Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective is to combine student's analytical skills and knowledge of management and financial accounting with his/her understanding of economics, strategic management, finance and information systems. Students must be able to execute real life projects providing value added to case companies or other institutions. Final report to be presented to the company management must also include conclusions and recommendations. Course develops advanced communication and presentation skills.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 13.09.2021 - 20.11.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Jari Huikku, Jukka Sihvonen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course will be completed as an assignment to a case company. The assignment will be tailored by each case. There are 8-10 cases by course which will be allocated to teams considering their preferences. Previous assignments have included eg. following subjects:
    - Strategic competitor analysis (several works)
    - Digitalization
    - Artificial intelligence and Robotic Process Automatization
    - Shared service centers

    - Internal audit and board work
    - Benchmarking and developing CSR reporting
    - Long-term liquidity planning


    Masters' level capstone course is an evolving concept, and the contents may be further specified during the course.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course will be completed as a 3-5 person group assignment to a case company. During the course each team will present two interim reports. In addition, teams will have at least two individual coaching sessions with the instructor(s) during the course. The apex of the course is the final report to be presented to the management of the case company.

    Course assessment will be based on reports and presentations. Individual contribution can be considered in the assessment.

  • applies in this implementation

    The apex of the course is the final report to be presented to the management of the case company. Course assessment will be based on reports and presentations. Individual contribution can be considered in the assessment.


Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    - Classroom hours, team sessions and presentation of interim report(s), 20 h
    - Group work, 80 h
    - Preparation and presentation of final report, 60 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Material distributed by the lecturers.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

    5 Gender Equality

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    17 Partnerships for the Goals

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    In academic years 2020-22 maximum number of participants on each course is 45 students (except autumn 2020 & 2021 maximum 40 students). Priority is given to MSc degree students in Accounting who are close to graduation.

    Participation in the limited number of common sessions is compulsory and will be controlled.

    Credit transfer and capstone course

    With legitimate grounds (e.g. exchange studies abroad, serious illness working life and its restraints is not considered a legitimate reason to not complete the capstone course), the student can apply for a credit transfer for a capstone course. However, as a deviation from the common process of credit transfer at the School of Business, the application for credit transfer must be submitted before completing the course represented to substitute the capstone course at the School of Business. The credit transfer should be applied for according to the credit transfer instructions depicted at Into. Based on the credit transfer application, the teacher in charge of the capstone course will decide whether the learning goals for the capstone course can be fulfilled by completing the course the student has represented to substitute the capstone course. The substituting course cannot be a School of Business course.

    For CEMS MIM students it can be possible to replace this capstone course with 42E00600 CEMS Business Project. Please contact the teacher in charge of the capstone course and planning officer of the department for more information.

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn I-II, Spring IV-V

    2021-2022 Autumn I-II, Spring IV-V

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=22E99904

    Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi.

    Via WebOodi. Please see WebOodi for the registration dates.

    In autumn 2020 & 2021 maximum number of participants is 40 students. Priority is given to MSc students in Accounting who are close to graduation.

  • applies in this implementation

    The 2021 autumn course will be an online course.

    Please note that the course will start in the first period and final presentations will most likely extend to the second, i.e. the final presentations will typically take place in November or even in early December.

    Please note also that each team will have their kick-off meeting with their case partner during the first two weeks of the course. Keep the flexibility in your timetables!

    Attendance in all sessions is mandatory.

    It is also worth understanding that we need FULL COMMITMENT from all the students that enroll the course. Our partners expect that Aalto University is able to deliver on their projects, considering the time and effort they have devoted together with the instructors on building and defining the cases.

    Students will be divided into the working teams by the teachers in charge.