Senior Conference (Revision 1)

ADMN 404

Revision 1 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version

ADMN 401 will be offered in January 2017 but is subject to a minimum enrolment.

Delivery Mode: Paced Online Cohort

Credits: 3

Area of Study: Applied Studies
(Business and Administrative Studies)

Prerequisite: Professor approval and completion of required courses in the respective program.

When registering in this course, provide the following information in the comments section of the Course Approval form:

  • the institution and program you are currently enrolled in.
  • the number of courses you have left to complete your program.
  • confirmation that you have completed at least one course in each of Accounting/Finance, Marketing, Economics, and Administration/ Management.

Faculty: Faculty of Business

ADMN 401 is not available for challenge.

check availability

Overview

In ADMN 401, students engage in research and participate in lively discussions. The course integrates the five core business functions of accounting/finance, research and development, marketing, personnel, and operations with contemporary business topics ranging from strategy, to compensation, to innovation and entrepreneurship. Students will be expected to apply technical competencies developed throughout their undergraduate program and further develop higher-level generic competencies such as critical and analytical thinking, self and time management, leadership, presentation and communication skills, and teamwork. As a result of research and analysis of readings, articles, and cases, as well as participation in online discussion forums and a team-based business simulation, students will develop skills related to decision-making, collaboration, and preparing formal oral and written reports.

ADMN 401 students will define strategies and apply strategic concepts and techniques within a practical decision-making framework. By participating in a robust management simulation, students gain hands-on experience running a business as a member of a senior management team. The simulation demonstrates how a firm's production, marketing, R&D, HR, and financial operations interact. Student teams compete simultaneously, learning through direct experience how key decisions impact business performance within a competitive market. Ultimately, ADMN 401 is a course based on discovery, questioning, discussion, and friendly competition.

Outline

The course comprises an interpersonal communication module and six main topics.

  • Effective Interpersonal Communication module
  • Topic 1: Strategy
  • Topic 2: Value Creation
  • Topic 3: Business Models
  • Topic 4: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Topic 5: Promoting the Firm
  • Topic 6: Measuring and Managing Performance

Evaluation

Your final grade in ADMN 401 will be based on a series of individual and group deliverables.

To receive credit for ADMN 401, you must complete all assignments, achieve a grade of 60 percent or better on the Reflective Paper, and achieve a minimum overall course grade of ā€œDā€ (50 percent).

Assignment Weight
Discussion participation 20%
Discussion facilitation 15%
Reflective paper 15%
Individual Total 50%
CAPSTONE team performance 15%
Group written report 12.5%
Group oral presentation 12.5%
Peer feedback provided 5%
Peer feedback received 5%
Group Total 50%
Course Total 100%

Course Materials

This course qualifies for a reduced learning resource fee of $130 which covers the cost of mandatory, Athabasca University-produced learning resources, library services, learning management system support, and learning design and development.

ADMN 401 does not include a textbook. Instead, each of the six course topics includes brief course notes as well as required readings and videos. Links to the readings and videos are available in the ADMN 401 Digital Reading Room (DRR).

Learning materials also include journal articles and readings shared by students as part of their individual research and facilitated discussions. Students are expected to conduct individual research on specific areas within each major topic by sourcing articles and readings of good quality from legitimate and relevant sources such as scholarly/peer-reviewed journals and business periodicals.

Other Resources

CAPSTONE Simulation

In the CAPSTONE Simulation environment, student teams will run a company and compete against other teams in a simulated competitive industry. Students must devise and implement strategy by making decisions that impact all the functional business areas.

Opened in Revision 1, November 22, 2016.