Organizational Strategy

Introductory knowledge in information systems and software development

The course promotes the creation of a strategic plan for an organization. Theoretical classes are used to present the topics covered, as well as the study materials. The practical classes support the development of the strategic plan, through progress meetings with the teacher.

Organizations today face choices at various levels, namely: strategies to be defined, business models to be adopted, organization of its internal processes, technological support to be used, strategic/technological alignment, selection of target markets/customers, and location of its key activities. This curricular unit will address organizational strategy from three perspectives: business strategies to be adopted in scenarios supported by information and communication technologies, alignment between strategy and ICT, as well as choice and adoption of supporting technologies. To this end, the course addresses concepts and tools to understand and analyze the performance of organizations in a global market and the impact of using information systems. The students at the end of the course will be able to:

• Apply the fundamentals of strategic management to digital organizations;
• Analyze the role of information systems (IS) and technologies (IT) as drivers of organizational transformation;
• Develop strategic diagnostic skills (internal and external analysis);
• Apply business process reengineering methodologies with technological support;
• Design technological solutions using low-code platforms;
• Make strategic decisions on IS/IT investments.

Students should acquire the following skills:

• Understand the concept of organizational strategy;
• Understand the relationship between organizational strategy and the ability to create/maintain competitiveness;
• Know and select the appropriate tools to support a strategic decision;
• Formulate an organization’s strategic plan supported by information systems;
• Align the strategy with the business and technological context: processes, information systems, people, culture, products and external environment:
• Understanding the steps involved in optimizing and implementing organizational processes.

1. Introduction to Strategic Management

   1.1. Context of strategic management in digital organizations

   1.2. Historical evolution and trends (classical strategy vs. digital strategy)

   1.3. Concept of organizational strategy

   1.4. Mission, vision, and values

   1.5. Benefits and risks of strategic management in the current context

2. Information systems and technologies: Strategic perspective

   2.1. Digital disruption and organizational transformation

   2.2. Evolution of IT applications and impact on business models

   2.3. Success factors in information systems strategy

   2.4. IS and IT strategies (strategic alignment and co-evolution)

   2.5. IS/IT investment portfolio management

   2.6. Cloud, AI, Big Data, IoT, and cybersecurity as strategic factors

   2.7. Digital business models

3. Analysis of the external environment

   3.1. The evolving nature of strategic management

   3.2. Scope of strategic development

   3.3. Analysis tools

   3.4. Case studies in technology sectors (fintech, e-health, e-commerce)

4. Analysis of the internal environment

   4.1. Competitive advantage and strategic resources

   4.2. Value chain and digital value networks

   4.3. Customer lifecycle and integration with IS

   4.4. Analysis and optimization of business processes

   4.5. Business Process Management (BPM) and BPMN

   4.6. Introduction to process mining and digital tools

5. Competitive advantage

   5.1. Functional strategies to improve efficiency, quality, innovation, and agility

   5.2. Competitive positioning and differentiation

   5.3. Digital business models (freemium, subscription, platform, AI-as-a-service)

   5.4. Implications of strategies on IS/IT

   5.5. Risk management in IS/IT investments

   5.6. Business case for digital investments

6. Governance and strategic management of IS/IT

   6.1. IS/business strategic alignment

   6.2. Governance frameworks (COBIT, ITIL, TOGAF)

   6.3. Cloud governance and AI governance

   6.4. Digital skills and organizational culture

   6.5. Governance tools and impact on business processes

   6.6. Digital transformation and frameworks (MIT CISR, McKinsey, Deloitte)

NAO