Course content

The course will provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the structure, design and the management of an organization’s performance measurement and management system which should seek to optimally use the organizations resources (such as people and technology) to transform the organizations strategic objectives into defined performance outcomes.

Performance measurement and management includes both the process, tools and techniques, to collect, analyse and interpret performance data and measures from the organizations processes, and the social norms, values and beliefs impact the use of performance measures. The course will enable the candidate to reflect about the consequences of the performance measurement and management system used in the organization.

1. Performance measurement and management theories and practises, inclusive related theories e.g. decision making, system theory, contingency theory, and capability theory
2. Performance measurement systems:
   1. Strategy and goal setting across the organisation, both vertical and horizontal
   2. Evaluate organizations processes and value chain, including tools like value stream mapping, process activity mapping and decision point analysis.
   3. Performance assessment tools and systems, including balance scorecard, strategy map, quality systems, Hoshin Kanri
   4. Key performance indicators and the use of dashboards on different organizational levels
   5. Performance data and informations, basic system architecture, data collection, analysis and reporting processes, e.g. business review, monthly and annual reports.
   6. Business intelligence and analytics, including data sources, architecture, analytical tools, and visualisations.
   7. Risk management, processes and tools.
3. Performance management practices, including management style and organisations norms and and values as factors influencing the performance management practice.
4. Intended and unintended consequences of performance measurement

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• Enable to describe challenges with aligning strategic, tactic and operational goals and activities on different levels and across functions in an organization
• be able to analyse an organization use of performance measurement tools and processes, and identify its impact on the organizations competitive advantage/goal achievements
• be able to analyse different industries approach to performance measurement and management
• demonstrate an understanding of how performance measurement system and processes are related to performance management practice including the organisations social and culture relations, and the employees engagement and motivation
• enable to analyse the organizations use of performance data for strategic, tactical and operational decisions

Skills:

• be able to carry out independent research / development projects within performance measurement and management in an organization.
• be able to analyse organisations practices according to existing theories and methods, and to work independently with practical and theoretical problems.

General knowledge:

• Be able to obtain data, analyse and evaluate end-to-end performance management processes of an organization - from setting goals and allocating resources to use of measurement tools, reporting and monitoring system performance in order to identify opportunities to increase operational efficiency, productivity and or drive organizational effectiveness.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, flipped classroom, cases, peer instruction, group assignments, project work.

Student participation is expected. Some lectures/group assignments will be mandatory.

Compulsory assignments

• Project design

Required previous knowledge

Admission to a master programme.

Students admitted to other master’s programs have access to the course but must clarify with their department whether it is approved as part of their degree.

Course materials

To be announced at the start of the semester