MARK-E0521 - Grand Strategy: Concept, History, Applications, Lecture, 23.4.2024-21.5.2024

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students will:
- Understand the concept and discourse on grand strategy in different research settings (political/diplomatic, military, economics, business),
- Understand how the concept has been applied to the study of the evolution of grand strategies in different organizational settings,
- Be able to present (both in oral and written report form) an analysis of the evolution of grand strategies in chosen organizational settings, subject to change due to global political, social and economic ‘megatrends’. An emphasis should be put on insights as to how the grand strategy of the chosen actor is likely to develop in the future as the impact of the identified megatrends becomes clearer.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 23.04.2024 - 21.05.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Henrikki Tikkanen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Course Introduction & Welcome, Strategy in the Business & Economics Realm: Key Discourses and Blind Spots, Grand Strategy in Politics and Warfare: An Historical Approach, Analysing (the Lack of) Grand Strategy: Case Nokia, 1986-2021, Making it Happen: Strategic Leadership, Organizational Agenda Building & Use of Staff, Grand strategy course paper presentations

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Quality of the individual deliberables (the readings assignment and the learning diary, 60 %) and the group work seminar paper and its presentation (40 %).

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:


    In order to complete the course, the students are expected to:

    • Read the assigned readings in advance for each session.
    • Compile and present a seminar paper on the grand strategy of a chosen political, diplomatic, military or economic/business instance. 
    • Complete an independent readings assignment (no more than 10 pages in length) and learning diary (no more that 10 pages). You may combine these two deliverables into one file to be submitted to the course coordinator.

DETAILS

Study Material

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    A collection of articles of the topic.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language : English

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring V
    2023-2024 Spring V

Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof