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2014/2015  BA-BHAAV1040U  Business Strategy

English Title
Business Strategy

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course period Autumn, Spring, Third Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Kursus koordinator Morten Thanning Vendelø
    Gert Michael Mortensen - Department of Strategic Management and Globalization (SMG)
Secretary Ane Lindgren Hassing - alh.ioa@cbs.dk
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalization, International Business, markets and studies
  • Management
  • Organization
  • Corporate and Business Strategy
Last updated on 09-04-2014
Learning objectives
The student will develop his/her ability to analyse and discuss strategic issues, both competitive and corporate strategies in various business situations as well as his/her ability to communicate these both in groups and in class.
The student will get an overview of and insight into strategic analysis, strategy formulation and strategy implementation, including competitive and corporate strategy and strategic development processes with an understanding of relevant concepts and tools to be used as a framework in relation to strategy and other areas of management and business topics.
After having attended the course, the student should be able to: :
  • demonstrate general knowledge about strategy as a discipline or academic field of study and a realm of corporate or organizational practice
  • account for the elements of strategic management and strategy development
  • account for and apply relevant strategic analytical frameworks and concepts in relation to given situations
  • to select and prioritize among the frameworks and concepts applying the most relevant
  • ability to critically analyze theoretical and/or practice oriented strategic challenges, in particular the ones relevant to internationally oriented organizations
Course prerequisites
Basic knowledge of business, general management and organization theory is required.
Examination
4 hour written sit-in exam:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam
Individual or group exam Individual
Assignment type Case based assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Autumn Term and Spring Term
Aids allowed to bring to the exam Limited aids, see the list below and the exam plan/guidelines for further information:
  • Books and compendia brought by the examinee
  • Notes brought by the examinee
  • Allowed calculators
  • Allowed bodies of laws
  • Allowed dictionaries
Make-up exam/re-exam
Another examination form
The make-up/re-exam will be held as a 4 day home assignment. There is a strict maximum length of 10 pages.
Course content and structure

The course aims to provide students with a framework for understanding the elements of strategic management - i.e. the strategic analysis, the strategy formulation and the strategy implementation – as well as an understanding of the issues related to the strategy development process.

Through a fairly structured approach the course will give students an opportunity to work with the vast variety of concepts and tools related to strategic management. Apart from the set of models specifically developed for strategic analysis and development, the course will also draw on the various subjects taught at other undergraduate business courses. The students will compare theory and practice and apply concepts and tools through illustrations and case studies.

Taking into consideration that the students represent different countries, the course focus on strategy development in companies operating on the international scene.

The course starts with an overview of the curriculum, the elements of strategic management and the strategy development process. Then the framework and tools for defining the strategic position of a company is analysed and discussed including analyses of the company’s internal resources, relative power position, norms and expectations. Then we move on to discuss the company’s strategic choices such as the coporate and competitive strategies and the problems of defining and sustaining these.

Finally the issues related to the implementation of the chosen strategic options are discussed with particular emphasis on change management issues.

Case studies will be used during the course - in the beginning in a fairly focused way, later in the course in a more all-embracing way – to consolidate the learning stages of the course.
Teaching methods
The course comprises lectures and case discussions. The students meet before class to discuss and prepare their presentation of the assigned aspect of the case.
Further Information
Changes in course schedule may occur.
Monday 11.40-14.15, week 36-41, 43-48.
Expected literature

G. Johnson, K. Scholes & R. Whittington: Exploring Corporate Strategy - text and cases, 9th. edition, Prentice Hall. 2011.

-Selected cases.
Last updated on 09-04-2014