BUS313 Strategic Performance Management

The course aims to provide deeper knowledge of strategic performance management and what it takes for management in an organization to be effective and add value. Strategic performance management has evolved into one of the most important tools to ensure that a company’s goals and strategies are implemented.

The course focuses on management control systems and practices, including the relationship between strategic objectives and behavior at various levels within the organization. It provides an introduction to key management practices such as budgeting, goal and performance management, transfer pricing, rule-based management, as well as incentives and reward systems. Furthermore, it explores how different management control practices are suited to influence organizational behavior and goal achievement.

Emphasis is placed on viewing the various components of the management control system, management control practices, organizational structure, external stakeholders, and external conditions in a holistic manner. The course aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of management control challenges and the various mechanisms available to leaders to influence performance. The course is based on a broad theoretical approach, incorporating economic, psychological, and sociological perspectives.

Knowledge students will have after completing the course

• Understand what influences businesses today and how these factors must be considered in planning, managing, and following up on business operations.
• Have a strong understanding of the key elements of management, leadership and control, different perspectives on these aspects, and how they are interconnected.
• Understand theories and methods related to the evaluation and selection of management control systems, as well as the challenges that may arise when implementing strategies.

Skills students will have after completing the course

• Be able to assess which management control systems and practices are best suited for different types of businesses and contexts, considering the prevailing change drivers.
• Be able to concretize and operationalize business goals and strategies, proposing relevant key performance indicators and action-oriented measures to achieve organizational objectives.
• Be able to analyze, compile, and present fact-based and action-oriented management information, enabling better decision-making on an ongoing basis.
• Be able to place strategy implementation in context and suggest strategic approaches that can be applied for successful execution.

General competence students will have after completing the course

• Be capable of asking critical questions and contributing constructively to strategy implementation, management, and business follow-up.
• Be able to contribute constructively in various situations and across different parts of the organization.
• Be able to communicate with both specialists and non-specialists about key topics within the subject.