STR463 Strategy and Technology (E)

• Topics

  The question of how technology affects the behavior and performance of firms has occupied the minds of scholars and managers for decades. Technology defines on a large measure the opportunity space for decision makers along key strategic dimensions. The course uses incidents from the past and recent advances in digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in particular to showcase technology as both an enabling force and critical contextual factor for strategy and the outcomes it produces - for both established firms and new ventures, including firms developing new technologies or are primarily adopting it. In times of increasing "technologization" of social and economic life, including international relations between countries, it is paramount for business and management students to develop a sound understanding of the relationship between technology / technological shift and firm conduct and performance, including implications for society and the environment. This course seeks to advance this understanding.

  The course aligns closely with STR453 Digitalization and STR446 Process Management. It complements rather than substitutes these courses and provides a fresh and complementary perspective that broadens your overall understanding of the subject matter.

• Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student…

  • has advanced knowledge of recent technology trends and their implications for strategy and strategic decisions on and across different domains of strategy (business, corporate, global strategy).
  • has advanced knowledge and understanding of key concepts, principles, and theories that underpin competitive, corporate, and global strategic advantage of business firms.
  • has advanced knowledge of the potential contributions of new technologies to sustainable growth and understands the ethical issues involved in creating and capturing value from new technologies.

  Skills

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student…

  • can identify opportunities and analytically dissect complex, real-world business challenges that firms (both existing ones and new ventures) are confronted with in a dynamic environment of technological change and transition.
  • can apply and connect key concepts, principles, and theories underpinning corporate, competitive, and global strategic advantage to inform different stages in strategic decision-making processes in mature firms and new ventures.
  • can supplement the application of formal concepts, principles, and theories with own judgment, insight, intuition, and creativity to develop and implement effective strategies on and across different domains of strategy (business, corporate, global strategy).

  General competence

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student…

  • can communicate effectively with academic and practitioner audiences on questions related to technological transition and its implications for firms (existing ones and new ventures) and their strategic behaviors and positions.
  • can collaborate with others to analyze and make sense of unstructured and complex business situations exhibiting uncertainty and change.
  • can reflect on and take into account sustainability and ethical issues, which include balancing business interests of value capture with ethical considerations of fair value distribution.

• Teaching

  The course design is student-centered and phenomenon-based, blending competitive, corporate, and global strategy perspectives to foster a comprehensive understanding of how new, primarily digitally enabled technologies affect strategy and the strategic management of organizations, including both established firms and new ventures.

  The course is designed as an in-person, classroom-based learning experience. A substantial part of the learning takes place through discussions, examples, exercises, guest contributions, and interaction during class and cannot be fully replicated through course materials alone. Regular participation in classes is therefore strongly expected and important for successfully completing the course.

  Business practitioners and technology experts will contribute as guest speakers, sharing their experiences and perspectives on recent technological developments and their implications for business and strategy.

  In addition to attending in-class lectures, students collaborate in teams of 2-3 to complete two group assignments. For course approval, the drafts for the assignments must be submitted and receive approval. Furthermore, each student group is required to provide brief written peer reviews of the assignments submitted by other groups. In turn, these groups are expected to provide a short written response to the peer reviews they receive. Lastly, each student must pass online multiple-choice quizzes.

• Recommended prerequisites

  Basic knowledge about strategic management fundamentals gained in prior coursework (particularly SOL4 and STR404) or from a standard textbook, such as:

  • Jay B. Barney: Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage (2007, 2010); or
  • Grant, R. M. (2021). Contemporary strategy analysis. John Wiley & Sons. (or earlier editions)

  Enthusiasm for strategy, innovation/entrepreneurship, and a willingness to engage in active learning are essential. Familiarity with technology and economic trends is recommended but not required.

• Required prerequisites

  None.

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  No credit reduction due to overlaps.

• Compulsory Activity

  In groups (consisting of 2-3 students, who together work on all assignments):

  • Approved drafts of two group assignments
  • Submission of two peer reviews of another group's assignments

  Each student individually:

  • 2 approved (online) multiple-choice quizzes

  Each of these three elements have to be produced and submitted in the same semester and are only valid for that semester.

• Assessment

  The assessment is based on a portfolio of two assignments prepared over the semester. The portfolio is prepared and submitted in a group consisting of 2-3 students.

• Grading Scale

  A-F.

• Literature

  A list of mandatory readings will be provided in each lecture. Students are expected to prepare on average 2-3 mandatory readings each week.