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2026/2027  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
Programme Master of Business Administration (Full Time)
Course coordinator
  • Giacomo Marchesini - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
  • Julia Bodner - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
  • Michael Mol - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Management
  • Strategy
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 24-06-2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To receive the grade 12, the students need to be able to
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of frameworks, concepts, and theories of strategy formulation and implementation from the course.
  • Explain what constitutes a coherent strategy and articulate, using relevant frameworks, concepts, and theories, why and how strategic choices are fundamental determinants of sustained differences in firm performance.
  • Apply frameworks, concepts, and theories from the course to real-world situations, constructing and defending evidence-based and contextually appropriate strategic recommendations.
  • Analyze and evaluate interdependencies and trade-offs among external and internal drivers, i.e., firm's external environment and competitive position, and resources and capabilities, and how they interact to shape value creation, value capture, and firm performance.
  • Assess the sustainability of a firm's competitive advantage by applying relevant frameworks and theories to identify the conditions under which advantages can be defended, replicated, or eroded over time.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam (activities during the teaching period)
Number of compulsory activities which must be approved (see section 13 of the Programme Regulations): 1
Compulsory home assignments
The student must have approved by the teacher in order to attend the ordinary exam: 1 obligatory activity.

There will be a series of questions posed to the students each session - together making up a quiz. The students must complete a pre-determined amount of them to complete this requirement. Specific details will be shared in the course syllabus at the beginning of the course.

If a student does not fulfil this requirement, they will be offered to attend a stand-alone session where they must answer a percentage of questions.
Examination
Strategy:
Exam ECTS 4
Examination form Written sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Case based assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Spring
Aids Limited aids, see the list below:
The student is allowed to bring
  • USB key for uploading of notes, books and compendiums in a non-executable format (no applications, application fragments, IT tools etc.)
  • Any calculator
  • In Paper format: Books (including translation dictionaries), compendiums and notes
The student will have access to
  • Canvas
  • The personal drive (S-drive) on CBS´ network
  • Advanced IT application package
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination may warrant that it most appropriately be held as an oral examination. The programme office will inform the students if the make-up examination/re-take examination instead is held as an oral examination including a second examiner or external examiner.
Description of the exam procedure

 Examination based on one or more questions in relation to the course literature.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

You have just been appointed CEO of a company losing ground to a faster, cheaper rival. Your board wants a plan by Monday. Where do you start? What do you protect? What do you change? And how do you know if you're right?
 

This course in strategic management provides the foundational knowledge and analytical frameworks to address questions like these, and to understand why firms consistently outperform or underperform others.
 

The course covers both the external and internal dimensions of strategy: why industries differ in their average profitability, how firms establish a competitive position relative to rivals, how resources and activities can be configured to create and capture value, and how competitive advantage can be sustained.
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
For each topic, class time is divided between a short introduction to the relevant frameworks and concepts and the discussion and analysis of real business cases. 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.

Strategic thinking is best learned through practicing it: preparation for each class must therefore be thorough and consistent. Students are expected to read the cases before class and come prepared to answer the assigned questions, defend their positions, and engage critically with their peers' arguments.

During each session, students are required to complete a short individual quiz on the assigned readings. These quizzes serve as a commitment device to ensure productive class discussions; participation in at least 75% of them is a prerequisite for sitting the final exam.

Beyond case discussions, the course incorporates in-class activities, including strategic board games, which offer an experiential way of engaging with strategic thinking in dynamic and competitive settings.

A central element of the course is the group strategy project. With guidance from the instructors, student teams will conduct a full strategic analysis of a real firm, culminating in a Strategy Day at the end of the course, where teams present their recommendations in front of managers and consultants and receive direct, real-world feedback on their work.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback in this course is continuous and multi-layered. The interactive case discussion format provides immediate feedback on students' analytical reasoning and argumentation in every session. During the group strategy project, teams receive structured feedback at key milestones from the instructor and peers. The board games not only result in measurable performance outcomes but are also accompanied by feedback tools. The course culminates in a Strategy Day where teams present their recommendations in front of managers and consultants, receiving direct, real-world feedback on the quality of their strategic analysis and the persuasiveness of their recommendations. Students will also receive answer guidelines and brief written feedback on the final exam.
Student workload
Teaching 40 hours
Preparation 40 hours
Examination 20 hours
Last updated on 24-06-2026