Strategic Thinking and Management (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

This course is meant mainly for YBINBK25 students (25-30 students). Few students (5-6)from the MBA in Sales Management degree program can also be taken to the course in the enrollment order.

The course consists of an STQ test, two (2) contact teaching days, and home assignments which will be submitted into the ITSLEANING System according to the given timetable in ITSLEARNING. There are 2-3 home assignments, which will be done in 4-6 person groups. These groups will be selected randomly during the first contact teaching day.
Contact teaching days are:
1. Thursday 30.1.2025 between 9-16 o´clock in Turku, in the classroom EDU_1091.
2. Friday 7.3.2025, between 9-16 o´clock in Turku, in the classroom EDU_1091.
Learning purposes and outcomes:
After the successful execution of this course, students will have good basic and general knowledge and overview of
- strategic planning process and tools + how to choose and use these tools in each situation
(strategies and the use of strategy tools depend on the external and internal environment of any organization)
- what is strategic thinking and where/how it is needed
- what kind of challenges does the execution of the chosen strategy include and how organizations/managers/leaders can try to overcome these challenges and obstacles and ensure the successful execution of a strategy
The execution of the course will be opened in ITSLEARNING 1-2 weeks before the first contact teaching day. All home assignments and course materials will be found in ITSLEARNING.

Objective

After completing the course, the student
-understands what is a strategy and can plan strategies for his/her organizations
-understands what is strategic thinking, where it is needed and has improved his/her own strategic thinking skills
-can guide strategic planning processes at different organizational levels
-is able to select the most appropriate strategic planning tools for different contexts and can use them in an appropriate way
-is able to identify the most significant obstacles to strategy implementation and create a workable plan to eliminate them and execute wisely and effectively the chosen strategy

Content

-What is strategic management
-What is strategic thinking
-Strategic management processes and planning tools
-How to select wisely a strategy which leads to success
-How to execute the selected strategy wisely and effectively

Materials

All in ITSLEARNING, but "reference books" must either be borrowed from libraries or bought some where. The role of books are just like references or handbooks and students does not need to read them through, but they can help students to complete the given home assignments

Teaching methods

Multi-learning method (Innopeda): Contact teaching days + home assignments in groups + reverse-learning from cases

Exam schedules

No tests. 2-3 home assignments in groups.

International connections

Multi-learning method (Innopeda): Contact teaching days + home assignments in groups + reverse-learning from cases

Completion alternatives

No other ways to complete the course.

Student workload

1) Background survey, which all students must fill out and submit as a file into the ITSLEARNING system by 27.1.2025.
2) Individual STQ-test on the internet. Instructions in ITSLEARNING. Its report must be ´submitted as a file into ITSLEARNING by 29.1.2025.
3) 2-3 large home assignments in 4-6 member groups: the results of these group works must be submitted as files into the ITSLEARNING system according to the timetable later mentioned in the ITSLEARNING system.

Further information

Dr. Keijo Varis: EMAIL= keijo.varis@turkuamk.fi