Course Objectives

The course will provide students with knowledge of the principal concepts used in the field of business strategy. It will also provide them with insight into the strategic leadership process, and introduce them to new business strategic opportunities. Students will get an insight into business strategy as they will be presented practical examples from various business lines and companies relevant for the profile of the programme of study. This course aims at showing the interrelation with other courses in this programme giving students a basis for exercising strategic thinking.

Course Description

The course will cover the following topics:

• The strategy concept considered in a historical context
• Strategy processes – the strategic leadership process
• Vision, business ideas, values and aims
• Strategic business field
• Strategy analyses (external factors - environments, internal factors - resources) and strategic opportunities
• Differentiation, selection of target groups, positioning and profiling as well as portfolio analyses
• Strategy evaluations and choice
• Group strategies
• Strategies and ethics

Learning Methods

3-4 hours of lectures per week in the spring semester.

Assessment Methods

During the course of the semester students must complete case work and carry out evaluations in connection with this work. The work will be done in groups and submitted, but the subject teacher may also accept individual work. The work carried out must be documented in written form. The other part of the assessment is a final written examination with no examination aids permitted, 3 hours. Each part of the assessment counts for 50%. Students must achieve passing marks in both parts of the assessment.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean