Program Overview

Business Partnering Program Overview

The Business Partnering program at Aarhus University is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to excel as effective business partners. This comprehensive program combines foundational theory exploration, real-world insights, and practical case studies to provide students with a holistic understanding of business partnering.

Program Details

• ECTS: 5
• Form of instruction: Classroom instruction
• Form of examination: Take-home assignment (Assign)
• Language of instruction: English
• Level: Master
• Location: Aarhus

Course Content

The program offers a comprehensive learning experience, combining lectures, discussions, guest speaker sessions, interactive workshops, and collaborative analysis of complex problems. Students will apply concepts to real-life scenarios through practical case studies, practice communication and relationship skills through role-play and simulations, and reinforce effective communication and presentation skills through student-led presentations and peer teaching.

Description of Qualifications

By participating in this course, students will gain theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills and competencies essential for excelling as business partnering professionals. They will be equipped to navigate the intricate dynamics of Finance, HR, and Improvement (Lean/Agile/IT) business partnering, making them adaptable and impactful contributors to their future organizations.

Knowledge

• Understanding of diverse business partnering roles and their significance
• Familiarity with key theoretical frameworks and models in business partnering
• Insight into strategic alignment and cross-functional collaboration
• Knowledge of change management principles and their applications
• Understanding of lean/agile methodologies and their relevance

Skills

• Strategic thinking and alignment of financial strategies with business goals
• Effective communication and relationship-building with stakeholders
• Structured problem-solving and action learning facilitation for collaborative problem-solving
• Change management strategies for smooth transitions
• Application of analytical and lean thinking in problem-solving and decision-making
• Strategy deployment and visual performance management for goal alignment and execution

Competencies

• Ability to act as a trusted advisor and foster cooperation
• Proficiency in facilitating learning and collaboration among teams
• Aptitude for identifying and addressing real-life business challenges and proposing innovative solutions to complex problems
• Competence in establishing business partnering functions and navigating cross-functional environments
• Confidence in presenting ideas and solutions to diverse audiences in a clear, well-argued language

Overall Outcome

By participating in this course, students will acquire a comprehensive toolkit encompassing knowledge, skills, and competencies essential for excelling as effective business partners. They will be equipped to bridge the gap between business functions and financial strategies, drive strategic decision-making, facilitate change, and foster cross-functional collaboration.

Teaching

• Form of instruction: Classroom instruction
• Instructors: Henrik Saabye, Mai Skjøtt Linneberg

Literature

• Checkland, P. and Poulter, J. (2020), “Soft Systems Methodology”, in Reynolds, M. and Holwell (Retired), S. (Eds.), Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide, Springer London, London, pp. 201–253
• Coghlan, D. (1994). Organization development through interlevel dynamics. The International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 2(3), 264-279.
• Davis, T. R., & McLaughlin, L. P. (2009). FINANCE'S PARTNERING ROLE: Is Finance a Business Partner Yet?. Strategic Finance, 90(9), 35.
• Edmondson, A. (1999), “Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams”, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 350–383, doi: 10.2307/.
• Hunter et al (2006) HR Business Partners, Gower, Aldershot, Hants, England
• Kristensen, T.B., Saabye, H. and Edmondson, A. (2022), “Becoming a learning organization while enhancing performance: the case of LEGO”, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 42 No. 13, pp. 438–481, doi: 10.1108/IJOPM-.
• Kristensen, T.B. and Saabye, H. (2021), “Increasing the enabling use of performance measures: a longitudinal quasi natural experiment”, Journal of Management Control, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 401–433, doi: 10.1007/s-7

Examination

• Form of examination: Take-home assignment (Assign)
• Form of co-examination: No co-examination
• Assessment: 7-point grading scale
• Permitted exam aids: All

Requirements for Taking the Exam

In order to participate in the exam, there is an 80% attendance requirement.

Comments

The exam consists of a portfolio of written assignments, which students work on during the course. The assignments are individual and students receive collective feedback before submitting a finalized version for grading.

Re-exam

• Re-exam: Written take-home exam (max. 36,000 characters including spaces)
• Dates for the first retake: 27th October, 12:00 noon: You will receive your exam question via WISEflow. 3rd November, 12:00 noon: Deadline for submitting via WISEflow.
• Dates for the second retake: January 30th, 12:00 noon: You will receive your exam question via WISEflow. February 6th, 12:00 noon: Deadline for submitting via WISEflow.

Type of Course

• Type of course: Summer University
• Primary programme: Master's Degree Programme in Economics and Business Administration
• Related programmes: Master's Degree Programme in Business Administration, Master's Degree Programme in Business Administration and Commercial Law, Master's Degree Programme in Business Economics and Auditing, Master's Degree Programme in Technology Based Business Development Engineering
• Department: Department of Management
• Faculty: Aarhus BSS
• Location: Aarhus
• Maximum number of participants: Maximum 40 participants. 10 seats are reserved for international exchange students from AU partner universities.