Management Tools and Academic Writing

22B1833

Bachelor

English

10.0

winter- and summerterm

1 semester

The course offers an introduction to strategic management with a strong focus on management tools for developing organizational strategies. Students familiarize with fundamental tools and frameworks to analyze business problems, develop alternative options and to improve managerial decision making. Interactive exercises, case study discussions and assignments complement lectures, ensuring that students gather first-hand experiences with the application of the tools. Students are further motivated to critically reflect the benefits as well as pitfalls of the studied tools. Moreover, students are introduced to various techniques and approaches for working with scientific texts and other media, including but not limited to research techniques, database searches and processing complex texts. Finally, students' scientific writing skills are enhanced.

Management Tools:

1. Introduction: Terms and definitions

2. Overall View: Understanding strategy development

3. Tools to analyze the environment

4. Tools to identify strategic capabilities and analyze value chain activities

5. Tools to reveal stakeholder expectations and develop organizational purpose

6. Tools to understand cultural and historic constraints

7. Tools at the business level (competitive strategies)

8. Tools at the corporate level

9. International strategy tools

10. Measuring and monitoring strategy effectiveness

Academic Writing:

1. Introduction to scientific research methods

2. Writing scientific papers and assignments

3. Composing a concise literature review

4. Development of adequate research questions

5. Visualizing scientific findings and results

6. Presentation and communication skills

7. Using nonverbal communication

8. Working and collaborating in teams

The total workload for the module is 300 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Portfolio exam

The 100 points portfolio examination (PFP) consists of:

An academic paper (HA) worth 50 points and a one-hour exam (K1) worth 50 points.

Academic paper (HA): approx. 10-20 pages

Exam (K1): 1 hour

The requirements are specified in the relevant class.

Sound knowledge of primary and secondary activities of the value chain, typically from foundation/introductory business classes.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to describe and contrast analytical tools to support decision-making relating to strategy development. They recognise and appreciate the benefits of structured analyses to develop organizations strategically. Students are able to interpret alternative options and can predict likely consequences of strategic decisions.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to define a research question in the field of management research by narrowing down a topic. They can compose a basic scientific research paper and are able to conduct scientific research by applying various methods and drawing on multiple sources.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to discuss and reflect on the impacts strategic decisions may have on organizations and its stakeholders. They can identify constraints and interdependencies of strategic decisions and address them. Independent of context, students can diagnose and interpret strategic issues and articulate possible implications. Finally, students are able to differentiate between strategic management in different contexts (e.g. stable vs. dynamic environments).

Students who successfully complete this module are able to distinguish and appreciate different forms of academic resources (e.g. books, journals, newspapers, online resources, etc). They are able to develop and hold presentations for an academic/professional audience. Students understand the difference between team roles and tasks as well as group dynamics and comply with basic teamwork rules and appreciate them as an effective means to manage teams.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to select appropriate tools for addressing specific strategic matters and apply the tools and techniques. Hence, they demonstrate an ability to deal with unfamiliar strategic management problems in a variety of contexts and work towards a solution. By structuring complex strategic management problems and initiating analytical processes, they create evidence that allows them to develop options and select those that create the largest value for the organisation's stakeholders.

Students who successfully complete this module appreciate scientific literature as a powerful source of knowledge and information but at the same time critically reflect upon the methods employed, data used and conclusions drawn.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to apply tools of strategic analysis, including but not limited to techniques to investigate external delvelopments, diagnose internal conditions and select adequate strategies. Furthermore, they can implement systems to monitor the effectiveness of the decisions and initiate corrective measures if needed.

Students who successfully complete this module integrate the structured and open-ended (i.e. free from any biases) approach of scientifc/academic work into their professional behavior.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to interpret secondary and/or primary data in adequate ways to assess strategic decisions, dilemma and managerial issues. They can focus on a topic to develop a reasonable research question, identify relevant sources, structure the topic and formulate texts that conform with highest standards regarding scientifc work. 

Students who successfully complete this module are able to elaborate on strategic choices, explain the analytical processes and argue in favor of a certain strategic positioning. They are able to adopt different viewpoints on strategy to explain observable processes in organizations. By explaining implications of different scenarios and different strategies, they are able to convince and motivate stakeholders to support the strategic decisions made.

Students who successfully complete this module are able to present a complex management topic according to the needs of the audience. They can defend an opinion/conclusion vis-a-vis a critical audience and moderate/participate in a critical discussion with an informed audience. They respond to critical questions/comments from an audience. Finally, students communicate effectively within team structures so that problems and challenges can be addressed in a timely manner.

Students who successfully complete this module think and act strategically and understand the necessity for thorough analyses before decisions are made. They appreciate management tools for navigating in complex and dynamic environments. Finally, they integrate scientific methods in their occupational behavior which empowers them to conduct insightful analyses themselves but also to interpret and reflect upon third-party analyses/reports. Consequently, these competences improve their managerial decision-making.

The module prepares for and complements courses that cover the implementation of strategic decisions. These modules include but may not be limited to: Management Concepts, Applied Business Project and Project Management, Internship and Academic Project and the Bachelor Thesis.

• International Management, B.A.

• Hofmann, Kay Hendrik

• Hofmann, Kay Hendrik