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ADMN 405 is a paced, three-credit course in the Business and Administrative Studies program that invites students to discuss and critically analyze management frameworks, enhancing their problem-solving and collaboration skills in the process. Important topics include decision-making guidelines, emotional intelligence, ethical considerations, and proper netiquette.
Depending on their business bachelor’s degree program, students will need to complete the required courses before taking ADMN 405. They are encouraged to take ADMN 404 as a supplement, but it is not mandatory for course enrollment.
Students cannot take the course for credit if they already received one in ADMN 401, and it is unavailable for Challenge.
Who Should Take This Course and Why
ADMN 405 is a compulsory course for BComms students who have been in the program since 2019. However, Course Coordinator Richard Dixon says that student feedback over the years is nevertheless the best indicator of who the course is recommended to outside of the program.
Based on said feedback, Dixon concludes that students who embrace cooperative settings and wish to test their interpersonal skills, as well as other soft skills in various scenarios such as approaching difficult managers, addressing inappropriate behaviour by co-workers, and/or discussing strategy with superiors should consider taking ADMN 405.
Course, Assignments, and Exam Details
This sixteen-week course consists of, in chronological order, an orientation module and six key themes: Strategy and Operational Effectiveness; Strategic Foresight; Value Creation and Capture; Strategy and Ethics; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Marketing Strategies. Acclaimed management frameworks students will study as they work through each theme include Oxford University’s Strategic Planning Approach and Prof. Michael Porter’s Creating Shared Value.
Students will be placed in groups for a business case during the first month of the course that either focuses on implementing strategy or developing and applying a strategic plan. In both cases, the groups must produce an oral presentation worth 10% of their final grade and a report valued at 20%.
Class participation, which comprises 20% of the grade, is crucial for students to apply communication and language skills, social graces, affective empathy, time management, leadership attributes, personal habits, and other abilities from their learning experiences through course materials (i.e. watching videos, reading articles, writing solo and group reports, and simulating a workplace environment) and previous courses in their respective programs.
Students will also engage in AI-powered simulations, or Virtual Co-op, for a series of projects collectively worth 25% of their grade intended to help them improve their teamwork skills. These projects involve email correspondence with fictional colleagues and debriefs with a fictional mentor.
The simulations aid in framing the Soft Skills paper, which is prepared by each student individually and makes up 20% of the grade. For this assignment, students are asked to reflect on one of the two simulations they choose to participate in – financial or digital services.
Finally, students are expected to provide peer-to-peer feedback for 5% of their grade.
How to Be Successful in the Course
Course Tutor’s Advice for the Course
As ADMN 405 is a greatly contribution-oriented course with weekly deadlines, Dixon emphasizes the importance of commitment to the tasks, and openly communicating possible concerns and/or plans can facilitate progress on the assignments. He is eager to speak with students about anything related to the coursework.
Questions?
If you have any further questions regarding the course, please do not hesitate to contact Dixon at rdixon@athabascau.ca. Happy learning!