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GRA 6831 Managing Strategy Processes

GRA 6831 Managing Strategy Processes

Course code: 
GRA 6831
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Debbie Harrison
Course name in Norwegian: 
Managing Strategy Processes
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business - Strategy
Semester: 
2025 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

In this early part of the 21st century, organisations have to cope with mega trends, multiple sustainability goals at both the local and global level, and the impact of AI. All of these issues have implications for managing strategy processes. 

This course develops and challenges a student's theoretical understanding of the dynamics of strategy processes from initial framing of strategic challenges, decision making, strategizing practices and implementation. The course also has a skills component in which students will gain insights into how to manage  strategy processes within organisations.

Key themes include strategic framing and cognition, strategic decision making, strategy development processes, strategic leadership, and strategic implementation.  

The course blends theory and skill development when covering the key themes. 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.  We use a range of examples and cases to enhance understandings about relevant concepts, frameworks and models. We will also have skills-based sessions that are taught in a variety of ways, such as workshops and simulations. 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge
  1. To gain a critical understanding of the key theories underpinning the course 
  2. To be able to apply theory to examples and cases in relating the theoretical state-of-the-art to current societal challenges 
  3. To understand different strategic contexts which may impact how the strategy process is organised, espeically in light of the necessity to organise business activities that are in keeping with planetary boundaries
Learning outcomes - Skills
  1. To gain a basic skill in framing strategic problems
  2. To gain a general ability to design a strategy development process
  3. To improve existing skills in team work, case analysis and performing presentations in English, and be receptive to feedback on these
General Competence
  1. Appreciate how processes of strategic decision making are influenced by political, societal and economic factors
  2. Gain insight into how managing strategy processes is a core activity for organisations in coping with grand challenges and sustainability goals
  3. 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
  • 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

This course has a mandatory work requirement of 75% class attendance. The work requirement must be approved to be able to sit the exams.

This mandatory work requirement is in addition to 2 forms of assessment for the course.  

It is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class. 

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 specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

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 specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Mandatory courseworkCourseworks givenCourseworks requiredComment coursework
Mandatory1175% attendance is required. Students are expected not only to be present in the classroom, but also be prepared to participate in group exercises and discuss the theory, methods and cases specified for the lecture.
Mandatory coursework:
Mandatory coursework:Mandatory
Courseworks given:1
Courseworks required:1
Comment coursework:75% attendance is required. Students are expected not only to be present in the classroom, but also be prepared to participate in group exercises and discuss the theory, methods and cases specified for the lecture.
Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
School Exam
Form of assessment: 
Written School Exam - digital
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Exam code: 
GRA 68312
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Submission PDF
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Weight: 
30
Grouping: 
Group (2 - 4)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
This will be a written group submission
The exact requirements will be specified in the course outline in spring 2025, and explained in class in session 1
Exam code: 
GRA 68313
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
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.