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2025/2026  MA-MMBFO2401U  Strategy

English Title
Strategy

Course information

Language English
Course ECTS 4 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Part Time Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Full-Time MBA
Course coordinator
  • Marcus Asplund - Department of Economics (ECON)
  • Marie Louise Mors - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Management
  • Strategy
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 07-05-2025

Relevant links

Learning objectives
To receive the grade 12, the students need to be able to
  • Select and apply frameworks and theories from the course to a given situation
  • Analyze the competitive situation in a market
  • Analyze the competitive position for a firm in a market
  • Predict the evolution of a market and firms’ competitive positions
  • Outline and analyze the organizational factors of relevance to strategy implementation
  • Outline and analyze a firm’s business model
Examination
Strategy:
Exam ECTS 4
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Release of assignment The Assignment is released in Digital Exam (DE) at exam start
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Spring
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The exam is a take-home, 48 hour exam, taking place the weekend after the course completes. The use of generative artificial intelligence is not allowed on this exam. 

Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

For each topic there is a short introduction covering the basic theory and concepts used. However, most of the lectures are spent discussing the assigned cases. It is imperative that you have read the cases before class and tried to answer the assignment questions. You should be prepared to clearly state your answers to the assignment questions and defend your positions. 

 

This course is a first course in strategy and gives a foundational knowledge to the frameworks and concepts in the field. The course will focus both on the internal strategy formulation, analysis and implementation and as well as external industry factors and analysis.

 

Strategic analysis assumes that most resource and product markets are fundamentally imperfect and are not necessarily in competitive equilibrium. In fact, they would often seem to be in a state of permanent disequilibrium. Opportunities constantly emerge when industry conditions change, or when innovating firms change these conditions. Firms achieve competitive advantage by understanding these conditions and opportunities, by designing strategies and organizations that match their capabilities to available opportunities and by executing well. We will therefore also discuss your roles as general managers in organizations and how you can manage and implement strategy.

Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
  • Methodology
  • Models
Research-like activities
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
  • Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision
Description of the teaching methods
This course relies heavily on the case discussion approach. We will spend a substantial part of each class discussing the assigned case. This is a very interactive process that seeks to get multiple viewpoints and perspectives on the table and to debate the pros and cons of various alternatives and ideas.
Feedback during the teaching period
The interactive case discussion format allows for continuous feedback. The students are expected to attend class, be prepared and participate in the case discussions. The students will receive answer guidelines and brief written feedback on the final exams.
Student workload
Teaching 40 hours
Preparation 40 hours
Examination 20 hours
Last updated on 07-05-2025