STR445 Human Capital, Mobility and Diversity in Firms

• Topics

  The course provides business and economics students with a deeper conceptual and empirical understanding of (a) the operation of labour markets and the input factor labour to firms’ production and (b) gender differences in labour markets and gender diversity in firms, and the discussion and solution to cases in management and strategy. STR445 addresses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of economic and social sustainability, in particular, SDGs 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), and 10 (reduced inequalities).

  The course consists of three parts. Part I starts with a general introduction to the conceptual understanding of labour markets, the input factor labour and firm production.  Part II covers topical issues related to gender diversity and firms.  Part III covers topics on diversity management. Part II and Part III build on the "economic principles" learned in part I, and focus on empirical descriptive and causal evidence.   

  Part I: Firms and Labour markets

  1. Labour Supply and Labour Demand

  2. Human Capital and Mobility

  3. Labour Supply and the Household

  4. Discriminatory Behaviour

   

  Part II: Gender diversity and firm outcomes

  1. Flexible Work: Working from Home 

  2. Equal Pay for Equal Work: Wage transparency laws 

  3. Recruitment and policies to avoid gender bias

  4. Family and Career

  5. Networks, mentors and role models

   

  Part III: Diversity Management

  1. Managing a diverse workforce

  2. Fatherhood and Management Style

• Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  Upon completion of the course, the student can…

  • explain labor market behaviour in terms of labour demand, labour supply, human capital and discriminatory behaviour
  • discuss strategic human capital decisions, such as recruitment, retention and training, and diversity management decisions
  • review relevant institutions, such as anti-discrimination laws, family policies, gender quotas (internationally and for Norway particularly)
  • explain conceptually and empirically gender differences in labour markets and in firms

  Skills

  Upon completion of the course, the student can…

  • apply academic knowledge and relevant results of research to practical problems, such as recruitment, team building, unconscious bias, and make well-founded choices.
  • engage in discussions of assessing and creating diversity, equity and inclusion workplace programs
  • identify, evaluate and refer to information and scholarly subject matter and present it in a manner that sheds light on the problem.
  • identify empirical evidence on important questions related to the input factor labour and gender diversity; this includes international statistics as well as evidence from evaluation studies
  • identify, evaluate and refer to information and scholarly subject matter and present it in a manner that sheds light on the problem.

  General competence

  Upon completion of the course, the student can…

  • read empirical evidence that includes descriptive statistics and simple regression analysis output
  • identify relevant professional issues of gender diversity and gender differences in the workplace
  • communicate important subject matters such as models, problems, and solutions, both in writing and orally
  • engage in exchange of opinions and experiences with others with a background in the field, thereby contributing to the development of good practice.

• Teaching

  The course consists of lectures including one guest lecture with a business application, case based discussions, group discussions and two written assignments. 

  Lectures encourage active student participation. Discussions of cases and topical issues are part of the course STR445.

• Recommended prerequisites

  The course is structured to accommodate students with varying background from the bachelor level in economics and business econmics, and others. Some empirical method course, introduction to regression analysis and more broadly econometrics are an advantage but not necessary. 

• Compulsory Activity

  Two group based assignments graded approved/not approved. The assignments contain context-rich problems with a set of questions, and short cases that students can solve in groups. 

  Group assignments can be conducted in English or in Norwegian.

  Previously acquired course approval is still valid. 

• Assessment

  Individual 4 hours digital school exam where students solve context-rich problems with a set of questions and short cases. The exam can be answered in English or Norwegian.

• Grading Scale

  A - F

• Computer tools

  None.

• Literature

  The lectures cover selected book chapters of the book:

  Blau, Francine D. and Anne E. Winkler (2021): The economics of women, men and work, ninth edition, Oxford University Press.

  For the topics on diversity and firms, and management selected articles and cases are used. They will be announced at the beginning of the course.

• Permitted Support Material

  Calculator 

  One bilingual dictionary (Category I) 

  All in accordance with Supplementary provisions to the Regulations for Full-time Study Programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics Ch.4 Permitted support material https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/ and https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/