Strategic Decision Making (E-MBA130)

In the dynamic realm of management, making informed and strategic decisions is key to driving success. "Strategic Decision Making" offers a comprehensive exploration of core business economics principles and their practical application. This course will guide you through essential decisions such as target market selection, product feature determination, pricing strategies, effective marketing communication, and organizational design. You'll learn to utilize tools like Excel and ChatGPT to model and analyze these decisions, helping you transition from intuition to model-based decision-making. Through engaging case studies and hands-on exercises, you'll gain practical experience without needing prior knowledge in coding, data analytics, or advanced mathematics. Prepare to enhance your decision-making skills with practical tools and insights, equipping you to tackle complex business challenges effectively.


Course description for study year 2025-2026

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)
Facts

Course code

E-MBA130

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

  • Market Forecasting: Techniques to predict market demand and refine strategic plans.

  • Competitive Analysis: Identifying competitors and differentiating offerings.

  • Pricing Strategies: Developing effective pricing models for various customer segments.

  • Advertising Allocation: Optimizing marketing budgets for the best ROI.

  • Make-or-Buy Decisions: Evaluating whether to produce in-house or outsource.

  • Organizational Design: Creating efficient structures and incentive systems.

  • Effective Marketing Communication: Strategies for enhancing brand positioning and engagement.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: 

After completing the course, students will have knowledge of:

  • How to apply economic principles to strategic decision-making.

  • Techniques for market analysis and competitive strategy using model-based tools.

  • Methods for developing pricing and marketing strategies.

  • Approaches to evaluate make-or-buy decisions and optimize organizational structures.

Skills: 

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Use Excel and AI tools to model and analyze strategic decisions.

  • Implement effective pricing, marketing, and organizational strategies.

  • Make informed decisions on resource allocation and business operations.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Group presentation and a written home exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Group presentation 1/4 Letter grades
Written home exam 3/4 14 Days Letter grades

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Robert Kreuzbauer

Method of work

The course is conducted through a combination of lectures, group work, and plenary discussions with case studies. Lectures introduce key topics, which students will explore further through cases, self-studies, and group assignments.

Open for

Executive Master of Business Administration

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue should be conducted in all or selected groups of courses offered by the faculty. The purpose is to gather feedback from students for making changes and adjustments to the course during the current semester. In addition, a digital evaluation, students’ course evaluation, must be conducted at least once every three years. Its purpose is to collect students` experiences with the course.

Literature

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