Business Strategy and Digital Transformation
Objectives
The objectives for this module are to provide students with consistent key strategy concepts and how strategy drives business transformation, supported or enabled by digital technologies.
To help evaluate which business strategy is the most adequate, a set of tools will be theoretically presented and applied in practical exploitation to:
a. analyze the external and internal contexts of the focal organization;
b. characterize the potential results, and define objectives of the strategies pursued;
c. match the business strategy chosen with digital transformation enablers.
The module will depart from a classical Business Strategy analysis perspective, evolving into the impact of digital technologies in the (re)formulation of strategies for deriving new business models or innovation that develops exponential value and competitive advantage.
General characterization
Code
100228
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Jorge Manuel Carrola Rodrigues
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - Available soon
Teaching language
Portuguese. If there are Erasmus students, classes will be taught in English
Prerequisites
N.A.
Bibliography
Teaching method
The teaching methodologies include:
a. Theoretical classes with the exposition of major concepts regarding business strategy, digital transformation, and how the latest impacts the former
b. Several seminars with an experienced top manager, involved in the global management, definition and implementation of business strategies of large companies in highly competitive environments, which will serve as examples of applications where technologies are also involved.
c. Practical application of the concepts derived from theoretical classes and seminars, in case studies and an example project of application to a selected company.
Evaluation method
Individual Reading-Study: 5%
Group Work/Case-Study: 10%
Project: 35%
Individual attendance and participation: 5%
Final Exam: 45%
Grades apply in a scale of 20.
Subject matter
1.1. Introduction to Strategy and Digital Transformation
- What is business strategy
- What do we mean by digital transformation. Background and enabling factors
2. Strategy Analysis
2.1. Strategic Analysis: macro environment
- PESTEL analysis
- Impact of different environments, culture, rules or norms, and external stakeholders, on business strategy
2.2. Industry and sectorial analysis
- Perspective of competitive forces
- Porter´s five forces analysis
- Strategy canvas, "blue oceans", and power of monopolies
2.3. Resources and capabilities
- Resource-based view (RBV) and VRIO
- The Value Chain and "activity systems mapping"
- Other tools for internal capabilities and competitive positioning analysis: SWOT/TOWS, Benchmarking
- Dynamic capabilities
2.4. How to build a strategic analysis report
3. Define a Business Strategy in a Digital Transformation context
3.1. Competitive strategies and business models
- Competitive Strategies: which one(s) to choose
- Business models and value creation
3.2. The five levers for Digital Transformation and its impact in business strategy formulation
3.3. Innovation as a strategic choice
3.4 Methodologies to support implementation of a business strategy with DT - 7S framework, ESAT, BCG, BTM2