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2026/2027  KAN-CFSAO1001U  Strategic Management

English Title
Strategic Management

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Finance, Economics & Mathematics
Programme MSc in Economics and Business Administration - Finance and Strategic Management (FSM)
Course coordinator
  • Diego Stea - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Strategy
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 30/01/2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
The objective of this course is to enable students to produce an in-depth study of a scientifically relevant problem drawing on the course curriculum. Students demonstrate this ability through a written scientific paper and an individual oral examination based on both the submitted paper and the full course curriculum. Specifically, the learning objectives are demonstrated in the exam to the degree to which students can:
  • Limit the scientific paper to a particular level of analysis and theoretical problem.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the relevant theories.
  • Apply relevant theories to develop clear, coherent, and logically structured arguments.
  • Demonstrate the ability to thoughtfully discuss and reflect on relevant theories.
Examination
Strategic Management:
Exam ECTS 7.5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 5 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.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Autumn
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
• If a student is absent from the oral exam but has submitted the scientific paper, the student does not need to write a new paper; however, the same paper must be resubmitted for the re-exam.
• If a student fails the oral exam, the student does not need to write a new scientific paper; however, the same paper must be resubmitted for the re-exam.
• If no paper has been submitted for the ordinary exam, a scientific paper must be submitted for the re-exam.
Description of the exam procedure

The examination consists of an individual oral exam based on a written product. Each student must prepare and submit a short scientific (subject-related) paper on a topic drawn from the course content; paper topics are assigned at random. The oral exam is based on both the submitted scientific paper and the full course curriculum.

 

The scientific paper must be written as a “proposition-generating” paper. This means that, within the assigned topic, you identify and motivate a research gap or research problem and, drawing on theory and logical reasoning, develop propositions that articulate expectations or predictions. A mere review of existing literature is not sufficient. The format is flexible, but the paper is expected to include: Introduction, literature review, development of proposition(s). 

 

For guidance on structure and style, we recommend consulting recent issues of leading management journals. The scientific paper should roughly correspond to a condensed version of the theoretical part of articles published in these journals.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

This is the first strategic management course in the programme. The aim is to provide students with a strong theoretical foundation in the strategy field. Accordingly, the course covers a range of strategy topics and perspectives to provide a holistic view of the field.

 

Strategy concerns the management of businesses and product-market activities within the broader, typically multinational, enterprise. The course therefore focuses on business strategy perspectives on competitive advantage in industry-specific product markets. Managers require a strong theoretical foundation to design and improve strategic choices. Upon completion of the course, students should be well equipped to address core strategy issues and analyse different strategies through multiple theoretical lenses. This theory-guided approach supports critical reflection on firm practices and the identification of new, entrepreneurial opportunities.

 

The course uses a combination of theory and case studies to support active learning and classroom discussion. To ensure an effective mix of frameworks and perspectives, the course comprises 10 lectures complemented by 8 exercise sessions. Students will be challenged to develop logically grounded reasoning about strategic decisions, consider the boundaries of existing theoretical frameworks, and envision meaningful extensions. Topics and readings for each session are published in the course outline on Canvas.
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
  • Teacher’s own research
Research-like activities
  • Development of research questions
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
Description of the teaching methods
The ten lectures are primarily literature-based and may also include short cases and practitioner perspectives to discuss contemporary strategic challenges. Teaching is dialogue-based, and students are therefore expected to prepare the readings thoroughly and participate actively in class discussions.

Interactive learning is further strengthened through group exercises. All course participants are randomly assigned to two exercise groups, which follow the same programme of scientific article discussions and case-based exercises. The purpose of the exercise sessions is to discuss and apply the theoretical approaches and perspectives introduced in the lectures in a smaller-class setting. The quality of these sessions depends strongly on students’ preparation, engagement, and active participation. Selected groups may also be asked to present their analyses and case answers to the class.
Feedback during the teaching period
The course is designed around a proactive feedback philosophy by aligning selected learning activities with the exam format. Throughout the semester, students are repeatedly exposed to the learning objectives and exam-relevant sub-tasks through selected lectures and exercise sessions. During dedicated exam preparation sessions, students are debriefed and can request detailed feedback on their performance. This provides ongoing opportunities for reinforced learning based on exam-focused tasks and feedback well in advance of the final exam.

The preparation and feedback sessions are scheduled to maximise learning impact, taking place after the first half of the course and again close to the end. Parts of the final lecture are used to recap key material, provide overarching feedback, and invite student questions.
Student workload
Preparation 128 hours
Classes and exercises 28 hours
Exam 50 hours
Further Information

Minor changes may occur to this course description until 30 June.

Expected literature

The course is based on a combination of a textbook, scientific articles, and case studies. The textbook is Robert M. Grant, Contemporary Strategy Analysis (available at “SL books”). All additional readings are accessible via the CBS library homepage; if any materials are not available there, the teaching team will provide them on Canvas.

 

Some case studies are included in the Grant textbook, while others must be purchased separately via Harvard Business School Publishing. Students are individually responsible for purchasing any required cases. Unauthorised copying or use of case materials is illegal and violates copyright.

 

Final readings may be adjusted before individual sessions; any changes will be communicated in class or via Canvas. Canvas will also be used for other course-related announcements.
Last updated on 30/01/2026