FME3534 Classics in Industrial Management 7.5 credits
Information for research students about course offerings
Scheduled to early February 2015. Course registration to jan.forslin@indek.kth.se,
Maximum number of participants: 10.
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:
- give historical knowledge about how the main traditions have evolved;
- give an understanding of how the interplay of various forces have influenced the industrial practice;
- in a more speculative finish deal with what can be said about the future.
Intended learning outcomes
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
The literature is in English, mainly consisting of excerpts from original works, but also some commentary articles. It encompasses some 2000 pages and will be provided as compendium.
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
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.
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.
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
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.