Customer Intelligence, Research and Project Management (8cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The aims of this course are threefold. It provides the students understanding in customer intelligence: how to collect and analyze customer information in a reliable and useful way. It also gives the students basic knowledge of the necessary research approaches for their final thesis and possible further studies. In addition the course includes a project management module to develop skills in managing a multicultural business project.

After completing the course the student will be able to plan and execute a customer oriented research and development project in a scientifically reliable way.

Content (course unit)

Key questions:
- What are the principles of valid and reliable research for business or
academic world?
- Which tools and methods can be used in increasing the understanding of
customer needs to co-create customer value?
- How to refine research data to customer intelligence?
- How to communicate the results in an interesting way?
- How to manage a research and development project successfully?

Prerequisites (course unit)

-

Location and time

Start of the course September 1st at 8:15 in class C2-15
End of the course December 15.

Exam schedules

First exam during class hours (week 41), resits in Tenttiterraario.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam 30% , (individual)
R&D project, 70% including the written plans and final reports and participating & presenting in the final seminar (teamwork). Also personal contribution (active participation in the class) will have an effect on the grade (peer- and teacher assessment).
Both parts must be passed in order to get the final grade.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

contact teaching
exercises
practical work / research project

Learning materials

Lecture slides and other material given in the lectures.

Student workload

The total of the course is 8 credits meaning about 215 hours of student work altogether. Contact teaching and consultation will be about 60 hours. Students' individual work is about 160 hours. Hence, it should be noticed that a great part of the course work is done outside the class hours both independently and in team meetings and the students are required to commit to the teamwork.
The detailed course plan will be introduced on the first class.
As deliverables students will produce the following:
- project charter
- project- and research plan
- final research report
- final project report
- presentation (15 min) with visual material

Content scheduling

Period 1
Introduction to customer intelligence and research (T Andersson) weeks 35 - 37
Quantitative methods in customer intelligence (T Andersson) weeks 38 - 39
Qualitative methods in customer intelligence (T Soini) weeks 40 - 41
Basics of project management (P Vilén) weeks 37 - 40
Period 2
R&D Project, weekly coaching (T Andersson and T Soini) weeks 43 - 50
Project management clinic (P Vilén) week 46
Final seminar arrangements weeks 48 - 50
Final seminar week 51 (December 15) MANDATORY PARTICIPATION
NOTE! Participation in the InnoEvent week (45) is also a mandatory part of the course

Completion alternatives

None

Practical training and working life cooperation

Student teams will find themselves a business company or other organization to be their customer in the practical R&D project and work in close cooperation with it throughout the whole process.

Further information

Tuula Andersson
tel. 040 800 4271
tuula.andersson@tamk.fi

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student fails the exam or the R&D project report or the project management reports are not accepted or remains on the level 1.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course sufficiently. Student understands the premises and principles of research, customer intelligence and project management. Student recognizes, is able to determine and use the concepts and models of customer intelligence and project management.
The grade of the team project remains on the level 1 - 2.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course well although the skills and competences are somewhat in need of further development. Student is able to determine and apply the concepts and models of customer intelligence and project management well and is able to conduct reasoned analysis. The grade of the team project is 3 - 4.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course excellently. The student masters the concepts and models of customer intelligence and project management in an excellent manner. Student is able to conduct fluent and reasoned analysis and has good capabilities to apply the learning. The grade of the team project is 4 - 5 and the individual exercises as well as participation in the class are on an excellent level.

Assessment criteria - pass/fail (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student fails the exam or the R&D project (teamwork) is not accepted or remains on the level 1.