hall, 2006 • Artikelen toetsing schriftelijk tentamen opdracht

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Management Accounting and Control 61312010 6 24 hours (12 casecollege, 12 lecture) in which 16 assigments are made 1 dr. H.C. Dekker dr. H.C. Dekker The activity of managing organizations consists of two major functions: planning and control. Planning is the management activity of deciding about what objectives the company will pursue and about how, to what extent and within which time period these objectives will be achieved. Control includes all managerial activities focused on stimulating employees' behaviors in such a way that organizational objectives will be realized in an effective and efficient way. Both managerial activities will be explored during this course. In particular, the course will focus on (1) the analysis of information focused on short-term and the long-term decision making, and (2) management accounting for the control of organizational activities. The contents of this course can be divided into two sections. The first section deals with methods and techniques for planning and decision making for the short term and long term. This section includes topics such as the analysis of cost data, cost allocation, modern production systems and techniques, and short-term planning and decision making. The second section of the course deals with management control issues and is focused more on the behavioral aspects of planning and control systems. Topics included in this section are strategic control systems, performance management systems, transfer pricing and value-based management systems. This course is a combination of lectures and case discussions during the lectures. Cases to be worked out during the course. Written exam at the end of the course. • Horngren, C.T., S.M. Datar & G. Foster, Cost Accounting, A Managerial Emphasis. 12th edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ, Pearson Education, 2003 • Selected articles assignment written interim examination Marketing Research 61332040 6 24 hours (24 lecture) 4 dr. H. van Herk • Explain and discuss procedural and methodological factors that play a role when assessing marketing research projects • Discuss sources, value and use of secondary data in the marketing research process • Understand and the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research;

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know methods used and interpretation of data Describe the use of databases in marketing research • Explain the fundamentals of sampling in marketing research • Explain and discuss in detail the use and application of attitude scales in marketing research • Discuss the various procedures used for data collection • Explain and be capable in making a questionnaire • Explain techniques to check and describe data (frequency tables, cross tabulations) • Perform and interpret parametric and non-parametric tests • Know the objectives, use and interpretation of multivariate data-analysis techniques • Explain the right multivariate technique for data analysis given a marketing research problem • Understand the report preparation process content This course is a first course in Marketing Research, other Marketing Research courses build upon this one. After an introduction, the marketing research process will be discussed. Attention will be given to qualitative research as well as quantitative research. Moreover, drafting questionnaires, sampling, and various data analysis techniques will be explained. An emphasis in this course will be on analysis of data, interpretation of results, and understanding of research implications. The technical details of the various techniques will be part of other courses such as the Advanced Marketing Research course in the Master of Science in Marketing. literature N.K. Malhotra & David F. Birks, Marketing Research. An Applied Approach. 3rd European edition, Pearson Education, 2007 examination format written interim examination assignment case and data analysis •

naam Methoden en technieken van AE/FE (algemeen economisch/financieel economisch) onderzoek, pre-Master code 60391040 studiepunten 6 contacturen 36 (18 activerende werkvormen, 18 hoorcollege) hoorcollege en practicum in de pc-zaal periode 3 en 4 docent dr. E. Vogelvang doel De doelstelling van de cursus is studenten te leren om zelfstandig een economische hypothese te vertalen naar een economisch model om daarna deze hypothese op een correcte wijze met behulp van econometrische en statistische methoden te toetsen. Indien men deze aanpak van kwantitatief economisch onderzoek beheerst, dan is een tweede belangrijk aspect van deze cursus dat de studenten in staat zijn om gepubliceerd kwantitatief economisch onderzoek op zijn waarde te schatten. inhoud Introductie van een aantal basisprincipes dat voor het opzetten, verrichten en publiceren van economisch onderzoek relevant is. De student moet zich enige basiskennis van de matrixrekening eigenmaken. In de daarop volgende colleges worden verschillende modellen t.b.v. economisch onderzoek besproken. Dit betreft zowel causale economische modellen als

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tijdreeksmodellen. Er worden schatters van de onbekende parameters van die modellen bepaald, diverse toetsen besproken en hun eigenschappen bestudeerd. Men weet dan wanneer een methode of een toets wel of niet gebruikt mag worden. De gebruiksmogelijkheden van de modellen, zoals het berekenen van voorspellingen, het berekenen van elasticiteiten ed. zijn onderdelen van de cursus. De praktische relevantie van de theoretisch besproken onderwerpen staat voorop en wordt toegelicht met diverse toepassingen. Het softwarepakket EViews en echte economische data zullen worden gebruikt in een empirische opdracht. Deze opdracht simuleert het doen van een kwantitatief economisch onderzoek. literatuur Vogelvang B., Econometrics, Theory and Applications with EViews. PrenticeHall/Harlow: Pearson Education/Financial Times, 2005 toetsing schriftelijk tentamen Cijfer voor een schriftelijk (open-boek) tentamen. Inleveren van een voldoende verslag van het practicum is verplicht. entreevoorwaarden Studenten moeten de inhoud van de colleges Kwantitatieve Methoden voor aanvang van deze cursus paraat hebben. subject code credits contact period lecturer aim content



Microeconomics 3.2 60322030 6 36 hours (12 tutorial, 24 lecture) 2 dr. A.H. Bergemann MSc To develop the theory of decision making at the level of a single agent and to understand the resulting outcomes at the market level. Microeconomics is concerned about how individuals and firms make decisions and how the interaction of many individuals affects markets. In case of an individual, decisions are made concerning labor supply, consumption, savings, and so on, while in case of a single firm this concerns decisions on labor demand, product characteristics and, in certain market forms, on wages and product prices. We cover topics in various areas of microeconomics, such as health economics, industrial organization and labor economics. The main focus lies on the labor market as the most relevant application of micro. We consider models that allow for market imperfections due to incomplete information, notably job search models, efficiency wage models, and model that explain discrimination. This is used for example to study unemployment and wages. Strong emphasis is placed on the effects of policies, such as unemployment benefits, welfare, and minimum wages. • Borjas, G.J., Labor Economics. McGraw-Hill, Irwin, 2005 • plus articles that are mentioned during the course written interim examination The participants are expected to have some basic familiarity with micro economics. Midden- en kleinbedrijf 60311070 6 24 (24 hoorcollege)

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Het vak wordt in het Nederlands gegevens vanwege de sterk institutionele inkadering. Het college is aanvullend bij de voorgeschreven literatuur. 1 drs. E.A.H. Kleijn; prof.dr. A.R. Thurik; prof.dr. E. Masurel • inzicht verschaffen in de rol die kleine en middelgrote bedrijven spelen in de economie • inzichtelijk maken waarin kleine bedrijven en grote bedrijven van elkaar verschillen • helderheid brengen in wat ondernemerschap is De afgelopen 25 jaar is de belangstelling voor ondernemerschap en het midden- en kleinbedrijf sterk toegenomen: in de markt, in het overheidsbeleid, en ook in het wetenschappelijk onderwijs en onderzoek. Begrippen als intrapreneurship en extrapreneurship geven de belangstelling voor het fenomeen ondernemerschap bij grote bedrijven aan. De managementeconomie van de vorige eeuw heeft zich omgevormd tot een ondernemerschapseconomie. Het mkb (95 procent van de bedrijven, 60 procent van de werkgelegenheid in de private sector) speelt een belangrijke rol bij innovatie, bij het gezond houden van concurrentieverhoudingen, als omgeving waarin ondernemerschap zich thuis voelt en als generator van economische groei. Ondernemingen in het mkb spelen een belangrijke rol als samenwerkingspartner, als leverancier en als intermediair. In Nederland is inmiddels meer dan een derde van de startende ondernemers afkomstig van hbo of universiteit. Op de arbeidsmarkt groeit de vraag naar mensen die verstand hebben van de MKB-sector. De discipline midden- en kleinbedrijf & ondernemerschap neemt in zijn veelzijdigheid een aparte plaats in het curriculum in: het gaat om bedrijf en markt, om economie en psychologie, om innovatie en ordening, om systeem en individu. Die aspecten komen, geordend in drie hoofdthema's aan de orde: • de rol van kleine bedrijven in de moderne economie (small business economics) • het belang van ondernemerschap in de moderne economie (entrepreneurship) • het starten, runnen en doen groeien van een klein bedrijf (small business management) Risseeuw, P.A. & A.R. Thurik, Handboek ondernemers en adviseurs: economie en management van het midden- en kleinbedrijf. Deventer: Kluwer, 2003, behalve hoofdstuk 3, 4, 19 & 22 schriftelijk tentamen Ondernemingsrecht 60311060 6 24 (12 werkcollege, 12 hoorcollege) 1 prof.mr. J.B. Huizink; mr. J.E. Brink-van der Meer • Verwerven van kennis en inzicht in belangrijke onderdelen van het ondernemingsrecht • Kweken van zekere 'awareness' ten aanzien van juridische complicaties • Inzicht in actuele ontwikkelingen


inhoud De colleges zijn gegroepeerd rond een vijftal clusters: 1. Inleiding (rechtspersoon, vennootschap en onderneming) 2. Organen en bevoegdheden 3. Kapitaalvennootschappen: kapitaal/vermogensbescherming en zorgvuldig vermogensbeheer 4. Aansprakelijkheid 5. Financiering en insolventie werkwijze 2 uur hoorcollege per week, gevolgd door 2 uur werkcollege waarin het accent ligt op de door de studenten uit te werken casus. literatuur • Huizink, J.B., Rechtspersoon, vennootschap en onderneming. Deventer: Kluwer • Wettenbundel Rechtspersonen 2007/2008, inclusief ondernemings- en handelsrecht met toekomstige wetgeving. Deventer: Kluwer • Reader toetsing schriftelijk tentamen Een schriftelijk tentamen met open vragen. Het resultaat daarvan telt voor 60% mee in het eindcijfer. De case-uitwerkingen (vijf maal gewaardeerd van 0 t/m 10 gedeeld door 5) tellen voor 40% mee in het eindcijfer. opmerkingen Afhankelijk van het aantal deelnemers worden de cases individueel (tot 25 deelnemers) of in groepsverband (van 2 tot 4 leden naar gelang het aantal deelnemers) uitgewerkt. subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

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Organization Design 61332010 6 24 hours (24 lecture) including Design Labs 4 dr.ir. B.A.G. Bossink The first learning objective of this course is to gain knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories related to the design perspective on organizations. After following this course you will be able to: • discuss the history, theoretical perspective and nature of organization from a design perspective • discuss the key organizational configurations and their relation to organizational contingencies The second learning objective of this course is to be able to design an effective organization structure and process in a scientific way. After following this course, you will be able to: • evaluate the effectiveness of a given organizational design in terms of fit between the organization and its contingencies • recognize in a real life situation the relevant contingencies that are of influence on the structure of an organization • use the prescribed design method to (re)design an effective organization structure for an organizational setting of your own choice • develop an implementation plan An organization design consists of a choice for an organizational configuration. This choice can be supplemented with choices for the degree of formalization, media richness, coordination systems, control procedures,

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etc. The course focuses on the design and development of a strategic organization design within the meta-theoretical boundaries of the contingency approach. Important concepts that have to be taken into account are: dynamic fits, contingency factors, design factors, environmental elements and total design fit. literature Burton, R.M. & B. Obel, Strategic Organizational Diagnosis and Design: the Dynamics of Fit. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004 examination format interim examination The theory is examinated in an individual exam 60 %. The application of the theory is graded in a group-based design assignment 40 %. entry requirements Strategy Development Implementation and Evaluation subject code credits contact period co-ordinators aim

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Organization Perspectives and Dynamics 61322000 6 14 hours (14 lecture) and group project 2 dr. P.J. Peverelli; drs. J.K. Verduijn After following this course, students will have gained insight in all aspects of basic organizing processes. They will be able to observe, analyze and discuss how complex organizational structures emerge from such basic processes. The study of organisations is a theoretical field of study distinct from more practical fields like: general management, organisational behaviour, human resource management, etc. It is a basic science studying the ways human actors organise themselves into groups of various degrees of complexity. Organisation theory is not the study of organisations. Groups of actors referred to as 'organisations' in every day parlance are only one part of the groups introduced in this course. Organisation theory is therefore a necessary tool not only for students of business administration, but also for those of a wide range of other academic fields, including: sociology, cultural anthropology, public administration, education, philosophy, etc. As this course is part of the business administration program, we will concentrate on offering tools to study and understand enterprises and their environment from an organisational perspective. The main theme of this course will be the perspective that human organising is a continuous process of ongoing interaction between actors in their quest to make sense of the world. As a result of this process, groups of actors who frequently interact around a specific theme will gradually be perceived by the actors themselves and other actors as entities. Such entities are given generic names like: gangs, pressure groups, tribes, associations, enterprises, industrial sectors, nations, etc. The members of a specific group will have a shared view on reality, at least on that part of reality relevant to their common task. This shared reality will determine the actions they take. Most actors will be members of a number of such groups. During social interaction in one group, actors can access the shared reality of other groups. This can alter the shared reality of the group in which the current interaction is taking place. Multiple group membership (referred to as multiple inclusion) is therefore considered the motor of organisational change.


Often, however, actors start perceiving the shared reality of one group as the one and only reality. As a result, they are less susceptible to other realities and in some instances even actively block access to alternative realities. In organisation theory this is referred to as reification or fixation. Reifications are the major cause of organisational problems. Identifying social structures, the members of the structures (actors), the nature of the shared realities, the multiple group membership of actors and occurrences of reification are the core tasks of the organisation scientist. The main aim of this course is to teach students these basic concepts and to train them in exploring complex organisational processes. Although this introduction emphasises theory, attention will be paid to practical applications of the theory as well. These practical applications include firms, but also a few larger structures, in particular industrial clusters. form of tuition 7 lectures + non-obligatory reflection sessions literature reader examination format paper group paper 40 % written interim examination 60 % subject code credits contact period co-ordinator aim

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Philosophy II 61752010 3 24 hours (12 seminar, 12 lecture) 5 dr. C.H. Krijnen (a.o.) To gain insight into the nature of scientific research and the decisions that have to be taken with respect to the criteria for truth, reliability and validity of knowledge-claims. The idea of insight will be related to a number of philosophical views pertaining to those decisions. The general locution 'scientific research' requires further unpacking. In order to relate philosophy of science to the disciplines with which the students are more or less familiar, we will pay particular attention to research within the fields of economics and management & organisation. Lectures: there will be six lectures about the assigned texts in order to supplement students'own reading. Workgroups: taking part in a workgroup is not compulsory, but it does provide an opportunity to gain a maximum of one full extra mark. Students participating in the workgroup are to do an assignment prior to each meeting. • Will be announced through Blackboard. • Sheets and lecture notes will be made available through Blackboard. written interim examination Professional Skills and Competencies 61752000 3 18 hours (18 practical) 5 dr. C.J. Vinkenburg to be announced (Instructors from the department of Clinical Psychology,

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VU) aim Professional Skills and Competencies is aimed at teaching students skills that international business administration graduates need for their future profession and career in (professional service) organizations. Specifically, the practicals focus on interview- and communication skills important for organization development and change processes. After participating in the practicals, students will have: • Knowledge of basic communication and interview skills • Knowledge of different interview models: open / half standardized / consultation • Skills to apply in different types of professional conversations and interviews • Skills to reflect critically on own performance and to determine personal development goals • Skills to give feedback to fellow students • A more developed professional attitude content In their future career International Business Administration graduates will often find themselves in situations that require professional skills and competencies related to communication and interviewing. This holds not only for consultants and researchers but also for other types of careers including entrepreneurs, managers, project managers and financial advisors. The practicals for this course focus on interview- and communication skills important for organization development and change processes. Effective interaction with internal and external clients and colleagues depends to a large extent on social and communication skills. Interviews play a central part in the early stages of the consulting process. During the sessions students will use and practice interviewing skills needed to establish a relationship, collect information and make a diagnosis. These skills include formulating and posing questions, listening, summarizing, empathizing, guiding the interview process, giving feedback, recognizing and coping with resistance, and finally writing interview reports. During the six practical sessions professional and consultations skills will be trained in small groups using role playing and audiovisual techniques. The practicals will be concluded with a written individual assignment based on an actual interview, focusing on interview content and process. form of tuition Practical sessions (6 x 3 hours) in small groups, mandatory attendance literature To be announced examination format report Practical reports, assignments and active participation entry requirements This course is open to students BSc International Business Administration nearing completion of their programme naam code studiepunten contacturen periode coördinator doel

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Purchasing and E-Procurement 61331050 6 36 (12 werkcollege, 24 hoorcollege) 4 prof.dr. J.H.A. Harink Resultaatverbetering (winstverhoging) kan door organisaties in principe maar op twee manieren worden bereikt: door omzetverhoging of door


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kostenverlaging. Kijkend naar de kosten van een organisatie, maakt duidelijk dat gemiddeld meer dan 70 procent van alle kosten te maken heeft met ingekochte goederen en diensten. Dit maakt direct duidelijk dat inkoop - als significante kostenpost - van sterke invloed is op het resultaat en dat verbeteringen in inkoop leiden tot aantoonbare verbeteringen van het resultaat. Sterker nog, met inkoop kan het resultaat effectiever worden verbeterd dan met verkoop. Organisaties onderkennen dit meer en meer, wat er onder meer toe leidt dat inkoop hoger op de agenda's van directies en management komt te staan. Het doel van het vak Purchasing & Eprocurement is het overdragen van de meest relevante inkoopkennis en ervaring aan studenten, opdat zij in het bedrijfsleven hierover met anderen professioneel mee kunnen denken en praten. Het vak Purchasing & E-Procurement richt zich op het inkopen van goederen en diensten in de brede zin van het woord. Zowel het traditionele inkoopproces als het elektronisch inkopen komen uitgebreid aan bod. Onderwerpen die zullen worden behandeld zijn: • Het toenemende belang van inkoop: waarom wint inkoop zo snel aan populariteit? • Het inkoopproces: hoe koopt een organisatie in? • Leveranciersmanagement: hoe werkt een organisatie optimaal samen met leveranciers? • De organisatie van inkoop: wie koopt er binnen een organisatie in? Wordt dat centraal, decentraal of anders gedaan? En wat is de rol van de Chief Purchasing Officer (CPO)? • E-procurement: hoe kan het internet worden gebruikt bij inkoop? • De business case van e-procurement: hoe bepaalt een organisatie wat zij met het internet moet gaan doen? • Inkoopcontrol: hoe kan een organisatie gericht haar inkoop verbeteren? • Harink, J.H.A., E-procurement, de kinderschoenen ontgroeid. Utrecht: Arko Uitgeverij, 2004, ISBN 90 77072 47 0 • Lennartz, R.E., Veeke, R.A.F., Inkoopmanagement in facilitaire omgevingen. Deventer: Kluwer, 2007, ISBN 9789 0130 41272 schriftelijk tentamen 70% van het eindcijfer paper 30% van het eindcijfer Enkele hoorcolleges worden gegeven door gerenommeerde gastdocenten, uit het bedrijfsleven of van andere universiteiten. Op deze wijze wordt een kwalitatief hoogwaardige en afwisselende collegereeks aangeboden, die door studenten al jarenlang hoog gewaardeerd wordt. Social Network Analysis 61742000 6 24 hours (12 seminar, 12 lecture) 4 dr. Z. Sasovova The aim of this course is to create understanding of social network concepts, enhance mindfulness of social networks, and discuss strategies so they can be effectively harnessed.

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content The focus of this course is knowledge and understanding of network theories and application of social network analysis (SNA) methods in intra- and interorganizational processes. The course draws on research in this area to investigate the antecedents and consequences of social networks - where social networks come from and how they influence important workplace outcomes such as performance, career success and job satisfaction. In addition, students get a hands-on experience with software for analyzing social networks (UCINET) and an opportunity to apply network concepts in case study discussions. Students are required to actively participate and apply the knowledge acquired during the lectures in writing a term paper. form of tuition Lectures and group seminars. During the lectures the basic concepts and the theory from SNA literature will be addressed. The lecture material will be enriched with cases, applications and examples of online networking software tools. The group seminars will include a tutorial on using software for analyzing social networks (UCINET) and case study discussion and analysis. In addition, there will be response hours scheduled for students to receive feedback on preparing their term papers. literature • Kilduff, M. & W. Tsai, Social networks and organizations. London: Sage, 2003 • Additional literature in the form of empirical articles and case studies. examination format written interim examination 50 % of the final grade. The exam will consist of open questions requiring short answers testing both in-depth knowledge and understanding of the network concepts and theories. assignment 20% of the final grade. This individual assignment consists of a short report based on analyzing provided datasets with UCINET to calculate different network measures, graphically visualize the network and test research hypotheses. paper 30% of the final grade. The intention of the term paper is the application of the theoretical knowledge by addressing a self-chosen situation/problem from practice of international business administration (e.g., diversity in groups, virtual teams, or mobility). The paper comprises a research proposal with a well-developed theoretical basis grounded in social network perspective. entry requirements Basic understanding of business administration topics and issues. remarks During period 5 there is a possibility of joining a study group designed for preparing bachelor thesis on a selected topic related to network analysis. This will take place in the form of videoconference meetings with renowned researchers in the field of SNA. It is also possible to follow the recorded lectures online. The lectures are on specialized SNA topics and provide more in-depth understanding of some of the phenomena discussed during the main course in period 4. Students have the opportunity to work in a small discussion group and elaborate a relevant topic of their choice into a bachelor thesis. The last meeting takes place in a mini-conference format.

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Strategic Management and the Strategy Process 61312030 6 24 hours (24 lecture) lectures plus group presentation 1 drs. M.M. Rietdijk drs. M.M. Rietdijk After this course students are able to: • Describe and explain recent approaches of strategic management - as scientific field - and apply these to problems in the professional field of strategic management • Search, select and critically assess scientific publications in the field of strategic management • Analyze the strategy process in an organization, to facilitate strategic conversations and to formulate and implement a strategy • Present and write a group report This course is focused on recent developments in the scientific field of strategic management and the professional application of Scenario planning. Scenario planning helps organizations develop more than one long term perspective on their environment and core business. The course follows Structuring Organizations of the first year and Strategy Development, Implementation and Evaluation of the second year. In the first part of this course you will study different strategic schools. During the second part you will learn to formulate and implement strategy by the Scenario learning approach. You will deepen and apply your knowledge about Strategic Management at a real life firm. Group presentation of preliminary report. Heijden, Kees van der, Scenarioplanning. 2nd edition, Wiley, 2005 written interim examination about the book and (guest)lectures 50% presentation group presentation (sufficient/insufficient), group report 50%


Strategy and Economics 60342040 6 24 hours (6 practical, 18 lecture) 5 dr. H.E.D. Houba How to translate economic situations, in which an economic decision maker must take into account decisions taken by others, into a strategic model. This requires knowledge of available models and concepts to deal with so-called 'strategic uncertainty'. This includes mastering computational techniques. content On an evening, you zap TV channels and, suddenly, you watch Shop4Nop on RTL5. The unique-lowest bid wins the expensive plasma screen TV you fancy. You decide to bid, but how many others bid, how do they bid, what is your best bid? You wonder whether take-over battles can be seen as auctions between competing firms. How do they prepare bids? In the supermarket, you are thrilled about price reductions. You may wonder, is there a similarity

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between price competition and an auction? In your team project, some team member free rides on your effort and you realize that your grade also depends upon this member's contribution. Everywhere people, firms and institutions interact with each other in many different settings. For instance, negotiations for a contract or treaty, individuals or firms contributing to a joint partnership, managers motivating employees. Firms compete on the market, including web-shops, procurement auctions in B2B for contractors, and art-lovers competing at Christies. In all cases, the final outcome for each participant also depends upon the behaviour of others. Each participant has to deal with the strategic uncertainty about how the others will behave. Game theory deals with strategic uncertainty and has become an influential toolbox in modern Economics. This course offers an introduction to the major game theoretic concepts that are applied to a variety of highly-stylized or abstract economic models in order to focus on the relevant economic issues. These economic models come from Industrial Organisation, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Labour Economics, Auction Theory, Negotiation Theory and Contract Theory. Worldwide, game theoretic economic models influence the policy debate on market regulation, central bank independence, WTO, liberalization of public utilities such as telephone and electricity markets. Implications for economic policy are also discussed. Topics: • games and strategies • Nash equilibrium and its modifications for dynamic games and games with incomplete information • co-ordination • market competition • negotiations • repeated interaction • auctions • the market for used cars • job markets • reputation and signalling Special attraction: Learn why many contributors to game theory received a Nobel prize in Economics. Watson, J., Strategy, an Introduction to Game Theory. W.W. Norton & Company, 2002 written interim examination (75% ) and take-home exam (25%) covering the first two blocks. The written interim exam has two opportunities, while the take-home exam only has a single opportunity. Students should have sufficient knowledge of basic concepts from Microeconomics, Mathematics and Statistics and the capability to apply these correctly. For VU students this involves the courses: • Microeconomics 1.1 en 1.2 • Quantitative Methods (Kwantitatieve Methoden 1.1, 1.2, 1.4 & 2.5) This course is especially recommended to students interested in a Master in Economics or a career at some market regulating authority.


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Strategy and Environment 60332020 6 24 hours (24 lecture) 5 prof.dr. D.J. Eppink • Gain theoretical knowledge in the field of strategy and environment • Develop skills in translating the theory into practical solutions The course starts with an overview of recent theoretical developments concerning the three strategic questions each organisation has to deal with. After that, the attention will go to strategic analysis, development of strategic alternatives and the issues of choice and implementation. Using smaller cases, the students can learn to apply the theories discussed and studied in stylised practical situations. Will be announced later. written interim examination Written examination tests knowledge of and insight in the compulsory literature. assignment The assignment tests the skills in applying the knowledge acquired to a real life case (company name to be announced later). The literature for Management and Organisation 1.1 ( M&O 1.1, chapter 7 ) or a similar basic treatment of the strategy process. Technology and Innovation 61312040 6 24 hours (12 active learning methods, 12 lecture) Each week a lecture and an interactive assignment session 1 dr.ir. B.A.G. Bossink The course offers a framework for thinking about innovation across technological, market and organizational perspectives. It focuses on the resources, organization and processes of innovation. The course explains how an organization can keep innovating within and across the organizational boundary, and how such innovation affects the organization and society. Innovation strategy, national and competitive environments, innovation processes, innovation alliances, corporate innovative venturing, innovative organizations, organization designs for innovation. The lectures focus on an introduction and explanation of the theory. The interactive assignment sessions concentrate on the group asssignments. Tidd, J., Bessant, J. & K. Pavitt, Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change. 3rd edition. Chichester: John Wiley, 2005 written interim examination The theory is examinated in an individual exam (60%). The application of the theory is graded in a group-based assignment. Strategy Development, Implementation and Evaluation

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naam code studiepunten contacturen periode docenten doel

Toegepaste data-analyse 60331070 6 24 (12 activerende werkvormen, 12 hoorcollege) 4 dr. J.M. Sneek; drs. K. van den Hoeven Dit vak verschaft de student inzicht in een aantal belangrijke statistische technieken dat bij kwantitatief economisch onderzoek gebruikt (kan) worden. Verder wordt de student bekend gemaakt met bijbehorende computersoftware (met name SPSS). inhoud Managementbeslissingen vereisen goed en degelijk vooronderzoek. Een essentieel onderdeel van dergelijk onderzoek is het op de juiste wijze kunnen uitvoeren en interpreteren van kwantitatieve analyses. Dit geldt voor allerlei bedrijfskundige en bedrijfseconomische vraagstukken zoals die voorkomen op het terrein van Marketing, Finance en/of Accounting. In deze cursus komen technieken aan de orde die op deze vakgebieden van toepassing zijn. Te denken valt aan (een selectie uit) onderwerpen als • factoranalyse • discriminantanalyse • logistische regressie • multivariate (co)variantieanalyse • conjoint analyse • clusteranalyse • multidimensional scaling • correspondentieanalyse • data-transformaties Deze technieken zijn complex van aard, maar tijdens de colleges zal de theoretische diepgang worden beperkt en zal het accent liggen op de praktische bruikbaarheid via economische toepassingen met behulp van statistische programmatuur. Het vak zal in ieder geval goed te volgen zijn voor een student met kwantitatieve belangstelling, die met succes heeft deelgenomen aan de Kwantitatieve methodenvakken en het 3e jaars vak Methoden & Technieken. literatuur De literatuur op dit gebied zal nog nader vastgesteld worden. Er verschijnen enkele nieuwe titels per jaar, steeds meer inclusief economische data geschikt voor computertoepassingen. toetsing schriftelijk tentamen in combinatie met het inleveren van een aantal individueel uitgewerkte (computer-)opdrachten.


Toegepaste kwantitatieve economie 60321080 6 24 (12 activerende werkvormen, 12 hoorcollege) Er zijn hoorcolleges met bijbehorende praktische cases die met EViews of in de pc-zaal of thuis zullen worden gemaakt. periode 2 docent dr. E. Vogelvang doel Het zelfstandig kwantitatief economisch onderzoek kunnen doen door kennis

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te hebben van een aantal bekende modellen uit de toegepaste econometrie. inhoud Het vak TKE is een vervolg op de zes econometriecolleges van de cursus M&T voor AE/FE van de bachelor economie en bedrijfseconomie. Er wordt een aantal econometrische toepassingen besproken dat een kwantitatief econoom later in zijn werk van nut kan zijn. Het zijn bekende empirische modellen, die voor zowel algemeen, bedrijfs- als internationaal-financiëel economen interessant zijn. Eerst wordt een bredere basis gelegd dan bij M&T kon gebeuren, zoals ook het schatten van de parameters van structurele modellen. Daarna wordt er aandacht geschonken aan twee modellen bestaande uit meerdere vergelijkingen: het 'SUR model' en een 'simultaan macro-economisch model'. Beide modellen zullen ook concreet geschat worden. Ook de 'univariate tijdreeksmodellen' zullen aan de orde komen, daarmee zullen voorspellingen van economische variabelen worden berekenend. Modellen voor de lange en korte termijn kunnen worden besproken. Voor het modelleren van cross-sectie data kan aandacht worden besteed aan modellen met 'limited dependent variables' met een toepassing in een onderzoek over IT-gedrag van Nederlandse ondernemingen. Modellen die aan de orde zijn geweest zullen door de studenten empirisch worden geschat en getoetst met echte economische data. Dat gebeurt tijdens een bijbehorend practicum in de PC-zaal en met zelfstudie. Op deze wijze zullen de studenten later in staat zijn om in hun werk deze vaak voorkomende modellen te herkennen en correct toe te passen. literatuur Ben Vogelvang, Econometrics, Theory and Applications with EViews. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall, 2005 toetsing opdracht D.m.v. beoordeling van de verslagen van de cases wordt het tentamencijfer als gewogen gemiddelde van de cijfers van deze ingeleverde verslagen berekend. entreevoorwaarden Dit keuzevak kan alleen gekozen worden door studenten die het vak Methoden en Technieken voor AE/FE onderzoek hebben gedaan, of wanneer er vergelijkbare voorkennis aanwezig is. opmerkingen • Er wordt gewerkt in groepjes van twee studenten. • Dit keuzevak wordt in het bijzonder aanbevolen aan studenten die een MSc in Finance willen gaan doen subject code credits contact

Transport and Network Economics 60332110 6 24 hours (24 lecture) The course will be taught in English if foreign students participate. period 4 lecturers prof.dr. E.T. Verhoef; prof.dr. P. Rietveld aim This course offers an introduction to economic theories and methods that are useful for understanding transport and other network performance. The objective of the course is to provide a toolkit for adequately analyzing, from the economic perspective, transport issues and problems such as congestion, environmental effects, safety, private and public operation and coordination, monopoly power, public transport subsidies and quality, and spatial aspects of transport. Important parallels can often be drawn with the economic functioning of other types of network markets (telecommunication, the

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Internet, etc.). Where appropriate, these parallels will be emphasized and illustrated. Transport problems require ongoing attention from firms, individuals and governments. Examples are limited parking space in cities, daily traffic jams, unreliability, bottlenecks in freight transport, space constraints for large nodes such as airports and harbours, concentration in aviation, and quality issues in public transport. It is no coincidence that transport problems are often so persistent and multi-faceted. An important economic explanation lies in the wide-spread existence of market failures in transport, including market power and external effects. It is important to understand the economic functioning of transport markets when optimizing locational choices and logistic strategies for firms. It is also important when formulating policy recommendations in the field of transport policy itself, but also for spatial and economic policies. Even the macroeconomic performance of a country like The Netherlands will to a certain extent depend on the functioning of transport markets, witness the worries over national grid-lock, and the importance that is attached to the functioning of 'mainports' like the Rotterdam Harbour and Schiphol Airport. These and related topics will be discussed in this course. More specifically, we address: • the demand for transport (passengers and freight) • transport costs (time and money, economies of scale, congestion, the environment, traffic safety) • transport infrastructure investments • market failures in transport; transport policy • competition in transport markets A first thematic lecture will address the contribution of Schiphol Airport, and other transport infrastructure, to the Dutch economy. A second thematic lecture addresses transport pricing policies, such as road pricing (kilometerheffingen) For these lectures, students will prepare a written assignment that will make up 20% of the final grade. Boyer, K.D., Principles of Transportation Economics. Addison Wesley, 1997 written interim examination 80 % assignment 20 % This course may be of interest both to students in Economics and to students in Business Administration (specialization TDL: Transport, Distribution and Logistics). The course is related to a number of other third year's courses, including Urban Economics, Environmental Economics and Management, and Real Estate Economics. Urban Economics 60322070 6 24 hours (24 lecture) 2 prof.dr. E.T. Verhoef; dr. H.L.F. de Groot Most economic activities such as production, consumption and


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innovation take place in urban areas, despite the relatively high location costs. Why is this the case, and how does this affect the economic behaviour of firms and households? This course in Urban Economics addresses these and related questions, and studies the relation between urban space and economics. How does the factor (urban) space affect the behaviour of firms and households? And reversely, which implications result from such behaviour for the spatial development of cities? Such insights are developed both through studying theoretical backgrounds and by considering practical examples of the issues at hand. One of the central topics in this course is the location behaviour of firms. How can a firm increase its profits by choosing a more appropriate location? Why are so many firms interested in expensive locations at, for example, the Amsterdam South Axis? Why do for example computer and fashion shops often cluster in space, while bakers are typically dispersed over a city? Will the advent of e-commerce cause firms to leave crowded and expensive cities? For households, comparable questions arise. Why are certain social and ethnic groups oftentimes clustered in space, and is this desirable? How do location choices of firms and households interact? The aggregate result of these choices, in terms of the development of land use in modern cities, will also be addressed, taking into account the role of land prices and transport costs. Topics of interest include the economic backgrounds and consequences of suburbanization, the rise of urban 'subcentres', and the rise of so-called 'network cities', as witnessed world-wide (and in The Netherlands alike). We will also look at interdependencies between cities, in terms of their economic dynamics and functional development. Why and how do cities specialize, why does nearly every country have a few big cities and many smaller towns and villages, and are such arrangements economically desirable? Finally, some typically urban problems will be addressed from the economic viewpoint, such as segregation, poverty and criminality. The course comprises 12 lectures of two hours each. Most of these are organized such that, apart from the teacher's explanation of the essential material, students will make small exercises so as to better comprehend the material. In addition, two thematic lectures are included, in which assignments will be discussed. O'Sullivan, A., Urban Economics. 6th edition. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill, 2007 written interim examination 80 % assignment 20 % This course has links with several other courses in the third year, such as Transport and Network Economics, Environmental Economics and Management (Milieueconomie en management), and Real Estate Economics (Economie van het onroerend goed). Basic knowledge of microeconomics is a prerequisite. In case there are no foreign students, this course will be taught in Dutch.

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Index Alumni, 18 Appeal, 23 Bachelor’s degree examination, 23 Blackboard, 10 Case tutorials, 31 Credits, 23 Discussion classes, 31 Dyslexia, 11 Ects, 23, 32 Examination board, 18 Examinations, 20 Faculty, 16 Faculty registration, 13 Final attainment levels, 29 Health insurance, 12 Inspection, 20 International students, 11 Lectures, 30 Marking, 20 Practicals, 31 Programme committee, 18 Programme secretariat, 9 Registration for exams, 19 Research, 16 Residence permit, 12 Second year, 32 Secretariat, 9 Study recommendation, 23 University admissions test, 24 Validity, 22 Visa requirements, 12

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