GRA 6831 Behavioural Foundations of Strategic Management

GRA 6831 Behavioural Foundations of Strategic Management

Course code: 
GRA 6831
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Debbie Harrison
Course name in Norwegian: 
Behavioural Foundations of Strategic Management
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business - Strategy
Semester: 
2021 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

The course develops your understanding and perspectives of different behavioural strategy phenomena and how these can be managed within the organisation. Of central concern are the phenomena of strategic cognition, strategic decision making, strategy development processes, strategic leadership, managing strategic capabilities, and strategic change and renewal.  

The course blends theory and applications in covering each of these topics.  Students are given a set of readings for each week, and are expected to come to class prepared. We do not teach the readings, we start from these and build our discussion accordingly. The course requires active participation from all students. 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

(i) To gain a critical understanding of the key theories and phenomena underpinning the course 

(ii) To be able to apply theory to examples and cases

(iii) To understand different strategic contexts which may impact how the strategy process is organised, how capabilities are updated, and so on

Learning outcomes - Skills

(i) To gain a basic skill in framing strategic problems

(ii) To gain a general ability to design a strategy development process

(iii) To improve existing skills in team work, case analysis and performing presentations in English, and be receptive to feedback on these

General Competence

(i) Appreciate how processes of strategic decision making are influenced by political, societal and economic factors

(ii) Gain insight into individual leadership style and political contexts in organisations and in relationship settings

(iii) To appreciate how framing 'lock ins' can trap even very successful organisations

Course content

The topics to be covered will include many of, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Strategic thinking and sense making
  • Strategic decision making
  • Strategy development processes
  • Strategy as practice
  • Leadership
  • Strategy implementation
  • Strategic change
  • The strategy-organisation link
Teaching and learning activities

Students are expected to participate actively and to be well prepared before attending class. 

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.

At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Covid-19 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Teaching 

Information about what is taught on campus and other digital forms will be presented with the lecture plan before the start of the course each semester.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationSupport materialsGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA68311
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
55Yes3 Hour(s)
  • Bilingual dictionary
Individual Written examination under supervision
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Presentation and discussion
Exam code:
GRA68311
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
20No 1 Semester(s)Group (3 - 8 )Presentation of an article on the syllabus, plus a planned discussion for the rest of the class
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA68311
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
25Yes 1 Hour(s)
  • Bilingual dictionary
Individual Mid-term written examination under supervision
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:55
Invigilation:Yes
Grouping (size):Individual
Support materials:
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration:3 Hour(s)
Comment: Written examination under supervision
Exam code:GRA68311
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Presentation and discussion
Weight:20
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group (3-8)
Support materials:
Duration: 1 Semester(s)
Comment:Presentation of an article on the syllabus, plus a planned discussion for the rest of the class
Exam code:GRA68311
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:25
Invigilation:Yes
Grouping (size):Individual
Support materials:
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Comment:Mid-term written examination under supervision
Exam code: GRA68311
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.