Course syllabus

ACE120 Methods and enquiry in organisations

Course-PM

ACE120 Methods and enquiry in organisations lp2 HT25 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Contact details

Examiner and main teacher

Mathias Gustafsson, (MB), Associate professor

E-mail: Mathias.gustafsson@chalmers.se

 

Main teacher

Anna af Hällström, PhD

E-mail :  annaaf@chalmers.se

Contact through Canvas!

 

Teacher and supervisor

Sean Elliot Wisse

E-mail: wisse@chalmers.se

 

Teachers

Göran Lindahl, PhD

Dilek Ulutas Duman, PhD

Daniela Troje, PhD

Shahin Satei, PhD

Mikael Johansson, PhD

Course purpose

This course introduces and trains students in how to define, plan, conduct, and present empirical investigations related to emerging developments and challenges in construction management. Students will develop skills in formulating research questions, selecting and applying appropriate methods, analysing qualitative and quantitative material, and effectively presenting findings in both written and oral formats. Particular emphasis is placed on critically reflecting upon methodological choices, considering ethical implications, and assessing the trustworthiness of results.

In addition to research skills, the course highlights project management and teamwork. Students are expected to plan and organise their project work collaboratively, distribute tasks within the group, and contribute actively to joint outcomes. They will also practise giving and receiving constructive feedback, as well as reflecting on issues of equality, diversity, inclusion, and professional responsibility in the construction sector.

The course assignment centres on the theme “new technology in the construction industry.” Students will be required to define a clear research question linked to the chosen technology and carry out a small-scale project exploring its potential within the context of an organisation active in the sector.

Diary: Each group will create a dynamic project diary that documents your group’s research process from start to finish. The diary works like a mix between a construction site logbook and a research diary: it records what tasks were done, how decisions were made, and how responsibilities were shared in the team. It also includes reflections on problems, solutions, and group dynamics. The diary is not only a record of what happened but also a tool for showing how and why the project developed the way it did. It will be used to assess both the project as a whole and the contributions of individual group members.

Reading : There will be mandatory reading, this will be communicated during the lectures.

Tasks: List the work to be done during and or after the session

Please note that this is an introductory course designed to provide all students—both Chalmers students and external participants—with a shared foundation of knowledge and skills. While some of you may already be familiar with certain topics, we encourage you to use this opportunity to further deepen your understanding and contribute to collective learning.

Literature:

Bell, E., Bryman, A. & Harley, B. (2022). Business Research Methods. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198869443.

Additional material will be made avaliable on Canvas

Assessment:

50 percent group project

25 percent presentation

25 percent individual assessment (Inspera)

Attendance requirements

To pass the course you need to attend and activeley participate in at least 80 percent of the sessions. Note that some sessions are mandatory. In a case of a missed session, you will be given a complimentary assignment.

Schedule

Date/time/room	Topic	People
Tuseday 1/9 09.00-17.00 Slottsskogen	Introduction day Lunch included Mandatory event
Wednesday 2/9 10.00 – 11.45 SB-M500	Introduction to course (mandatory)	MG/AaH/SW
Wednesday 2/9 13.15 – 16.00 SB-M500	Knowledge and communication (mandatory)	AaH
Monday 7/9  09.00 – 11.45 SB-M500	Ethics	AaH
Wednesday 9/9 10.00 – 11.45	Creating question -Technology topics	AaH/MG
Wednesday 9/9 13:15 – 17:00	Workshop- Creating question	AaH/MG
Monday 14/9 09:00 – 11:45	Literature review workshop	AaH
Wednesday 16/9 10.00-11:45	Method – qualitative – quantitative	AaH/MG
Wednesday 16/9 13.15-17:00	Workshop -research proposal - methods	AaH/MG
Monday 21/9 9-11:45	Peer review/opposition - research proposal (mandatory)	AaH
Wednesday 23/9 13:15-17	CME research Daniela Troje 13:15-14:00 Mikael Johansson 14:15-15:00 Shahin Sateei 15:15-17:00
Between 21 and 24/9	- First supervision round	ALL supervisors
Monday 28/9 9-11:45	Computational methods	AaH
Wednesday 30/9 13:15-17	Analysis of empirics Qualitative Quantative	AaH/MG
Monday 5/10 9-11:45	Presentation technique	AaH
Between 12 and 16/10	Second supervision round
Wednesday 7/10 9-15	CME research: 9-10 Dilek Ulutas Duman 10-12 Privilege walk 13-15 Göran Lindahl	SW
Monday 12/10 9-11:45	Conflict resolution  and negotiation workshop	CI/SW
Wednesday 14/10 13:15-17	Inspera individual assignment (mandatory)	MG
Friday 16/10 Latest by 16:59	Upload report to Canvas and send to opposition group
Thursday 22/10 09:15-17	Presentations (mandatory)
Friday 23/10 09:15-17	Presentations (mandatory)