Prospectus

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Capstone Cases

Course
2023-2024

Admission requirements

Not applicable.

Description

The Capstone cases course is intended to integrate the previous courses and allow students to deepen and apply their insights in a ‘Living Case’, i.e. applying it to solving a real problem in a real company.

The course consists of introductory lectures and two real life capstone case projects for the students to complete. Only after finishing 2 capstone projects + the introductory lectures the student receives his/her grade. Ideally this takes 2 semesters in total.

For this we will strive to work closely with a relevant, existing company, or present a realistic “virtual” company. In a series of company presentations (and, if possible, visits) and interview sessions, student teams will analyze real multi-faceted business issues in which IT plays a central role. Based on their findings and supplementary research they will then present their results to the company’s management, who will judge the results in terms on value, interaction, presentation and S.M.A.R.T. terms.

This course is intended for second year students as it builds on frameworks and theories from the first year.

Course objectives

Deepen and apply students’ insights in ICT related issues in “real life” company situations.

After this course, students are able to...

  1. Recognize how ICTiB&PS course-work theories and tools can be applied as consulting frameworks
  2. Evaluate project teamwork quality dimensions and apply them to improve teamwork in your team
  3. Create an understanding of a given problem by applying design thinking (Case Understanding)
  4. Work together with your team and the client, by employing professional communication channels and styles (Client interaction)
  5. Design a solution valuable to the client by identifying and appraising case-specific factors (Solution value)
  6. Report the solution through a professional slide-deck with their case-specific evaluation to an external partner, employing (non-)verbal communication skills (Presentation)

Timetable

You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have sucessfully registered for in MyStudyMap will automatically be displayed in MyTimeTable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.

MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).

For more information, watch the video or go the the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Please note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different timetables into one. This video explains how to do this.

Mode of instruction

Company visits with presentations and interviews. Travelling to other cities in The Netherlands can be necessary.

Assessment method

  • Review of deliverables and presentations by external subject matter experts, e.g. senior managers of the companies involved. Student teams will be assessed on depth of case understanding, solution value, client interaction and presentation (80%)

    • Case understanding: Students need to create and show an in-depth understanding of the problem with the client
    • Solution value: Depending on the capstone case, students present findings and proposals (e.g. multifaceted business cases) or need defend their findings
    • Client interaction: In most cases the students will have to act as professional consultants, as such sharpening their business communication skills. Professional conduct and appearance is expected from the students as university representatives and due to nature of the "client" relationship.
    • Presentation: Students are evaluated on their final presentation deliverables and (non-)verbal presentation skills
  • Presence and participation in lectures (20%)

    • Students will take part in quizzes and reflective exercises
    • Mandatory presence includes presence during formal kick-off as well as final presentations (often hosted on location of the case organisation), and the weekly update presentations.

Reading list

Dependent on the case. Discussions and document distribution through Brightspace.

Registration

Every student has to register for courses with the new enrollment tool MyStudyMap. Please see this page for more information.

Please note that it is compulsory to both preregister and confirm your participation for every exam and retake. Not being registered for a course means that you are not allowed to participate in the final exam of the course. Confirming your exam participation is possible until ten days before the exam.

Extensive FAQ's on MyStudymap can be found here.

Contact

Programme Co-ordinator: ms. Esme Caubo

Remarks

There is only limited capacity for external students. Please contact the programme Co-ordinator

As of September 2020 the course Capstone Cases is 4 EC worth (it was 3 EC). Students who have followed a previous version of this course before September 2020 but have not yet passed it, can still get 4 EC (instead of 3 EC) under the condition that they take the extra two Consultancy classes that will be organized in the new Capstone Case course. Arrangements for this needs to be made via the programme coordinator.