Managing Strategic Partnerships and Digital Platform Ecosystems: The Economics of (Digital) Organizations (MSB201)

No business is an island! Companies' relationships with other firms are essential for economic success. Understanding how organizations operating different business models can seize the benefits from networks of partnerships and alliances with other companies, including customers, suppliers, and competitors, is vital to providing companies with advice on achieving strategic competitiveness. This course covers the nature of a firm's relationships with other firms, including strategic partnerships and digital platform ecosystems, and how these relationships are managed. By integrating research and real-life examples, students learn how firms can unlock the advantages of interfirm relationships in a digital economy. How a firm creates value has fundamental implications for the nature of its relationships with other firms and how these relationships are governed.

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

Offered next time fall 2025.


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

Facts

Course code

MSB201

Version

3

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

Note

Course does not start before autumn 2025

Content

This course covers the nature of a firm's relationships with other firms, including strategic partnerships and digital platform ecosystems, and how these relationships are managed. By integrating research and real-life examples, students learn how firms can unlock the advantages of interfirm relationships in a digital economy.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course, students will know of:

  • Theories of the economics of organizations and digital economics
  • How theories of interfirm relationships are applied across different business models
  • Methods to study the governance of strategic partnerships and digital platform ecosystems

Skills

After completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Explain theories of interfirm relationships
  • Present how theories of interfirm relationships are applied in different business models
  • Discuss the choice of theory and method to study strategic partnerships and digital platform ecosystems

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Class participation, written assignment and final exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Class participation 20/100 4 Hours Letter grades
Final exam 50/100 4 Hours Letter grades
Written assignments/portfolio in groups 30/100 Letter grades

Class participationTo a large extent, the value of this course will depend on the student’s level of preparation and participation in class discussions. If students have a legitimate excuse for not participating in a particular session, it is the student’s responsibility to let the instructor know as soon as possible and to get notes from a classmate.If students experience any problem(s) with the class or any of their classmates, the students should report any problem(s) that they are not able to resolve themselves to the instructor as soon as possible.In this course, class attendance is expected. Thus, unexcused absences will affect the ability to pass the course.Written assignmentsStudents will be required to submit a portfolio of mandatory work in groups.Final examThe final exam will cover the readings, lectures, and written assignments. Re-sit exam. To take the final exam, students must pass the class participation and the portfolio requirements. You may also be asked to submit an assessment of your class participation and a peer evaluation. All parts of the evaluation must be passed to get a grade in the course. Students failing the portfolio evaluation will be given the opportunity to take a deferred exam. This exam will take the form of new written individual assignments.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Kenneth Henning Wathne

Course teacher:

Kenneth Henning Wathne

Study Program Director:

Ingeborg Foldøy Solli

Method of work

The class meets regularly throughout the semester, and a set of required readings are assigned for each meeting. Students are expected to thoroughly read and analyze all the required readings prior to each meeting. Readings may be added to the list.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Business to Business Marketing (MSB201_2) 5

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