Strategic Direction

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The teaching of this course unit is based, essentially, on an andragogic perspective, i.e., the centering of itself on the revealed interests by the students and on the conjugation of these interests with the internationally considered topics as essential in Strategic Analysis and on a mixed evaluation methodology.

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 management skills (SLO). At the end of the course, students should be able to:

OAE1. Correctly select and apply strategic management concepts and frameworks

OAE2. Identify the main strategic challenges

OAE3. Formulate strategic options

OAE4. Evaluate strategic options

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

T1- COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES

1.1- Competitive Strategies

1.2- The Competitive Advantage

1.3- Generic Strategies and Sources of Advantage

T2- INTEGRATION STRATEGIES

2.1- Integration Strategies

T3- INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGIES

3.1- Motivations for Internationalization

3.2- Models of Internationalization

3.3- Internationalization Strategies

T4- DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES

4.1- Diversification Strategies

4.2- Portfolio Planning

T5- DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

5.1- Development Strategies

5.2- Development Strategies and Business Strategy

5.3- Acquisitions and Mergers

5.4- Strategic Alliances

T6- ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND STRATEGY

6.1- Structure and Strategy

6.2- Types of Structure

T7- MANAGEMENT POLICY AND STRATEGIC CONTROL

T8- Strategies for sustainability and digital transformation  

T9- Other current topics in business strategy

Head Lecturer(s)

Fernando Manuel Pereira Oliveira Carvalho

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Presentations during the trimester. : 50.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Bibliography

ADRIANO FREIRE, Estratégia-Criação de Valor Sustentável; Bertrand Editora, 2020 (1ª edição)

DESS, McNamara, Eisner and Lee. Strategic Management: Text and Cases. McGraw- Hill, 11Th Edition, 2023

GRANT, Robert M. Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Wiley, 2021.

JOHNSON, Gerry; SCHOLES, Kevan. Dirección Estratégica. Prentice Hall, 2005.

NAVAS LÓPEZ, J. E.; MARTÍN, L. A. G. La Dirección Estratégica de la Empresa. Civitas Ediciones, Madrid, 2018.