A Facebook page was set up to discuss topics with an independent LinkedIn page also running, my preference was LinkedIn as I prefer that particular platform to Facebook, the Facebook page was better patronised by students with over 6000 members compared to the 450 LinkedIn members so I expect this to be the preferred option for the majority of students. Published on the fifth week, there were 11,700 participants on the course, if the standard 5% pass rate is applied, 585 students out of the cohort will pass the course.
A lot of supplementary information was posted on the Facebook page that made compelling reading, to a lesser extent the LinkedIn page had a fair degree of activity too. Collaboration between students is interesting, plenty was learnt from peers with informed viewpoints, I posted some information too hoping it would be of value to other participants.
Online lectures were shot in the IE Business School lecture rooms utilising current students, questions were asked throughout the lectures providing a degree of feedback, further specific feedback comes via the discussion forum. The video lectures were of high quality providing the bulk of the learning outcomes, supplementary written materials were a combination of off-the-shelf reports and custom readings.
The course started with the Roman grain trade viewing such concepts of information, transaction costs, institutional dilemma, agent dilemma and logistics - this really sets the tone for globalisation, it has, after all, been going on for a long long time. This involved two weeks of online lectures and readings and really laid the foundations of the learning environment.
Moving into the third week, the shipping container was tackled defining innovation and how world trade was rationalised making the world smaller increasing cost-effective trade between nations. Really, this was building on the globalisation paradigm utilising modern logistical techniques and technologies.
Week four investigated entrepreneurship, the power of narrative and home buying as an investment and real estate bubbles; irrational behaviour in the housing market was tackled. Very interesting for a guy living in an overpriced residential housing market.
Shareholder value was discussed during week 5; a minor case study examining Apple and the return of cash to shareholders was examined. Of course, it is difficult to be critical of a business currently at the top of its game.
The sixth and final week focused on the case major study - the rise and rapid fall of Nokia. I had always thought the rapid implementation of the smart phone had sunk Nokia, Rolf asked us to reexamine this misconception. This case study provided a thought provoking review of the past six weeks encapsuling the essence of critical perspectives on management.
An online quiz was set up for each week of the course, you get two attempts with the highest mark recorded. The quizzes are timed with a 30 minute deadline for six questions, this allowed the participant to research each answer from the course material, of course, you need to know where to find the answer and had better be prepared. The final exam had 14 questions with an hour and a half time limit, this was somewhat harder than the quizzes with an average 8.23 mark and 4897 submissions.
The course went overtime and was extended - was I concerned? No, I very much enjoyed the interaction and structure of the course. I understood the sequence, presentation style and flow - for a free course, I learnt plenty.
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