Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Credits: 6

Schedule: 26.02.2020 - 13.05.2020

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Iiris Saittakari

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Iiris Saittakari

Contact information for the course (valid 23.01.2020-21.12.2112):

Teacher-in-charge: Iiris Saittakari

E-mail: iiris.saittakari@aalto.fi

Office: Y-208, School of Business, Ekonominaukio 1,
Espoo

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

  The course consists of an applied, real-life problem-based project/case that students identify, analyze and solve in multi-disciplinary teams. It also focuses on developing the students self-awareness of the key learnings during their studies in the Master s Program.

• Applies in this implementation:

  The course
  consists of an applied, real-life business problem/case that students identify,
  analyze and solve in multi-disciplinary teams. It also focuses on
  developing students’ self-awareness of the key learnings and skills obtained
  during their studies in the Master’s Program.
  

  In the course,
  there are four compulsory seminars, two at the beginning, one at halfway and
  one at the end of the course, and an extensive team project in-between. Case
  company representatives pitch their cases at the opening seminar. After this,
  students select three cases that best seem to fit their particular expertise
  and justify their selections. Finally, the teacher-in charge and faculty
  facilitators form the teams of 3-6 students based on individual preferences and
  study backgrounds. The cases have been invited before the course starts. 
  

  At the second
  seminar, the team will meet for the first time and choose the roles for the
  team members (e.g. chair, contact person for the company, contact for faculty
  etc.). Project planning and management, as well as teamwork skills will also be
  discussed in this seminar. After this, the team will have the first meeting
  with the client company, in which the project scope will be discussed and
  tasks defined. After that, the teams work independently on the assigned case
  and meet with the client company as agreed. The teams have to provide a
  well-designed and effectively communicated solution for the identified core
  problem for the case company. In one of the meetings (about half way through
  the course), the team’s faculty facilitator will also be present to give
  feedback.
  

  Halfway
  through the course there is a presentation
  skills seminar, in which the students learn to create an effective presentation structure and
  deliver impactful presentations. Presentation skills are an important
  skill to master in the working life and thus this seminar not only prepares the
  students to the final presentation of the Capstone course but also to the
  working life after that. Each team will also get guidance for their draft
  version of the final presentation in a compulsory presentation rehearsal
  session a few days before the closing seminar.

  The course ends
  with a closing seminar, in which each student team presents the case,
  its core challenges and main solutions. The students will also get to network
  with case company representatives at the closing seminar in order to discuss career
  opportunities in these companies.
  

  In order to complete
  the course, students also submit a written team report and an individual,
  reflective student portfolio by the given deadline (see Schedule below).

  
  

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

  100 % assignments (group and individual)

• Applies in this implementation:

  1.     
  Written team case report               50%

                     a. Progress report 1

                     b. Progress report 2

                     c. Final report

   

  2.     
  Oral team case presentation           30%

   

  3.      
  Individual student portfolio            20%

  
  

Workload

• Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

  Contact teaching :10-15 h (incl. closing seminar with presentations)
  Independent work in teams and individually:145 - 150 h

• Applies in this implementation:

  Project work in teams (incl. team meetings with facilitator and client company)	120 h
  Classroom hours	12 h
  Individual work	27 h
  Presentation coaching session	1 h
  Total	160 h (6 cr)

  
  

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses

• Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

  Students can replace this capstone course by participating in Hackathon course: 57E00700 Capstone: Digital ISM Challenge.

  CEMS MIM students can replace this capstone with 42E05400 CEMS Business Project.
  
  Capstone 20E99904 subsitutes the old courses 21E99904 Capstone: Business Development Project (Management and International Business), 25E99904 Capstone: Business Development Project (Entrepreneurship), 32E99904 Capstone: Business Development Project (Business Law)

Prerequisites

• Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

  Most Master s Programme studies have to be completed before one can enroll on the Capstone course.

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule

• Applies in this implementation:

  Important dates in Spring 2020

  1.      
  February 26 at 15.15 – 18.00: Course starts with an introductory
  session and the presentations of the case companies.

  2.      
  February 27: Submit your three most preferred cases (including short
  justifications - limited to 300 characters) through MyCourses. Also, submit
  your preference to the ‘Peer assessment and grading’ survey in MyCourses.

  3.      
  March 3: You will be informed of the assigned team, case and
  your Faculty Facilitator.

  4.      
  March 4 at 15.15 –
  18.00: Project management seminar where you get organized as a project team and
  assign roles for team members.

  5.      
  March 5 – 13: Organize the first meeting with the case company, where you
  discuss, and define the scope of the project, and agree how you will proceed
  with your investigation of the problem areas finalized in this meeting. Right
  after the meeting, establish an action plan and schedule for the project.

  6.      
  March 18, by midnight: Progress report 1 due; upload the report
  to MyCourses. The report is based on the first meeting with the case company
  and the action plan established after that.

  7.      
  March 19 – 30: Meet jointly with your case company and Faculty Facilitator
  to discuss your progress and to get feedback. In the meeting, confirm shared understanding of the direction and expectations.Contact
  your case company and facilitator well in advance to set up the meeting time;
  setting up the meeting is your responsibility.

  8.      
  April 20 at 9.00-12.00:
  Presentation skills seminar.

  9.      
  April 28, by midnight:
  Progress report 2 due; upload the report to MyCourses

  10.  
  May 7 – 8:  Presentation coaching sessions. Each team has a separate one hour slot during 8.00-11.00;
  12.00-14.00. Detailed instructions for booking below.

  11.  
  May 12 by midnight: Deadline
  for uploading your team’s one slide presentation to the assignment submission
  box in MyCourses

  12.  
  May 13, 15.00-18.00:
  Closing session. Cases and recommendations are presented orally to case
  companies, Faculty Facilitators and fellow students. Upload your presentation
  deck on MyCourses by midnight.

  13.  
  May 18, by midnight: Deadline
  for uploading your team’s written case report to the assignment submission box
  in MyCourses.

  14.  
  May 25, by midnight:
  Deadline for uploading your individual student portfolio to the assignment
  submission box in MyCourses.

  
  

Description

Registration and further information