Strategy and Competiveness

CB1. Basic notions of Economics and the Business Environment.
CB2. B1-level English proficiency for reading scientific articles.

TM1. Dialogued expository methodology.
TM2. Active methodologies for development, preparation and presentation of curricular unit themes.
TM3. Tutorial Guidance (OT): follow-up of the group assignment and preparation for the individual oral presentation.

The learning objectives (LO) of the curricular unity unit are:
LO1. Analyse strategic management as a factor of competitiveness for organisations in international business contexts.
LO2. Diagnose opportunities and threats arising from global market changes, assessing their impact on an organisation’s competitive advantage.
LO3. Formulate competitive, corporate and innovation strategy options suited to an organisation’s positioning.
LO4. Draw up a strategy implementation plan, aligning structure, culture and technology with organisational objectives.

Competences/Capabilities (C):
CD1. Application of fundamental strategic management concepts.
CD2. Critical assessment of competitive advantages in dynamic and international markets.
CD3. Strategic planning aligned with organisational objectives.
CD4. Critical thinking and autonomous decision-making under uncertainty.
Link: LO1 – CD1 | LO2 – CD2 | LO3 – CD3 | LO4 – CD3; CD4

P1. Introduction to Strategy
1.1. Strategy and competitiveness.
P2. Strategic Analysis and Positioning
2.1. External analysis: macro and micro environment.
2.2. Internal analysis: resources, capabilities, culture and stakeholders.
P3. Strategic Choice
3.1. Competitive strategy.
3.2. Corporate strategy and diversification.
3.3. Innovation strategy and digital transformation.
3.4. Innovation and entrepreneurship.
3.5. Mergers, acquisitions and alliances.
P4. Strategy Implementation
4.1. Organisational structures.
4.2. Strategic planning, control and evaluation.

The assessment combines continuous assessment, group work and a mandatory individual oral component.

A) CONTINUOUS/PERIODIC ASSESSMENT

AM1 - Individual research work and analysis of an article written in English (25%). Minimum grade of 9.5. Mandatory. AI guideline: Level 2 (AI allowed to support literature search and language revision). Mandatory AI-use declaration, listing prompts and evidence of critical intervention.

AM2 - Group work - thematic essay on the strategic analysis of an organisation (30%). Minimum grade of 9.5.
Mandatory. AI guideline: Level 2 (AI as a drafting aid only, never replacing the group's critical analysis). Mandatory AI-use declaration.

AM3 - Continuous assessment mini-tests (20%). No consultation allowed. Minimum grade of 7.5. Mandatory. AI guideline: Level 0 (no AI use whatsoever).

AM4 - Individual oral presentation of the group work (25%). Minimum grade of 9.5. Mandatory, and a precondition for the validation of the AM2 grade. AI guideline: Level 0 (no AI use whatsoever).

Final Grade Formula (Continuous Assessment):
FG = 0.25 × AM1 + 0.30 × AM2 + 0.20 × AM3 + 0.25 × AM4

B) EXAM ASSESSMENT (Resit/Special Periods)

AM5 - Individual written exam (100%). Minimum grade of 9.5.

Final Grade Formula (Exam):
FG = 1.00 × AM5

In the exam assessment, the lecturer may request the student to give a supplementary oral presentation, in order to confirm the knowledge demonstrated in the written test. If the knowledge is not confirmed, the grade for the written test may be revised.

Working-Student Status: Working students are exempt from attendance at group-work sessions and may replace AM2 with an equivalent individual assignment; the individual oral defence (AM4) remains mandatory.

In the case of well-founded suspicion of fraud detected during the grading phase, the student will be summoned to an oral examination to verify the knowledge and skills demonstrated in the written tests. The oral examination will be conducted by a panel composed of the course lecturer and two other lecturers from the same subject area. If the student fails to demonstrate the knowledge and skills shown in the written test,
that test will be annulled.

NAO