Growth and Competitive StrategiesLaajuus (5 cr)

Learning objectives

A student who has completed this course or acquired similar competence knows the competition and growth strategies in a changing international operating environment. The student is also able to assess the conditions and consequences related to their selection in terms of the company's further development and growth. The student becomes acquainted with companies' generic strategy options and can describe and apply ways to achieve competitive advantage and customer value. The student can utilize extensive information in the company's strategy and transformation work.

Students learn to interpret the company's most important performance indicators in a virtual strategy game. Further, the student learns how to analyze the development of the company and the impact of individual decisions on different aspects of the company's value chain in product development, production, sales, and marketing.

Contents

• Strategy and the big picture of the strategy
• The importance of the strategy in the growth and internationalisation of the company
• Generic competition strategy options and growth strategies in an international context
• Steps in the strategy process
• Analysis tools included in the strategy process
• The company's operating environment and anticipation of the future
• Analyzing company results
• Company budgeting and annual planning process

Starting level and linkage with other courses

• This is part of Bachelor degree’s of sales and customer - course
• (=myynti ja asiakkuudet -suuntautumisen opintojakso?)
• Starting level: key competence courses completed.
• The course may be completed as an independent entity. However, responsible sales management and Sales Information Systems support the study of the themes of this course, and, if these are in the student's study plan, we recommend that they be completed first

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

• The learning approach may include classroom-based, remote or hybrid sessions. Instructors facilitate groups during a Cesim simulation game.
• PBL theme discussions, case exercises, Cesim simulation game strategy and game-related tasks:
o Cesim groups game strategy and competitor analysis
o Personally, Cesim decision-making multi-choice test
o Personally, tasks related to the company's commercial performance indicators and value chain decisions (Cesim).
o Final exam in Moodle: Multi-selections and application tasks related to case examples

• If you already know the competence objectives of this course, you may demonstrate your skills. Ask the instructor for more information about the course. More information on identifying your skills is available at https://www.haaga-helia.fi/fi/osaamisen-tunnistaminen-ja-work-study

Assessment criteria - grade 1

When the implementation type of the course is CONTACT, ONLINE or BLENDED it is required that the student is present during those teaching hours that are marked in the study schedule. If you are absent more than 25 %, your grade will be lowered by one. If you are absent more than 50 %, the course is failed.

• knows key strategy concepts and performance indicators
• can search for information related to changes in the operating environment
• masters the key competition strategy options and growth strategies
• masters the concepts related to competition and growth strategies and their analysis

Assessment criteria - grade 3

• can analyse the competitive advantage and opportunities of the company in different markets
• knows how to change the operating environment and how they are utilised in the development of the strategy
• can analyze the company's performance indicators and their impact on the company's business
• knows the importance of developing a competitive strategy and the different stages of the strategy process

Assessment criteria - grade 5

• can develop the company's strategy in an innovative way and analyse the feasibility and risks of the strategy
• can critically evaluate different competition strategy options
• can utilise different materials to anticipate the future and form opportunities for the company's business
• can make decisions in different areas of the value chain in product development, production, sales and marketing.
• can assess the importance of competition and growth strategies for growth and internationalization in an excellent way

Learning materials

- Johnson, Whittington, Scholes Angwin and Regnér: Exploring Strategy – Text and Cases
- Barney, William and Hesterly: Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage
- David & David: Strategic Management – A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts and Cases Johnson & Scholes: Exploring Corporate Strategy