Introduction to Business Operations and Legal Aspects (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

This course is an introduction to company processes and functions in a modern business environment. The aim is to cover the essentials for business operations and introduce the key legal aspects of setting up a business in Finland and choosing a company legal type. The students will learn to search for and apply professionally significant legal information.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:
• have a good insight into functions of modern business environment.
• adopt the principles of business profitability, liquidity and solvency.
• analyze the interdependence of various business variables.
• indentify and use the key sources of Finnish law
• describe the type of enterprise and their key differences
• understand the procedures required to establish a company
• draw up documents for the formation and registration of a company

Content (course unit)

• What is a company and business operations?
• How to evaluate and measure the success of a business?
• What is organisational structure and its functions?
• What are the key sources of law and how to utilize them?
• Who has the right to trade in Finland
• What legal considerations are relevant to setting up a business?
• What are the key differences between the company legal forms?

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student recognises main ideas and concepts related to business operations and can illustrate them with simple isolated examples. Work is poorly structured and there is no relationship to other ideas, concepts or previous knowledge. The student struggles to assess the impact of business activities on the business or society in general. The student recognizes the key sources of law and is able to define company legal forms.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student demonstrates sound understanding of the main ideas and concepts related to business operations and can illustrate them with multiple relevant examples. He/she can establish causal and consequential relationships between events in the business world and offer reasonable solutions. Work is mostly logical and well-structured, with some inconsistencies or minor errors. The student can assess the impact of business activities on the business itself and its immediate surrounding, mostly in the short-term. He/she can apply the key sources of law and is able to explain differences between company legal forms.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student demonstrates deep understanding of the main ideas and concepts related to business operations and can illustrate them with authentic, connected examples. The student can establish causal and consequential relationships between events in the business world, analyse underlying problems and synthesise solutions out of available alternatives. Work is logical and well-structured, and ideas are clearly expressed. The student can assess the impact of business activities on the business itself and the society in general, both in the short- and long-term, and demonstrates commitment to sustainable development. The student is able to apply different sources of law extensively and analyse and assess different company forms in a professional manner.

Location and time

TAMK main campus

Exam schedules

Written exam - 09.10.2019 08.00 - 11.00 A3-27
Re-sit exam dates - 14.11.2019 and 12.12.2019

Assessment methods and criteria

Introduction to Business Operations (2 cr):
- Individual exam (70%)
- Active participation and group work in class (30%)
Legal Aspects (1 cr):
- Individual exam (70%)
- Active participation and group work in class and on-line (30%)

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Contact lessons, group work, self-study

Learning materials

Business Operations:
• Kinkki, Seppo. (2002). Yrityksen Perus-Toiminnot. WSOY (select pages). Available at TAMK’s library
• Other materials provided by the teacher
• Online resources
Legal Aspects (required reading):
• Surakka, Aapo. (2012). Access to Finnish law. Talentum Media. Pages 16–25 and 88–102. Available in digital form in TAMK-Finna Alma Talent Verkkokirjahylly.
• Items covered in class, and
• Materials in Tabula

Student workload

Classroom teaching 6 x 3h, independent study 63 h

Completion alternatives

None

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

The student recognises main ideas and concepts related to business operations and can illustrate them with simple isolated examples. Work is poorly structured and there is no relationship to other ideas, concepts or previous knowledge. The student struggles to assess the impact of business activities on the business or society in general. The student recognizes the key sources of law and is able to define company legal forms.

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

The student demonstrates sound understanding of the main ideas and concepts related to business operations and can illustrate them with multiple relevant examples. He/she can establish causal and consequential relationships between events in the business world and offer reasonable solutions. Work is mostly logical and well-structured, with some inconsistencies or minor errors. The student can assess the impact of business activities on the business itself and its immediate surrounding, mostly in the short-term. He/she can apply the key sources of law and is able to explain differences between company legal forms.

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

The student demonstrates deep understanding of the main ideas and concepts related to business operations and can illustrate them with authentic, connected examples. The student can establish causal and consequential relationships between events in the business world, analyse underlying problems and synthesise solutions out of available alternatives. Work is logical and well-structured, and ideas are clearly expressed. The student can assess the impact of business activities on the business itself and the society in general, both in the short- and long-term, and demonstrates commitment to sustainable development. The student is able to apply different sources of law extensively and analyse and assess different company forms in a professional manner.