Overview
Note: This is a paced, cohort course that is delivered over 16 weeks.
Topics and Frameworks
In ADMN 405, students participate in lively discussions and critical analysis. The learning content is organized as an orientation module followed by six main topics:
- Orientation Module
- Topic 1: Strategy and Operational Effectiveness
- Topic 2: Strategic Foresight
- Topic 3: Value Creation and Capture
- Topic 4: Strategy and Ethics
- Topic 5: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Topic 6: Marketing Strategies
From these topics, students will be introduced to influential management frameworks including Michael Porter’s Creating Shared Value and Oxford University’s Strategic Planning Approach.
Participation in this senior-level course will help students to become better decision-makers and to work more effectively with others. In addition to the course topics, the course will introduce insights regarding online etiquette, ethics, emotional intelligence, and decision-making criteria.
Discussions
Students will apply the knowledge and skills learned in previous courses to class discussions that require applying strategy, strategic foresight, and soft skills. As students increase their knowledge and skills to think and act strategically by reading articles, viewing videos, writing individual and group reports, and participating in a multi-week business simulation, they will be applying and debriefing their learning experiences in discussions with fellow students.
Simulations
Students will participate in a simulation that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help students develop “soft” skills (people skills) in strategic leadership, ethics, and communication. Students progress through a series of projects that challenge skills such as decision making, ethics, online etiquette, and written communication. Each project is completed individually through a series of emails with the fictitious co-workers and others in the simulation, as well as debriefs with an AI mentor. These interactions form the basis of the Soft Skills (individual) paper. Students will work through and reflect on one of three simulations (chosen based on personal relevance):
- Financial Services
- Digital Services
- Construction Services
Collaborative Learning
In the first month of the course, students will work with a team of classmates to participate in a business case focusing on the implementation of strategy (Financial Services), the development and implementation of a strategic plan (Digital Services), or the management of a construction project (Construction Services). In each case, the collaborative work concludes with a team-written report and an oral presentation.
Evaluation
Your final grade in ADMN 405 will be based on a series of individual and group deliverables.
To receive credit for ADMN 405, you must complete all assignments, achieve a grade of 60 percent or better on the Individual Paper, and achieve an overall course grade of D (50 percent) or better.
| Activity | Weight |
| Deep Dive Discussion Participation | 20% |
| Virtual Co-op (this includes participation in the weekly Debriefing Forum and completion of the pre- and post-surveys) | 25% |
| Soft Skills (Individual) Paper | 20% |
| Team Written Report | 20% |
| Team Presentation | 10% |
| Peer Feedback Provided | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
ADMN 405 does not include a textbook. All learning resources will be available online. Each of the course topics includes brief course notes as well as required readings and videos. Links to the readings and videos are available in the ADMN 405 Digital Reading Room (DRR).
As part of the weekly topic discussions, students may be asked to conduct individual research by sourcing articles and readings of good quality from legitimate and relevant sources such as scholarly/peer-reviewed journals and business periodicals.
The Virtual Co-op Simulation
In the AI (artificial intelligence) simulation, students will progress through a series of projects that challenge their “soft” skills (people skills) in strategic leadership, ethics, and communication. Students progress through a series of projects that challenge skills such as decision making, ethics, online etiquette, and written communication.