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FME3534 Classics in Industrial Management 7.5 credits

Information per course offering

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Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus FME3534 (Spring 2019–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus FME3534 (Spring 2019–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course disposition

The course builds on ten seminars, where some of the basic works within industrial management will be covered. Each contribution will be discussed in terms of: What is the issue?
Which is the leading idea?
What is the economic, social and technical context?
What are the elements in the suggested solution?
Evidens?
Problematic aspects?
What can be said about the underlying view of man?
How is leadership addressed?
Last but not least: Implications for your own research?

Point of departure is taken in the cradle of industry, the late 18th century and Adam Smith.

The course will end in todays Lean Production – if nothing else pops up during the journey.

The emphasis will be on ideas and less on practical prowess. Surprisingly many of the old concepts survive in one form or another, still often referred to in the debate on postindustrial value creation. We shall identify some of the most central ideas, which are now considered as classics. The grouping in the list below can be disputed, however, but provides some structure. Also, the list is not yet complete.

Early industry – manual produktivity

  • Division of work: Adam Smith, Charles Babbage

Mature industry – the technical potential

  • Rationalization movement: Fredrick Taylor, Frank Gilbreth, Henry Gantt, Henry Ford
    m.fl.

Late industry – the human potential

  • Hawthorne
  • Human Relations: Maslow, McGregor, Herzberg
  • Sociotechnical Systems
  • Quality movement: Deming m.fl.
  • Lean Production:

Postindustrialism

  • Processledning: Hammer & Champy
  • Etc

Course contents

The objective with this course is to:

  1. give historical knowledge about how the main traditions have evolved;
  2. give an understanding of how the interplay of various forces have influenced the industrial practice;
  3. in a more speculative finish deal with what can be said about the future.

Intended learning outcomes

No information inserted

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

No information inserted

Literature

You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

P, F

Examination

  • PRO1 - Project, 7.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Other requirements for final grade

Examination consists of active participation and a written group work.

Seminars will take place every second week, although deviations may occur.

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Education cycle

Third cycle

Postgraduate course

Postgraduate courses at ITM/Industrial Economics and Management