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

During the course students develop their business judgment, teamwork, and presentations skills. More specifically, students learn to

(1) structure complex business problems analytically and evaluate the appropriateness of the chosen structure,

(2) generate strategic options as potential solutions for strategic situations; quantify the aspects of strategic challenge and the generated options; choose the appropriate options by evaluating the feasibility, quality, and potential of the options using several criteria; evaluate the quality of the options as well as the plausibility of the quantitative analysis, and reflect on the relevance of used evaluation criteria,

(3) explicate the assumptions associated with strategic analysis; identify, assess, and mitigate the risks associated with strategic plans; identify critical indicators to be monitored during the implementation of a chosen strategic option, and

(4) present a strategic analysis and recommendations in a coherent narrative form and evaluate the persuasiveness of the narrative.

Credits: 3

Schedule: 04.09.2024 - 09.10.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kaarlo Väisänen

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:

    Students solve Harvard-type business cases in groups of 3-5 students and present their recommendations to a jury. In addition, the students cultivate their own case solving process as individuals and as members of a group. The cases of the course focus on strategy formulation in various kinds of established organizations, typically assuming the viewpoint of a senior decision maker. Student groups act in a role that most resembles a team of management consultants.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Mandatory attendance in seminar sessions and presentations of case solutions prepared in student groups. Individual work related to case solving.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Mandatory seminar sessions, groupwork, and individual work.

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Autumn I
    2025-2026 Autumn I

    Registration:

    The maximum number of participants is limited to 16-20 students depending on the practicalities of the course. Due to the limited size of the course, priority is given to (in order) 1) students of the Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management, 2) students who have completed the recommended prerequisites.