Strategic Analysis

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Group work will be stimulated in this course and the teaching will be interactive. The topics will be teached with a focus on practice, envolving companies and real cases. The analyis of real cases will provide to the students the opportunity to apply the theoretical framework in a practical way.

Learning Outcomes

This curricular unit contributes to several learning outcomes (OA) of the MBA, namely:

OA1. Lead themselves and others in the achievement of organizational goals

OA2. Think critically and make decisions based on complex information

OA3. Maximize resources for the benefit of organizations and society

OA4. Know and understand organizations and their stakeholders

OA5. Integrate functional knowledge and apply strategic management skills at a senior level in changing business environments

OA7. Understand the complexities of business ethics in a global environment and act with integrity

Particularly, this course aims to develop strategic analysis skills (SLO). At the end of the course, students should be able to:

OAE1. Correctly select and apply strategic analysis concepts and frameworks

OAE2. Identify the main strategic challenges

OAE3. Formulate strategic options

OAE4. Evaluate strategic options

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

T1. Introduction to strategic analysis — Strategy and competitive advantage

T2. Stakeholder analysis — Stakeholder capitalism, business ethics, and sustainability

T3. Macro-environment analysis — PESTEL analysis and scenario analysis

T4. Industry analysis — Five forces framework, strategic group analysis, and industry evolution

T5. Business model analysis — Business strategy, blue ocean strategy, and digital transformation

T6. Resources and capabilities analysis — VRIO analysis, value chain analysis, sources of competitive advantage, and dynamic capabilities

T7. Portfolio analysis —BCG matrix, GE-McKinsey matrix, and corporate strategy

T8. SWOT/TOWS analysis

T9. Strategic options evaluation — Suitability, acceptability, and feasibility

T10. The practice of strategy — Leadership and strategic change

Head Lecturer(s)

Pedro Marcelo Amado Garcia da Rocha Torres

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 50.0%
Project: 50.0%

Bibliography

Grant, R.M. (2021). Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 11^th ed., Wiley

Whittington, R., Regnér, P., Angwin, D., Johnson, G., Scholes, K. (2020). Exploring strategy: Text and cases, 12^th ed., Pearson