Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Management (5 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

The course uses an online simulation to assist learning. The OnService simulation business case is built around a small family hotel, with about 1m€ in annual sales at the start of the simulation. The students’ goal is to manage the overall operating, market, and financial performance of a service business in competitive markets with seasonal variations in demand and economic conditions. Human resources management, capacity management, investments, service quality, pricing, and marketing are the key decision-making areas in the simulation. The main aim of the course is to provide with students' practical knowledge of how to run a SME.

Content

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Understand and have practice in the day to day running and management of an SME
- Manage the overall operating, market, and financial performance of a service business in
competitive markets with seasonal variations in demand and economic conditions
- Coordinate human resources management, capacity management, investments, service quality, pricing and marketing.
- Improve problem solving ability
- Improve team work skills

Prerequisites

First year basic studies
Basic knowledge of finance - have completed a first year finance course
English language skills: intermediate level

Teaching methods

• Interactive lecture
• Lecture
• Problem based learning
• Small group tutorial
• e-learning

Location and time

Classroom as per the scheduling machine

Learning materials and recommended literature

Provided in OMA

Alternative completion methods of implementation

NA

Internship and working life connections

NA

Exam dates and retake possibilities

Provided in OMA

International connections

NA

Student workload

5 ECTS 135 hours
Breakdown presented in first class

Content scheduling

Timetable & content provided in OMA

Further information for students

NA

Assessment methods and criteria

• Class Attendance 10%*
• Peer Review 5%
• SME Quiz 15% (Individual work)
• Simulation 40% (Group work & Individual work*)
• Final Exam 30% (Individual work)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient performance:
showing just enough understanding of the subject to merit a pass grade but requiring greater effort to achieve a more satisfactory result

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good performance:
showing strong understanding of basic concepts and good grasp of techniques, but with certain minor problems still requiring further attention

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent performance:
not only fulfils all standard requirements but demonstrates originality and imagination

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Sufficient performance:
showing just enough understanding of the subject to merit a pass grade but requiring greater effort to achieve a more satisfactory result