The specialisation in Strategic Management is a unique interdisciplinary management programme that provides a relevant and forward-looking education.

The specialisation intends to give

• different perspectives on disciplines within the field of strategy, economics, innovation and management that can contribute to better decision-making and development of their own enterprises. Theory and practical application are integrated in the specialisation, and the participants work on relevant issues from their own enterprises.
• relevant research-based knowledge about strategic management in a broad perspective. Many enterprises are in a situation of constantly changing competition, often from international competitors, and an overall understanding is therefore necessary to be able to deal with challenges and create and take advantage of opportunities.
• the ability to shed light on factors that help an enterprise to develop and mobilise resources in a way that creates lasting competitive advantages.  
• networking opportunities for the purpose of learning and further development both in and outside the teaching situation.

After completing the specialisation, candidates are expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate has

• advanced knowledge of how the strategy and management discipline has developed over time and sound knowledge of the scientific methods and approaches that form the basis for the strategy and management subjects.
• advanced knowledge of strategic analyses of enterprises and the environments and markets they operate in, including from a sustainability perspective.
• in-depth knowledge of finances and business and specialised knowledge of strategy and management and their importance to value creation in the enterprise.
• in-depth knowledge of how strategy and management skills can be applied to new issues.

Skills

The candidate can

• analyse and apply a critical approach to various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate academic reasoning.
• apply research-based strategy and management theories and tools in practical and theoretical problem-solving in different enterprises.
• carry out independent strategy and management projects in accordance with applicable academic and ethical standards.

General competence

The candidate can

• stay up to date and make use of new research-based strategy and management knowledge in their future career.
• apply a global, sustainable approach to strategy and reflect on ethical issues in their own enterprise.
• discuss and present subject-related issues and analyses with specialists as well as with the general public.
• communicate extensive independent work in writing and orally using language that is appropriate to the field in question.

Students will be assessed in the following manner: 

Individual home exam: 
The students will sit an individual home exam at the end of each semester where they are tested on the learning outcomes achieved for the subject module in question.

Master’s thesis
The specialisaton includes an independent, written work worth 30 ECTS (master’s thesis), which should demonstrate each student’s understanding, reflection and maturation. Academic supervision is available to students while they are writing the thesis.

The thesis is made up of four project assignments worth 7.5 ECTS each, one for each subject module. The students will be divided into groups of four participants for each project assignment. The composition of the groups can vary for the different subject modules.

Each project assignment will consist of a topic with a defined academic approach. The assignment can be linked to an industry/enterprise represented in the group. The students will conduct an analysis where they apply the knowledge and skills they have gained about the topics elucidated in the subject module. 

A draft of each assignment will be peer-reviewed by four other students who are not members of the same group. The input from the peer review will then be integrated into the project assignment before it is submitted for academic assessment.

At the end of the specialisation, the four project assignments are combined to form a single document, which, together with an individual introduction chapter/reflection memo, will make up the student’s individual master’s thesis.

The thesis will be presented and defended orally. The thesis will be presented in groups, where each student is responsible for the presentation of one chapter from their own master’s thesis. 

Individual peer review by fellow students:
At the end of each semester, each participant must write an individual assessment of another group’s project assignment. The assessment will also be subject to academic assessment.