This course will cover the key areas of change management, such as the implementation of change, employee reactions, key barriers to change, and the positive and negative forces that affect the change process. The theories and concepts that change management is based on will be discussed in detail as well as the key approaches and methods for managing change. The role of the leader, manager, and the middle manager in managing change as well as crises will be discussed. Organizational culture will be discussed and why it is an important element of the change process.

The goal of the course is to give students insight into qualitative research methods, and their use in gatherin and analysing data on the individual and organizational level. Stuents will be trained in defining a research problems and presenting them in a research question. Students will further plann and execute data gethering and analysing, as well as presenting the findings in a written report. Students will learn about the strenghts and weaknesses of qualitative research so as to be able to chose the best method to study a given problem.

In the foreground throughout the course is the role of the manager, at all levels of the hierarchy, its nature and its challenges. Human resource issues and communication are the focus area and connected to all of the course topics and assignments. The leadership role of the manager is examined; particularly in relation to general human resource management and the management of employees through reform projects and radical changes. Leadership is also examined in relation to successful teamwork and approaches to managing and solving conflicts and challenging human resource issues.

The main objective of the course is that the students gain knowledge of the meaning of the key concepts and a solid understanding of the theoretical principles, methods, and options that the manager can employ in order to successfully fulfil his/her role. Diverse teaching methods are used to encourage the interest, interaction, and participation of students.

This course provides an introduction at a master's level to the theory and practice of bussines. The aim is to prepare students for a variety of management tasks, both in the private and public sectors.

The course consists of five introductory modules:
Finance
Business law
Accounting
Macro economics
Micro economics 

Organisation

The course is offered twice a year, in August and in January and students should complete the coure in the first year of their master studies. Students that start the programme in the autumn should sit the course in August, but can postpone doing so until January. Those beginning in January should preferably take the course in January, but may postpone doing so until August.

The course opens on the 1st of each month and closes on the 31st. All course material will be available on the course website on Canvas on the 1st.

The course cannot be used for credits in the master's programmes.

The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the latest key theories in human resource management and that they gain understanding and proficiency in using key HRM theories. Theories of HRM are covered in detail and the goal is that students understand the importance of HRM as a field of study and as an important function within organizations. Key aspects of HRM will be covered and it is important that students familiarize themselves with the course concepts through lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.

The objective of the course is to enable the students acquire the latest and most important theories in the field of international human resource management and that students develop an understanding and training in the use of the key theories of managing human resources in international companies. IHRM theories are covered in detail and the objective is that students understand the importance of IHRM as a field of study and as an important function within international organizations. Diversity in the workplace and in IHRM will be covered and emphasis is placed on students’ ability to familiarize themselves with the course concepts though lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.

The goal of this course is to strengthen the statistics and methodology knowledge of the students to enable them to better understand research methods and research findings. State-of-the-art research will be reviewed and the statistics and methodology required to conduct this research will be discussed. Students will also conduct their own research project in preparation for analytical work in their professional life and their Master’s thesis.

In the foreground throughout the course is strategic human resource development (SHRD). Emphasis is placed on analysing scholarly literature on the key concepts in order to develop sound understanding and fundamental ability to successfully manage  learning and development of managers and the staff  in organizations. Connections are made with learning theories, adult learning, and formal learning as well as informal workplace learning. A special emphasis is placed on the whole management process, i.e. the formulation of HRD strategy, needs analysis, design of studies, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation of results.  Orientation and socialisation process for new employees will be in focus as well as competence development of managers/leaders. The course will be based on lectures, discussions, and research-based group work.

This course covers the main topics of labour law and laws to do with human resource issues in the public and private sector. Topics discussed include collective agreements, collective bargaining, the legal status of shop stewards, legal aspects of work suspensions, mediation in labour disputes, and Labour Court. Also discussed are the rights and duties of employees and employers, individual labour law, i.e. employee hiring, dismissal and termination of employment contracts, and the legal status of employees at the legal transfer of companies. Furthermore, equal rights, rights upon illness or accident, rights of leave, etc. are discussed. A special focus is on the rights and responsibilities of public-sector employees. The influence of European law and standards of the International Labour Organization on the Icelandic labour market are discussed.

The objective of the course is to familiarize Master’s students in the School of Business with the principles and techniques of employee relations. The course covers key theories of employment relations, the structure of institutions in the labour market, and the structure, development and characteristics of the Icelandic labour market. The roles and relations between the main actors in the labour market will be discussed in detail, such as government, employers, and labour unions. The division of the labour market into the public sector and private sector is discussed. The role of labour unions, employers, and government in the labour market is discussed, as well as labour market participation, the flexibility of the labour market, collective bargaining, and equal rights. Collective bargaining agreements and their development is discussed, as well as strikes and theories on strikes. Labour markets in different countries are compared.

This course provides an introduction at a master's level to the theory and practice of bussines. The aim is to prepare students for a variety of management tasks, both in the private and public sectors.

The course consists of five introductory modules:
Finance
Business law
Accounting
Macro economics
Micro economics 

Organisation

The course is offered twice a year, in August and in January and students should complete the coure in the first year of their master studies. Students that start the programme in the autumn should sit the course in August, but can postpone doing so until January. Those beginning in January should preferably take the course in January, but may postpone doing so until August.

The course opens on the 1st of each month and closes on the 31st. All course material will be available on the course website on Canvas on the 1st.

The course cannot be used for credits in the master's programmes.

The aim of the course is that students gain theoretical and practical knowledge of human behavior in the workplace and can use that knowledge to enhance job satisfaction and performance of staff. The course will, among other things, review workplace studies, selection of personnel, evaluation of performance, motivation, job satisfaction, communication in the workplace, leadership and corporate culture. Certain concepts and theories in I/O Psychology will be thoroughly reviewed in order to understand and their limits and usefulness.

The aim of the course is to give students an overview of the theoretical foundations of innovation and entrepreneurship and prepare them for further studies, both academic and applied.

The course will cover the most prominent theories and unresolved questions within the field; students will review the latest academic articles and learn about tools to analyze major innovation trends.

In this course, students will gain insight into one of the cornerstones of the Icelandic economy, fisheries and aquaculture. Emphasis is placed on innovation, sustainability, full utilization of marine products, and the opportunities presented by technological advancements, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy. Participants will also learn how Icelandic fisheries and aquaculture compete internationally, contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and utilize Icelandic ingenuity to create added value.

Through project-based learning, students will work on realistic projects in collaboration with companies and institutions in the industry, addressing real-world challenges related to marketing, sustainability, technological advancement, and full utilization for increased value creation.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of corporate governance and how corporate governance influences corporate performance. More specifically students will learn to identify and analyze corporate governance problems, learn to assess how corporate governance shapes the behavior of the board and learn to analyze how the corporate governance structure of a particular company is likely to influence its performance. The following topics and concepts are covered: The course will introduce the students to corporate governance issues and teach them to analyze how different corporate governance mechanisms – like ownership and board structure, legal systems and incentives – contribute to the solution of agency problems and thereby influence corporate performance. Using this framework, the course will then study the impact of corporate governance on corporate performance depending on comany-specific factors. The course will enable students to undertake a corporate governance review of an individual company including an assessment of how ownership, board structure, managerial incentives and system characteristics influence company performance.

The course is taught in English.

The course covers ethical issues regarding business operations, executives’ connections with government, communication with government officials, and corporate social responsibility in general. A broad range of ethical concepts, codes of conduct, and business ethics will be discussed. Students will, furthermore, be introduced to different theories and analytical tools for use in handling ethical challenges in the business environment. Emphasis will be on case studies on ethical dilemmas in business operations. Guest lecturers will be sought from business and the community to share their practical experience and students will work on the solution of practical problems.

In this short version of the course students will cover at least half of the course´s material. Further and detailed information will be given before teaching begins.

The course covers ethical issues regarding business operations, executives’ connections with government, communication with government officials, and corporate social responsibility in general. A broad range of ethical concepts, codes of conduct, and business ethics will be discussed. Students will, furthermore, be introduced to different theories and analytical tools for use in handling ethical challenges in the business environment. Emphasis will be on case studies on ethical dilemmas in business operations. Guest lecturers will be sought from business and the community to share their practical experience and students will work on the solution of practical problems.

In this short version of the course students will cover at least one fifth of the course´s material. Further and detailed information will be given before teaching begins.

This course aims at improving the participants’ knowledge in the areas of knowledge management and knowledge assets.  The course offers detailed coverage of theories and models relating to companies’ knowledge assets, knowledge enterprises and knowledge workers. The course deals with the shaping of processes and organisational development for the purpose of stimulating and registering new knowledge as well as how it is shared within organisational units and applied to improve company performance.  Reference will be made to different types of organisational and knowledge cultures within organisational units and how knowledge strategies are formulated.  Social media are discussed together with the mediation of knowledge. Finally, the impact of Artificial Intellegience on knowledge management will be discussed.

Understanding consumer behaviour and their preferences is crucial for effective marketing. It allows you to optimize marketing strategies, develop successful products and service, helps you to identify appropriate consumers to target and develop communication material that is relevant and successful in getting to your target consumers. All aspects of the marketing plan benefit from an understanding of consumers and with rapid changes of consumer markets today, consumer insight is becoming more important.
The course is based on lectures and assignments. The lectures will focus on both key models of consumer behaviour and also introducing state of the art literature on the subject. Students will complete both individual assignments and group assignments in order to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of consumer behaviour.

The course covers both the management of individual projects and the management of projects in an organization. Both theoretical and practical aspects will be covered. Students will gain a good understanding of the elements of project work and project management in business operations and the ability to manage individual projects. Students will learn the structure of the program, progress, and termination of projects. Students will also learn to use software and technology for project management. Students are introduced to projects in an international environment and Agile ideology. The student will be an emphasis on putting on project management in Icelandic business environment and use of information technology.

Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.

Wellbeing at work gains increasing attetion and discussion about prevention og job burnout has incresed. Leaders of organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the value of a healthy work environment and staff wellbeing being linked to better performance. The purpose of this interdisciplinary course is to introduce students to the emerging field of healthy work environment models that impact the wellbeing and health of people and how this links to leadership philosophy and behavior. The course is designed to discuss the context of determinants of wellbeing at work and different types of healthy work environment models in relation to wellbeing at work. Also to examine health promoting and servant leadership approaches and successful strategies to prevent burnout. Students visit successful organizations in this regard and get insight into managers' experience. Course materials and activities will challenge students to connect theory to practice. Students will be required to analyze current research on the topic and to identify an issue of unhealthy work environment and to develop an implementation of successful work environment model.

The development of knowledge about effective leadership has progressed in recent decades, from viewing leaders as unique great men with innate abilities to viewing leadership as a process of communication and collaboration through which leaders develop their strategies and priorities.

A successful leader enhances his own ability to motivate, mobilize and support staff for good deeds and cooperation towards an important purpose. Increased knowledge about factors that create effective leadership underscores the importance of leaders keeping up-to-date with the latest knowledge about effective priorities and using it to support the well-being and success of employees and workplaces.

This course will discuss leadership theories and effective leadership. It will shed light on which elements of leadership enhance the success of organizations and its link to, for example, the well-being of staff, efficient operations, equal opportunities, ethics, sustainability and the development of growth. Special emphasis will be placed on the focus and methods of servant leadership and its relationship to success.

The aim of the course is for students to understand the main characteristics and competences of leaders, to know the main leadership theories that have emerged in recent decades with an emphasis on the philosophy of servant leadership. The goal is for students to have an insight into the results of research on the relationship between a leader's focus and success in terms of employees, workplace culture, operations and the external environment of organizations.

Students examine real examples of individual leadership and leadership within organizations, examine their own priorities when it comes to leadership, and examine the main challenges facing leaders in business operations and public service leadership.

In this course, the state of knowledge in the field is communicated, student participation is activated in a conversation about the topic and about analyzes of cases that shed light on the manifestation and success of leadership based on diverse focuses and leadership theories. Curriculum and projects focus on theoretical and practical knowledge about leaders and leadership, and students examine new research in the field.

The course covers ethical issues regarding business operations, executives’ connections with government, communication with government officials, and corporate social responsibility in general. A broad range of ethical concepts, codes of conduct, and business ethics will be discussed. Students will, furthermore, be introduced to different theories and analytical tools for use in handling ethical challenges in the business environment. Emphasis will be on case studies on ethical dilemmas in business operations. Guest lecturers will be sought from business and the community to share their practical experience and students will work on the solution of practical problems.

The aim of the course is to give students an insight into management of innovation, whether it is development of a new product, technology or services. The course will discuss the nature of innovation, how the environment can support innovation and how it can aid in the management of the innovation process. The course will study both applied application of innovation as well as academic research of innovation and its management.

The objective of the internship program is to develop students’ skills and expand their network of professional relationships and contacts. The internship for graduate students is 7.5 ECTS which equals 200 hours within a company or an organization. Students complete work assignments under the guidance of specialists in public and private organizations. The tasks shall be relevant to the specialization of the student’s studies. Each student can only complete one internship position. Further stipulations regarding the internship are laid out in each particular internship contract and contract addendum.

Internships are advertised separately at the beginning of each semester. Further information can be found here.

Please send inquiries to vidskipti@hi.is

The main objective of the course is to  introduce to students the rage of developments that will affect organizations in the future and the role of sustainability in future of business. Furthermore, students will develop good overview regarding how these new developments are interconnected within organizations and across markets.

Rapid changing environment surrounding organization requires to look at the present developments, but even more importantly, the future of organizations. Therefore in this course the most contemporary management phenomenon already present in today’s business world are addressed. This course is unique in its focus on the future of organizations, within sustainability context, presenting holistic view of the organization and its context. The curriculum is built on most currect scientific findings, practical examples and assignments.
The aim is to:

• To introduce students to the most current developments in business environment.
• To examine the effects of the current micro and macro developments in business and its effects for the future organizations.
• To apply theoretical knowledge to an understanding of real-world processes through class discussion, research, and application essays.
• To promote critical thinking about the interconnectedness of elements within organization and its context at mezzo and macro level.
•  To provide insight regarding how theoretical lens can help us to prepare better for the future.

This is an intensive course with the active participation of students. It is taught over 13 weeks. The course takes as its starting point the idea that although governments and nonprofits are crucial to modern society, businesses are largely responsible for creating the wealth upon which the well-being of society depends, while also being a part of the problems created. As they create that wealth, their actions affect society, which is composed of a wide variety of stakeholders, and the natural environment. In turn, society shapes the rules and expectations by which businesses must navigate their internal and external environments. These include the Sustainable Development Goals, i.e., Goals 1-5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16, the Paris Agreement, the UN Global Compact, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the Global Reporting Initiative, and more. This interaction between corporations, society (in its broadest sense) and the natural environment is the concern of corporate social responsibility (CSR), but the issues need to be addressed from a strategic point of view. 

Regardless of one’s viewpoint about the interaction of business and society, the continued co-existence of for-profit organizations is essential. This course seeks to explore the dimensions of that interaction from a multi-stakeholder perspective. That exploration is intended to be interactive, with the journey of exploration involving an analysis of CSR-related issues, simulation, and case studies.

The course is organized into six broad sections. In the first section, we will explore what corporate social responsibility (CSR) means and the driving forces of CSR. The second section focuses on the stakeholder perspective, and in the third section, we study the legal perspective. In the fourth section, we will explore the behavioral perspective, in the fifth section the strategic perspective and in the sixth section the focus will be on the sustainable perspective and sustainable value creation.   

This course covers negotiation, with a focus on negotiating skills, behavior in negotiation, and the legal aspects of contracts. The objective of the course is to prepare students, through active practice, to be effective in identifying opportunities for creating value, solving conflicts, conducting negotiations, designing deals and implementing them. The course is based on lectures, practical assignments and simulations. Lectures introduce theories and concepts in the field of negotiation, as well as the structure and common terms of contracts. Simulations allow students to participate in realistic negotiations that address common issues that arise in real-life business negotiations.

The objective of the internship program is to develop students’ skills and expand their network of professional relationships and contacts. The internship for graduate students is 7.5 ECTS. Students complete work assignments under the guidance of specialists in public and private organizations. The tasks shall be relevant to the specialization of the student’s studies.Each student can only complete one internship position.
Further stipulations regarding the internship are laid out in each particular internship contract and contract addendum.
Internships are advertised separately at the beginning of each semester. Further information can be found here.

Please send inquiries to vidskipti@hi.is

The objective of the course is for students to be able to prepare, implement, and utilize the results of service quality measurements in prioritizing improvements. The course is based on quantitative methodology and students’ ability to use statistics according to the methodology of social science.

This course offers students the opportunity to recognize the need to develop inclusive work environments that operate on equity principles as well as value, support and engage all employees. Students learn to identify social justice/exclusion issues related to nondominated culture cohorts associated with race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and other aspects of diversity in organizations and apply their knowledge to analyzing and implementing inclusion initiatives in organizations. Students are engaged in the study of recent scholarly research in the field in order to develop their critical thinking on topics such as identity, diverse teams, (un)conscious bias, and equality of opportunity in organizations and how they relate to the value of diversity in organizations.

The course is taught in English

The course examines theories of organisational structure and organisational fields.  Different theoretical perspectives will be discussed in organizational theory and the strengths and weaknesses of the theories highlighted. The course discussion based without a textbook based on academic articles with a short introduction from the teachers. The focus of the course is to train students in understanding and discussing academic texts, which is an important part of writing a master's thesis. The course will review how scholarly sources are used in an academic writing and students will receive guidance and training in writing a literature review. Students submit a literature review which they can use as a foundation for their master's thesis.

The course covers the theories, tools, and ideologies on which strategy development and strategy implementation are based. Methods of analysis and preparation of strategic planning and its implementation are introduced. Different ways for companies to create and maintain a competitive advantage are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the aspects of strategy development related to strategy execution, performance measurement, and implementation and follow-up of strategy. Students get the opportunity to express themselves and apply strategic planning methods in project work with a company, organization, or non-profit organization. It is worth emphasizing that good policy work is based, among other things, on the students' previous experience and their knowledge of human resources, finance, marketing, operations, management, etc. Students will, therefore, build on their experience and previous studies. Work on the final project begins after the first week and lasts until the presentation in the last week of the course, but the presentations will be at the end of the course. The course's final project is discussed in more detail later in this syllabus.

The aim of the course is through lectures, class discussions and teaching material to get the students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in strategy and strategic management. In addition to the reading material the course focuses on cases and examples from the business environment in Iceland. An emphasis is put on different theoretical perspectives in the course and different types of organisations. The approach to teaching is based on interactive participation, openess and inclusiveness. Empowerment of the student is the main goal – and for that to be realized it is necessary for all the participants to be fully committed to the course

Performance management is a central part of every organisation and project. It helps to ensure our actions are aligned with our strategic priorities. This course will help students to connect the dots between strategic and operational levels in work settings, and how performance management philosophies and frameworks can be used by leaders and managers to ensure the achievement of our strategic objectives.

This course relies on case studies and in-class activities to take students as close as it is possible in a classroom setting to real-life scenarios where performance management can be used to support decision making towards achieving success.

 This course follows a hybrid structure. Half of the course is delivered online—students are provided flexibility and can watch pre-recorded lecture videos at their convenience. However, no later than indicated in the teaching plan.
The rest of the course material will be delivered in workshops that will be held on-campus, and must be attended in-person by the enrolled students. These workshops account for up to 70% of the grade (course assessments).

The topic of the master's thesis must be chosen after consulting the thesis advisor(s), who must be full-time faculty at the School of Business.

The thesis must equal 30 credits and coursework shall equal 60 credits. The thesis must be presented at a departmental seminar.The thesis must be submitted online no later than the specified dates before each graduation. Grades for a master's thesis are awarded by the thesis advisor(s) and an external examiner.

Please note! According to the rules of the University of Iceland, all MS theses must be open after they have been submitted to the University Library. If a student wishes for its MS thesis be closed for a certain period of time, after graduation, they need the approval of their supervisor and the dean of the department. Maximum closure is 5 years. It is preferable to apply for the authorization before writing the thesis.

Application for closing master's thesis.

The topic of the master's thesis must be chosen after consulting the thesis advisor(s), who must be full-time faculty at the School of Business.

The thesis must equal 30 credits and coursework shall equal 60 credits. The thesis must be presented at a departmental seminar.The thesis must be submitted online no later than the specified dates before each graduation. Grades for a master's thesis are awarded by the thesis advisor(s) and an external examiner.

Please note! According to the rules of the University of Iceland, all MS theses must be open after they have been submitted to the University Library. If a student wishes for its MS thesis be closed for a certain period of time, after graduation, they need the approval of their supervisor and the dean of the department. Maximum closure is 5 years. It is preferable to apply for the authorization before writing the thesis.

Application for closing master's thesis.

The topic of the master's thesis must be chosen after consulting the thesis advisor(s), who must be full-time faculty at the School of Business.

The thesis must equal 30 credits and coursework shall equal 60 credits. The thesis must be presented at a departmental seminar.The thesis must be submitted online no later than the specified dates before each graduation. Grades for a master's thesis are awarded by the thesis advisor(s) and an external examiner.

Please note! According to the rules of the University of Iceland, all MS theses must be open after they have been submitted to the University Library. If a student wishes for its MS thesis be closed for a certain period of time, after graduation, they need the approval of their supervisor and the dean of the department. Maximum closure is 5 years. It is preferable to apply for the authorization before writing the thesis.

Application for closing master's thesis.

This course will cover the key areas of change management, such as the implementation of change, employee reactions, key barriers to change, and the positive and negative forces that affect the change process. The theories and concepts that change management is based on will be discussed in detail as well as the key approaches and methods for managing change. The role of the leader, manager, and the middle manager in managing change as well as crises will be discussed. Organizational culture will be discussed and why it is an important element of the change process.

The goal of the course is to give students insight into qualitative research methods, and their use in gatherin and analysing data on the individual and organizational level. Stuents will be trained in defining a research problems and presenting them in a research question. Students will further plann and execute data gethering and analysing, as well as presenting the findings in a written report. Students will learn about the strenghts and weaknesses of qualitative research so as to be able to chose the best method to study a given problem.

In the foreground throughout the course is the role of the manager, at all levels of the hierarchy, its nature and its challenges. Human resource issues and communication are the focus area and connected to all of the course topics and assignments. The leadership role of the manager is examined; particularly in relation to general human resource management and the management of employees through reform projects and radical changes. Leadership is also examined in relation to successful teamwork and approaches to managing and solving conflicts and challenging human resource issues.

The main objective of the course is that the students gain knowledge of the meaning of the key concepts and a solid understanding of the theoretical principles, methods, and options that the manager can employ in order to successfully fulfil his/her role. Diverse teaching methods are used to encourage the interest, interaction, and participation of students.

This course provides an introduction at a master's level to the theory and practice of bussines. The aim is to prepare students for a variety of management tasks, both in the private and public sectors.

The course consists of five introductory modules:
Finance
Business law
Accounting
Macro economics
Micro economics 

Organisation

The course is offered twice a year, in August and in January and students should complete the coure in the first year of their master studies. Students that start the programme in the autumn should sit the course in August, but can postpone doing so until January. Those beginning in January should preferably take the course in January, but may postpone doing so until August.

The course opens on the 1st of each month and closes on the 31st. All course material will be available on the course website on Canvas on the 1st.

The course cannot be used for credits in the master's programmes.

The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the latest key theories in human resource management and that they gain understanding and proficiency in using key HRM theories. Theories of HRM are covered in detail and the goal is that students understand the importance of HRM as a field of study and as an important function within organizations. Key aspects of HRM will be covered and it is important that students familiarize themselves with the course concepts through lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.

The objective of the course is to enable the students acquire the latest and most important theories in the field of international human resource management and that students develop an understanding and training in the use of the key theories of managing human resources in international companies. IHRM theories are covered in detail and the objective is that students understand the importance of IHRM as a field of study and as an important function within international organizations. Diversity in the workplace and in IHRM will be covered and emphasis is placed on students’ ability to familiarize themselves with the course concepts though lectures and discussion sessions where they will work on the solution of practical cases.

The goal of this course is to strengthen the statistics and methodology knowledge of the students to enable them to better understand research methods and research findings. State-of-the-art research will be reviewed and the statistics and methodology required to conduct this research will be discussed. Students will also conduct their own research project in preparation for analytical work in their professional life and their Master’s thesis.

In the foreground throughout the course is strategic human resource development (SHRD). Emphasis is placed on analysing scholarly literature on the key concepts in order to develop sound understanding and fundamental ability to successfully manage  learning and development of managers and the staff  in organizations. Connections are made with learning theories, adult learning, and formal learning as well as informal workplace learning. A special emphasis is placed on the whole management process, i.e. the formulation of HRD strategy, needs analysis, design of studies, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation of results.  Orientation and socialisation process for new employees will be in focus as well as competence development of managers/leaders. The course will be based on lectures, discussions, and research-based group work.

This course covers the main topics of labour law and laws to do with human resource issues in the public and private sector. Topics discussed include collective agreements, collective bargaining, the legal status of shop stewards, legal aspects of work suspensions, mediation in labour disputes, and Labour Court. Also discussed are the rights and duties of employees and employers, individual labour law, i.e. employee hiring, dismissal and termination of employment contracts, and the legal status of employees at the legal transfer of companies. Furthermore, equal rights, rights upon illness or accident, rights of leave, etc. are discussed. A special focus is on the rights and responsibilities of public-sector employees. The influence of European law and standards of the International Labour Organization on the Icelandic labour market are discussed.

The objective of the course is to familiarize Master’s students in the School of Business with the principles and techniques of employee relations. The course covers key theories of employment relations, the structure of institutions in the labour market, and the structure, development and characteristics of the Icelandic labour market. The roles and relations between the main actors in the labour market will be discussed in detail, such as government, employers, and labour unions. The division of the labour market into the public sector and private sector is discussed. The role of labour unions, employers, and government in the labour market is discussed, as well as labour market participation, the flexibility of the labour market, collective bargaining, and equal rights. Collective bargaining agreements and their development is discussed, as well as strikes and theories on strikes. Labour markets in different countries are compared.

This course provides an introduction at a master's level to the theory and practice of bussines. The aim is to prepare students for a variety of management tasks, both in the private and public sectors.

The course consists of five introductory modules:
Finance
Business law
Accounting
Macro economics
Micro economics 

Organisation

The course is offered twice a year, in August and in January and students should complete the coure in the first year of their master studies. Students that start the programme in the autumn should sit the course in August, but can postpone doing so until January. Those beginning in January should preferably take the course in January, but may postpone doing so until August.

The course opens on the 1st of each month and closes on the 31st. All course material will be available on the course website on Canvas on the 1st.

The course cannot be used for credits in the master's programmes.

The aim of the course is that students gain theoretical and practical knowledge of human behavior in the workplace and can use that knowledge to enhance job satisfaction and performance of staff. The course will, among other things, review workplace studies, selection of personnel, evaluation of performance, motivation, job satisfaction, communication in the workplace, leadership and corporate culture. Certain concepts and theories in I/O Psychology will be thoroughly reviewed in order to understand and their limits and usefulness.

The aim of the course is to give students an overview of the theoretical foundations of innovation and entrepreneurship and prepare them for further studies, both academic and applied.

The course will cover the most prominent theories and unresolved questions within the field; students will review the latest academic articles and learn about tools to analyze major innovation trends.

In this course, students will gain insight into one of the cornerstones of the Icelandic economy, fisheries and aquaculture. Emphasis is placed on innovation, sustainability, full utilization of marine products, and the opportunities presented by technological advancements, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy. Participants will also learn how Icelandic fisheries and aquaculture compete internationally, contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and utilize Icelandic ingenuity to create added value.

Through project-based learning, students will work on realistic projects in collaboration with companies and institutions in the industry, addressing real-world challenges related to marketing, sustainability, technological advancement, and full utilization for increased value creation.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of corporate governance and how corporate governance influences corporate performance. More specifically students will learn to identify and analyze corporate governance problems, learn to assess how corporate governance shapes the behavior of the board and learn to analyze how the corporate governance structure of a particular company is likely to influence its performance. The following topics and concepts are covered: The course will introduce the students to corporate governance issues and teach them to analyze how different corporate governance mechanisms – like ownership and board structure, legal systems and incentives – contribute to the solution of agency problems and thereby influence corporate performance. Using this framework, the course will then study the impact of corporate governance on corporate performance depending on comany-specific factors. The course will enable students to undertake a corporate governance review of an individual company including an assessment of how ownership, board structure, managerial incentives and system characteristics influence company performance.

The course is taught in English.

The course covers ethical issues regarding business operations, executives’ connections with government, communication with government officials, and corporate social responsibility in general. A broad range of ethical concepts, codes of conduct, and business ethics will be discussed. Students will, furthermore, be introduced to different theories and analytical tools for use in handling ethical challenges in the business environment. Emphasis will be on case studies on ethical dilemmas in business operations. Guest lecturers will be sought from business and the community to share their practical experience and students will work on the solution of practical problems.

In this short version of the course students will cover at least half of the course´s material. Further and detailed information will be given before teaching begins.

The course covers ethical issues regarding business operations, executives’ connections with government, communication with government officials, and corporate social responsibility in general. A broad range of ethical concepts, codes of conduct, and business ethics will be discussed. Students will, furthermore, be introduced to different theories and analytical tools for use in handling ethical challenges in the business environment. Emphasis will be on case studies on ethical dilemmas in business operations. Guest lecturers will be sought from business and the community to share their practical experience and students will work on the solution of practical problems.

In this short version of the course students will cover at least one fifth of the course´s material. Further and detailed information will be given before teaching begins.

This course aims at improving the participants’ knowledge in the areas of knowledge management and knowledge assets.  The course offers detailed coverage of theories and models relating to companies’ knowledge assets, knowledge enterprises and knowledge workers. The course deals with the shaping of processes and organisational development for the purpose of stimulating and registering new knowledge as well as how it is shared within organisational units and applied to improve company performance.  Reference will be made to different types of organisational and knowledge cultures within organisational units and how knowledge strategies are formulated.  Social media are discussed together with the mediation of knowledge. Finally, the impact of Artificial Intellegience on knowledge management will be discussed.

Understanding consumer behaviour and their preferences is crucial for effective marketing. It allows you to optimize marketing strategies, develop successful products and service, helps you to identify appropriate consumers to target and develop communication material that is relevant and successful in getting to your target consumers. All aspects of the marketing plan benefit from an understanding of consumers and with rapid changes of consumer markets today, consumer insight is becoming more important.
The course is based on lectures and assignments. The lectures will focus on both key models of consumer behaviour and also introducing state of the art literature on the subject. Students will complete both individual assignments and group assignments in order to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of consumer behaviour.

The course covers both the management of individual projects and the management of projects in an organization. Both theoretical and practical aspects will be covered. Students will gain a good understanding of the elements of project work and project management in business operations and the ability to manage individual projects. Students will learn the structure of the program, progress, and termination of projects. Students will also learn to use software and technology for project management. Students are introduced to projects in an international environment and Agile ideology. The student will be an emphasis on putting on project management in Icelandic business environment and use of information technology.

Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.

Wellbeing at work gains increasing attetion and discussion about prevention og job burnout has incresed. Leaders of organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the value of a healthy work environment and staff wellbeing being linked to better performance. The purpose of this interdisciplinary course is to introduce students to the emerging field of healthy work environment models that impact the wellbeing and health of people and how this links to leadership philosophy and behavior. The course is designed to discuss the context of determinants of wellbeing at work and different types of healthy work environment models in relation to wellbeing at work. Also to examine health promoting and servant leadership approaches and successful strategies to prevent burnout. Students visit successful organizations in this regard and get insight into managers' experience. Course materials and activities will challenge students to connect theory to practice. Students will be required to analyze current research on the topic and to identify an issue of unhealthy work environment and to develop an implementation of successful work environment model.

The development of knowledge about effective leadership has progressed in recent decades, from viewing leaders as unique great men with innate abilities to viewing leadership as a process of communication and collaboration through which leaders develop their strategies and priorities.

A successful leader enhances his own ability to motivate, mobilize and support staff for good deeds and cooperation towards an important purpose. Increased knowledge about factors that create effective leadership underscores the importance of leaders keeping up-to-date with the latest knowledge about effective priorities and using it to support the well-being and success of employees and workplaces.

This course will discuss leadership theories and effective leadership. It will shed light on which elements of leadership enhance the success of organizations and its link to, for example, the well-being of staff, efficient operations, equal opportunities, ethics, sustainability and the development of growth. Special emphasis will be placed on the focus and methods of servant leadership and its relationship to success.

The aim of the course is for students to understand the main characteristics and competences of leaders, to know the main leadership theories that have emerged in recent decades with an emphasis on the philosophy of servant leadership. The goal is for students to have an insight into the results of research on the relationship between a leader's focus and success in terms of employees, workplace culture, operations and the external environment of organizations.

Students examine real examples of individual leadership and leadership within organizations, examine their own priorities when it comes to leadership, and examine the main challenges facing leaders in business operations and public service leadership.

In this course, the state of knowledge in the field is communicated, student participation is activated in a conversation about the topic and about analyzes of cases that shed light on the manifestation and success of leadership based on diverse focuses and leadership theories. Curriculum and projects focus on theoretical and practical knowledge about leaders and leadership, and students examine new research in the field.

The course covers ethical issues regarding business operations, executives’ connections with government, communication with government officials, and corporate social responsibility in general. A broad range of ethical concepts, codes of conduct, and business ethics will be discussed. Students will, furthermore, be introduced to different theories and analytical tools for use in handling ethical challenges in the business environment. Emphasis will be on case studies on ethical dilemmas in business operations. Guest lecturers will be sought from business and the community to share their practical experience and students will work on the solution of practical problems.

The aim of the course is to give students an insight into management of innovation, whether it is development of a new product, technology or services. The course will discuss the nature of innovation, how the environment can support innovation and how it can aid in the management of the innovation process. The course will study both applied application of innovation as well as academic research of innovation and its management.

The objective of the internship program is to develop students’ skills and expand their network of professional relationships and contacts. The internship for graduate students is 7.5 ECTS which equals 200 hours within a company or an organization. Students complete work assignments under the guidance of specialists in public and private organizations. The tasks shall be relevant to the specialization of the student’s studies. Each student can only complete one internship position. Further stipulations regarding the internship are laid out in each particular internship contract and contract addendum.

Internships are advertised separately at the beginning of each semester. Further information can be found here.

Please send inquiries to vidskipti@hi.is

The main objective of the course is to  introduce to students the rage of developments that will affect organizations in the future and the role of sustainability in future of business. Furthermore, students will develop good overview regarding how these new developments are interconnected within organizations and across markets.

Rapid changing environment surrounding organization requires to look at the present developments, but even more importantly, the future of organizations. Therefore in this course the most contemporary management phenomenon already present in today’s business world are addressed. This course is unique in its focus on the future of organizations, within sustainability context, presenting holistic view of the organization and its context. The curriculum is built on most currect scientific findings, practical examples and assignments.
The aim is to:

• To introduce students to the most current developments in business environment.
• To examine the effects of the current micro and macro developments in business and its effects for the future organizations.
• To apply theoretical knowledge to an understanding of real-world processes through class discussion, research, and application essays.
• To promote critical thinking about the interconnectedness of elements within organization and its context at mezzo and macro level.
•  To provide insight regarding how theoretical lens can help us to prepare better for the future.

This is an intensive course with the active participation of students. It is taught over 13 weeks. The course takes as its starting point the idea that although governments and nonprofits are crucial to modern society, businesses are largely responsible for creating the wealth upon which the well-being of society depends, while also being a part of the problems created. As they create that wealth, their actions affect society, which is composed of a wide variety of stakeholders, and the natural environment. In turn, society shapes the rules and expectations by which businesses must navigate their internal and external environments. These include the Sustainable Development Goals, i.e., Goals 1-5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16, the Paris Agreement, the UN Global Compact, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the Global Reporting Initiative, and more. This interaction between corporations, society (in its broadest sense) and the natural environment is the concern of corporate social responsibility (CSR), but the issues need to be addressed from a strategic point of view. 

Regardless of one’s viewpoint about the interaction of business and society, the continued co-existence of for-profit organizations is essential. This course seeks to explore the dimensions of that interaction from a multi-stakeholder perspective. That exploration is intended to be interactive, with the journey of exploration involving an analysis of CSR-related issues, simulation, and case studies.

The course is organized into six broad sections. In the first section, we will explore what corporate social responsibility (CSR) means and the driving forces of CSR. The second section focuses on the stakeholder perspective, and in the third section, we study the legal perspective. In the fourth section, we will explore the behavioral perspective, in the fifth section the strategic perspective and in the sixth section the focus will be on the sustainable perspective and sustainable value creation.   

This course covers negotiation, with a focus on negotiating skills, behavior in negotiation, and the legal aspects of contracts. The objective of the course is to prepare students, through active practice, to be effective in identifying opportunities for creating value, solving conflicts, conducting negotiations, designing deals and implementing them. The course is based on lectures, practical assignments and simulations. Lectures introduce theories and concepts in the field of negotiation, as well as the structure and common terms of contracts. Simulations allow students to participate in realistic negotiations that address common issues that arise in real-life business negotiations.

The objective of the internship program is to develop students’ skills and expand their network of professional relationships and contacts. The internship for graduate students is 7.5 ECTS. Students complete work assignments under the guidance of specialists in public and private organizations. The tasks shall be relevant to the specialization of the student’s studies.Each student can only complete one internship position.
Further stipulations regarding the internship are laid out in each particular internship contract and contract addendum.
Internships are advertised separately at the beginning of each semester. Further information can be found here.

Please send inquiries to vidskipti@hi.is

The objective of the course is for students to be able to prepare, implement, and utilize the results of service quality measurements in prioritizing improvements. The course is based on quantitative methodology and students’ ability to use statistics according to the methodology of social science.

This course offers students the opportunity to recognize the need to develop inclusive work environments that operate on equity principles as well as value, support and engage all employees. Students learn to identify social justice/exclusion issues related to nondominated culture cohorts associated with race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and other aspects of diversity in organizations and apply their knowledge to analyzing and implementing inclusion initiatives in organizations. Students are engaged in the study of recent scholarly research in the field in order to develop their critical thinking on topics such as identity, diverse teams, (un)conscious bias, and equality of opportunity in organizations and how they relate to the value of diversity in organizations.

The course is taught in English

The course examines theories of organisational structure and organisational fields.  Different theoretical perspectives will be discussed in organizational theory and the strengths and weaknesses of the theories highlighted. The course discussion based without a textbook based on academic articles with a short introduction from the teachers. The focus of the course is to train students in understanding and discussing academic texts, which is an important part of writing a master's thesis. The course will review how scholarly sources are used in an academic writing and students will receive guidance and training in writing a literature review. Students submit a literature review which they can use as a foundation for their master's thesis.

The course covers the theories, tools, and ideologies on which strategy development and strategy implementation are based. Methods of analysis and preparation of strategic planning and its implementation are introduced. Different ways for companies to create and maintain a competitive advantage are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the aspects of strategy development related to strategy execution, performance measurement, and implementation and follow-up of strategy. Students get the opportunity to express themselves and apply strategic planning methods in project work with a company, organization, or non-profit organization. It is worth emphasizing that good policy work is based, among other things, on the students' previous experience and their knowledge of human resources, finance, marketing, operations, management, etc. Students will, therefore, build on their experience and previous studies. Work on the final project begins after the first week and lasts until the presentation in the last week of the course, but the presentations will be at the end of the course. The course's final project is discussed in more detail later in this syllabus.

The aim of the course is through lectures, class discussions and teaching material to get the students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in strategy and strategic management. In addition to the reading material the course focuses on cases and examples from the business environment in Iceland. An emphasis is put on different theoretical perspectives in the course and different types of organisations. The approach to teaching is based on interactive participation, openess and inclusiveness. Empowerment of the student is the main goal – and for that to be realized it is necessary for all the participants to be fully committed to the course

Performance management is a central part of every organisation and project. It helps to ensure our actions are aligned with our strategic priorities. This course will help students to connect the dots between strategic and operational levels in work settings, and how performance management philosophies and frameworks can be used by leaders and managers to ensure the achievement of our strategic objectives.

This course relies on case studies and in-class activities to take students as close as it is possible in a classroom setting to real-life scenarios where performance management can be used to support decision making towards achieving success.

 This course follows a hybrid structure. Half of the course is delivered online—students are provided flexibility and can watch pre-recorded lecture videos at their convenience. However, no later than indicated in the teaching plan.
The rest of the course material will be delivered in workshops that will be held on-campus, and must be attended in-person by the enrolled students. These workshops account for up to 70% of the grade (course assessments).

The topic of the master's thesis must be chosen after consulting the thesis advisor(s), who must be full-time faculty at the School of Business.

The thesis must equal 30 credits and coursework shall equal 60 credits. The thesis must be presented at a departmental seminar.The thesis must be submitted online no later than the specified dates before each graduation. Grades for a master's thesis are awarded by the thesis advisor(s) and an external examiner.

Please note! According to the rules of the University of Iceland, all MS theses must be open after they have been submitted to the University Library. If a student wishes for its MS thesis be closed for a certain period of time, after graduation, they need the approval of their supervisor and the dean of the department. Maximum closure is 5 years. It is preferable to apply for the authorization before writing the thesis.

Application for closing master's thesis.

The topic of the master's thesis must be chosen after consulting the thesis advisor(s), who must be full-time faculty at the School of Business.

The thesis must equal 30 credits and coursework shall equal 60 credits. The thesis must be presented at a departmental seminar.The thesis must be submitted online no later than the specified dates before each graduation. Grades for a master's thesis are awarded by the thesis advisor(s) and an external examiner.

Please note! According to the rules of the University of Iceland, all MS theses must be open after they have been submitted to the University Library. If a student wishes for its MS thesis be closed for a certain period of time, after graduation, they need the approval of their supervisor and the dean of the department. Maximum closure is 5 years. It is preferable to apply for the authorization before writing the thesis.

Application for closing master's thesis.

The topic of the master's thesis must be chosen after consulting the thesis advisor(s), who must be full-time faculty at the School of Business.

The thesis must equal 30 credits and coursework shall equal 60 credits. The thesis must be presented at a departmental seminar.The thesis must be submitted online no later than the specified dates before each graduation. Grades for a master's thesis are awarded by the thesis advisor(s) and an external examiner.

Please note! According to the rules of the University of Iceland, all MS theses must be open after they have been submitted to the University Library. If a student wishes for its MS thesis be closed for a certain period of time, after graduation, they need the approval of their supervisor and the dean of the department. Maximum closure is 5 years. It is preferable to apply for the authorization before writing the thesis.

Application for closing master's thesis.