Course content

Module: Basic module. In the course, participants will gain insight into and an overview of key topics and perspectives in leadership and strategy. Working with strategy - strategizing - means that you must reflect on what is or should be the organization's strategy, as well as how strategies are created and changed, and what factors in the context surrounding the strategy work. We focus on some of the most central questions in strategy work, including: How to think strategically - logic or intuition? The organization's purpose, mission, and vision - profit or social responsibility? Business level strategy - driven by external opportunities or internal resources? Corporate level strategy - autonomy or synergy? Network level strategy - competition or collaboration? Strategy formation - planning or emergence? How to implement strategic change - revolutions or continuous improvement? How to work with strategic innovation - step-by-step renewal or disruptive innovation? The industrial context of the strategy - adapt to the dynamics or take leadership? The organizational context of the strategy - leadership or dynamic self-organization? The international context of the strategy - global standardization or local adaptation? Strategy work involves establishing strategic goals and courses of action aimed at achieving these goals. It is not uncommon for there to be large discrepancies between the strategic goals and the direction in which the company is moving. To lead the organization well, it is essential to understand the organizational context that influences the actions you as a leader want to implement. Through their work, both managers and employees contribute to the operationalization of the organization's strategy. In the course, we will work to understand the connection between strategic goals and the outcomes the operationalization of these can have. We emphasize the organizational context and how this facilitates or hinders strategic goal achievement. Important topics are: Different perspectives on organizations. Power and power factors in organizations. Management of change processes. Knowledge management and management of knowledge workers.

Learning outcome

The student has

- knowledge of key topics and perspectives on leadership and strategy, in particular: strategy processes, strategy content, the context of strategy, and the mission, vision, and purpose of strategy. Organizations and power, and strategic change and knowledge management.

- has theoretically anchored competence in handling strategic and managerial challenges in organizations.

- can describe and compare key theories and frameworks within the disciplines of leadership and strategy, can link these to their own work situation, and can develop suggestions for improving strategy and leadership in organizations.

Learning methods and activities

Teaching is given in the form of lectures, discussions, individual exercises, and group exercises in two sessions of each two days.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Cf. admission requirements for courses in the master's program in Organization and Management. The course is restricted in access, and ranking rules for admission apply, according to the general part of the study plan.