Management Tools, English

22B0751

Bachelor

English

5.0

winter- and summerterm

1 semester

The course offers an introduction to strategic management with a strong focus on management tools for developing organizational strategies. Strategic management is understood as the planning, organisation and monitoring of the value-adding activities of organisations. Students familiarize with fundamental tools and scientific frameworks to analyze business problems, develop alternative options and to improve managerial decision making that meets highest ethical standards and considers the interests of various stakeholders. Interactive exercises, case study discussions and assignments complement lectures, ensuring that students gather first-hand experiences with the application of the tools. Students are further motivated to critically reflect the benefits as well as pitfalls of the studied tools.

1. Introduction: Terms and definitions

2. Overall View: Understanding strategy development

3. Tools to analyze the environment

4. Tools to identify strategic capabilities and analyze value chain activities

5. Tools to reveal stakeholder expectations and develop organizational purpose

6. Tools to understand cultural and historic constraints

7. Tools at the business level (competitive strategies)

8. Tools at the corporate level

9. International strategy tools

10. Measuring and monitoring strategy effectiveness

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Written examination or
• Portfolio exam or
• Portfolio exam

Two alternative portfolio exams (PFP) are possible:  PFP-1 comprises 100 points and consists of a paper/presentation (R) worth 50 points and a 1-hour written exam (K1) worth 50 Punkte. PFP-2 comprises 100 points and consists of a presentation (PR) worth 50 Punkte and a 1-hour written exam (K1) worth 50 Punkte.

The specific requirements will be announced and explained in detail in every course.

Written exam: in accordance with the valid study regulations

Paper/presentation (R): approx. 15-20 minute presentation plus an accompanying paper of approx. 5-10 pages

Presentation (PR): approx. 20-30 minutes.

The specific requirements will be announced and explained in detail in every course.

Sound knowledge of primary and secondary activities of the value chain, typically from foundation/introductory business classes.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to describe and contrast analytical tools to support decision-making relating to strategy development. They recognise and appreciate the benefits of structured analyses to develop organizations strategically. Students are able to interpret alternative options and can predict likely consequences of strategic decisions.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to discuss and reflect on the impacts strategic decisions may have on organizations and its stakeholders. They can identify constraints and interdependencies of strategic decisions and address them. Independent of context, students can diagnose and interpret strategic issues and articulate possible implications. Finally, students are able to differentiate between strategic management in different contexts (e.g. stable vs. dynamic environments).

Students who successfully complete this module are able to select appropriate tools for addressing specific strategic matters and apply the tools and techniques. Hence, they demonstrate an ability to deal with unfamiliar strategic management problems in a variety of contexts and work towards a solution. By structuring complex strategic management problems and initiating analytical processes, they create evidence that allows them to develop options and select those that create the largest value for the organisation's stakeholders.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to apply tools of strategic analysis, including but not limited to techniques to investigate external delvelopments, diagnose internal conditions and select adequate strategies. Furthermore, they can implement systems to monitor the effectiveness of the decisions and initiate corrective measures if needed.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to elaborate on strategic choices, explain the analytical processes and argue in favor of a certain strategic positioning. They are able to adopt different viewpoints on strategy to explain observable processes in organizations. By explaining implications of different scenarios and different strategies, they are able to convince and motivate stakeholders to support the strategic decisions made.

Students who successfully complete this module think and act strategically and understand the necessity for thorough analyses before decisions are made. They appreciate management tools for navigating in complex and dynamic environments.

The module prepares for and complements courses that cover the implementation of strategic decisions. These modules include but may not be limited to: Management Concepts, Applied Business Project and Project Management, Internship and Academic Project and the Bachelor Thesis.

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• Hofmann, Kay Hendrik

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