• Acquire knowledge about the main models, theories and insights in Strategic Management and specifically the IS/IT Strategy Planning process
• pply acquired models, theories and insights in a case study setting and a business simulation setting
• Practice team collaboration skills, presentation skills and business report writing skills
• Managerial and practical insights in running a company from the perspective of different executive roles

Today’s organizations would not run without information technology. It not only supports the business processes of an organization but also enables totally new business models. For example, think of how Uber, AirBnB, and EasyJet changed competition in their industries by applying information technology in new and innovative ways. Therefore, it is important for organizations to carefully align their Business Strategy and IS/IT strategy.

In this course we will address the strategic planning process that organizations conduct to define their business strategy and IS/IT strategy respectively and how to align these two. The different steps of the strategic planning process are discussed as well as the inputs that are required during this process. Furthermore, you will learn about the outcomes of the planning process, namely the Business Strategy and IS/IT strategy. Once organizations have defined their Business and IS/IT strategy they regularly revise their strategy as part of their annual business planning cycle.

Besides the strategic planning process, you will also learn what it takes to manage an organization, as you will run your own company as part of the course. You will collaborate with other students in running your company and have to devise a business strategy that can make you successful in the industry. Of course, you will also define an IS/IT strategy for your company that is in line with your business strategy.

In this course you will learn about business strategy concepts and the implications for the IS/IT strategy. Explicit attention will be paid to the IS/IT strategy planning process that companies can use to develop (and maintain) and IS/IT strategy that is aimed at optimally supporting the business strategy and related management domains. More in general, you will learn about the different managerial aspects of running a company during the business game.
These issues will be dealt with both theoretically (part I) and practically (part II) in this course.

Course form
The course consists of
- a theoretical part
- a business game.

In the theoretical part (first three weeks) we will discuss the material from the Ward & Peppard book during the lectures. In the tutorials during these weeks you will be working on assignments concerning the theory from the book.
At the end of the three weeks you will take a multiple choice exam that you need to pass to get access to the second part of the course, i.e. the business game.

From the fourth week we will play a business game.
The game is played in teams of 4 students where each of you will have a distinct function (e.g. Chief Executive Office, Chief Information Officer) and corresponding responsibilities. You need to apply for one of these functions by means of a job application letter.

Literature
Peppard, J., & Ward, J. (2016). The strategic management of information systems: Building a digital strategy, 4th edition. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0470034675