Growth, Location and Sustainable Development (MSB305)

What drives people to work hard? Why do we try our best in some settings, while in others we tend to slack off? In this class we explore how employees are motivated and the tools that can increase employees' motivation. We apply microeconomic theory, game theory, behavioral economics and psychology to investigate topics such as incentives, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, peer effects, performance feedback, employer recognition, autonomy, competitiveness, reciprocity, procrastination, mindset, purpose and social status. An important learning experience involves collaborating with classmates and acting as a consultant team for a real firm or organization. These consultant teams will compete against each other in the UiS Business School Sandnes Sparebank Case Competition for a monetary prize awarded to the best consultant report.

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by August 20th for the autumn semester.


Course description for study year 2024-2025. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

MSB305

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

Subject areas that are most likely covered are:

  • A perspective beyond the boundaries of the firm
  • Theories of economic development including human capital, innovation, institutions, agglomeration, urbanization, complexity, diversification
  • Interfirm linkages, networks, and spillovers
  • Sustainability and transformation

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Students will learn:

    • How and why a system-based perspective is crucial to understanding the development of firms and economies
    • How and why economies growth
    • How and why economic activities locate in various ways in space
    • How and why knowledge and innovation are crucial for the transition toward more sustainable economic practices

Skills

  • Applying multilevel, network, complexity, and evolutionary thinking to economic problems
  • Working with and summarizing the contemporary academic literature
  • Assessing economic development and growth from a sustainability perspective

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Recommended prerequisites

Open to all students with appropriate bachelor's and master's backgrounds in economics, business studies, and related fields.

Exam

In-class Group Presentation and Oral Examination

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
In-class Group Presentation 45/100 Letter grades
Oral Examination 55/100 Letter grades

Coursework requirements

Compulsory assignments
  • Completed and handed in on time all individual & group assignments or quizzes during the semester
  • Contributed to and participated in (including presence during) the presentation of group work

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Tom Brökel

Course teacher:

Yong Hao Tan

Course teacher:

Tom Brökel

Study Program Director:

Yuko Onozaka

Method of work

In this course, you will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, group work, and individual study. Lectures provide basic knowledge. The seminars are based on group work and are topic focused. They require active preparation and participation.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Perspectives on Strategic Innovation (MØA305_1) 10

Open for

All master's study programs at the University of Stavanger.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto