• Describe and identify a strategic issue faced by the organization where the project is being carried out.
• Analyse the strategic issue through the lens of relevant theories/models covered throughout the MBA program
• Reflect on methods and theory used to analyse the strategic issue
• Provide a set of recommendations for the organization to move forward on the strategic issue
• Ensure a logical coherence between problem statement, analysis and conclusion.
• Present the overall conclusion in a coherent manner (as a holistic argument) where individual parts build on each other.

The Strategy Project at the CBS FTMBA program is based on an internship sourced by the student but approved by the MBA administration. The internship will revolve around a strategic research question and will be performed individually.

Through an in-depth interaction with a case company, where the internship is being carried out, the student should apply relevant theories, concepts, models and tools from the FTMBA program in order to solve a major strategic issue. In addition, the strategy project should offer the student the opportunity to develop holistic competencies bridging theory and practices as well as connecting different functional disciplines.

The strategic project demand application of concepts and models and its analysis is usually based on an understanding of different functional areas (e.g. finance, operations, and marketing). The ability to manage multiple and occasionally conflicting objectives is developed – an ability which is a professional demand faced by managers responsible to drive organizations towards a competitive position.

Considering the learning objectives of the strategy project and curriculum of CBS FTMBA program, the final report of the master project should be seen as being a slightly different product than a Cand. Merc. (MSc in Economics and Business Administration) thesis. In particular, the assessment should put more emphasis on the strategic issue, its practical relevance, logical coherence and the conclusion rather than on the methodological rigor of the thesis.

In the final report, the student should explore a relevant strategic issued faced by the organization (hosting company) in which the internship is being carried out. It is important to note that the project should not be seen as a consultancy project as such but as a learning process. It is an educational endeavor in which hosting companies agree to support but the hosting companies should have a deep interest in the content and outcome of the projects.

Last but not the least, the strategy project is an opportunity to demonstrate the excellence of the CBS FTMBA students and the CBS FTMBA program to the corporate world. This demonstration aims at maintaining and further enhancing the reputation of the program for high standards of academic and professional endeavor. This will in turn enhance the future value of the CBS FTMBA program for its alumni. Experience also shows that the projects have served as a hiring tool for organizations and students..