ØAO016 Strategy and Business Development

Contents and structure

The course provides an introduction to fundamental strategic perspectives and analyses. Throughout the course, candidates will acquire knowledge of strategic methods and develop an understanding of strategic thinking. Additionally, the course will introduce candidates to fundamental business development.

Candidates will work in groups on two assignments and a semester project. These are designed to allow candidates to practice applying the knowledge, skills, and general competencies described below.

Learning Outcome

Candidates will, upon completion and passing of the course, have acquired knowledge, skills, and general competence as described below:

Knowledge:

• Gained a comprehensive understanding of strategic issues.
• Acquired insight into what it takes to make strategic decisions and how these are influenced by internal and external factors.
• Knowledge of various strategic approaches based on external and internal analyses.
• Understanding of the interrelation between strategy and business development and how they are affected by internal and external factors.
• Awareness of how to identify opportunities for business development and facilitate their exploitation.

Skills:

• Ability to conduct strategic analyses of businesses (externally and internally) and discuss how insights from these analyses affect choices and strategy implementation.
• Capability to identify and analyze elements crucial to a business's ability to create value over time.
• Competence in formulating a business idea for an enterprise.
• Identifying an enterprise's business idea and model, key internal and external challenges, as well as what is essential for the enterprise's value creation.
• Identifying and discussing issues related to strategic choices and operationalization of strategy.

General Competence:

• Understanding the significance of strategy and business development for enterprises.
• Capacity for critical reflection on the topics covered in the course.
• Ability to present academic material and analysis both in written and oral forms

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Knowledge of basic marketing (e.g., BØA116) and basic organizational theory (e.g., BØA112). Some knowledge in social economics and business economics is an advantage.

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, and practical assignments.

Compulsory learning activities

To submit the semester assignment, the following two requirements must be fulfilled:

1. A written group assignment.
2. A written or oral group task to be shared with the class.

Mandatory requirements are valid in the examination semester and 3 following semesters.

Assessment

Group term paper (100 % of final grade)

Grade scale A-F, where F is failed.

Examination support material

All aids are permitted with the following limitations:

• Candidates must tick a self-declaration in WiseFlow before submitting the semester assignment. By ticking the self-declaration, the candidate confirms being acquainted with the regulations for the course and examination, as well as the guidelines for handling academic misconduct at HVL.

Candidates must acknowledge and disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI). The semester assignment should be authored by the candidates submitting the task, not by AI; this will be considered as academic misconduct. However, AI can be used as support in writing processes, as a sounding board, and similar functions. Refer specifically to the sections 'About Writing and Using References' and 'Artificial Intelligence' on the submission of home exams and assignments page.

More about examination support material