What Alexander says about the Master's in International Strategic Management

Alexander from Austria

What is the programme like?

“We are a very culturally diverse class of students who all share a passion for strategy and innovation. So, on top of building know-how in strategy consulting and strengthening our teamworking skills, group projects offer a unique opportunity to experience first-hand what it means to collaborate cross-culturally. 

The programme is filled with advanced courses on numerous strategy-related subjects, ranging from innovation management and performance measurement to the management, financing, and strategy involved with buying, selling, and combining companies. While I definitely enjoy widening my strategy toolkit, I think my greatest learning experience has been strengthening my practical skills. I am challenged to truly reflect on what we read and hear. The same goes for being analytical. Everyone who has been in touch with strategy and innovation knows that there is an abundance of frameworks. However, in the end it is not about the frameworks, but about choosing and applying them to the right scenarios. I think that’s a truly invaluable lesson.”
 
What is the teaching and learning style like?

“The teaching style at Lund University School of Economics is very open and interactive. In particular, the approachability of the professors creates a fantastic learning environment. Even though I am from a German-speaking country, being on a first-name-basis with all the professors felt uncomfortable in the beginning.

Before talking more about the lectures, I need to explain the expected learning style a bit. Courses are generally composed of two main elements: theory and case studies. When it comes to theory, there is a wide range of scientific articles that we are expected to read before each lecture. During class, we usually discuss our different viewpoints, with the attempt to arrive at a common gist. What I enjoy in class is the stimulating and enriching environment. I have experienced more than once that I am shown completely diverging solutions to the same problem, when I thought before class that there can definitely only be ONE solution. I would say that besides the knowledge I gain, I truly benefit from the stimulating environment that allows one to articulate one’s point of view, and to defend it in discussions. This interaction with others has helped me to really build a thorough understanding of tools and concepts.

When working with real business cases, we have come across a wide range of strategy-related challenges, ranging from giving recommendations on sustainability and internalisation to a Swedish architecture firm to the evaluation of future innovation avenues of Ford Motors. On top of case studies, we also have the chance to get insight into practical matters through guest lecturers, company visits and consulting cases. Two examples that I am particularly fond of is a very exclusive visit to Space10 in Copenhagen – IKEA’s worldwide fuzzy front-end innovation hub, as well as a consulting case with TetraPak’s finance department on performance measurement issues. Overall, as this description might already imply, the workload is rather high, but definitely rewarding.”
 
What are you planning to do after your time in Lund?

“After graduation, I would like to start in a digitalisation-related business role. I have always been intrigued by all sorts of digital technologies, but I have quickly learned that even the latest and greatest technology is useless if it does not generate value for its user. Hence, I think that in today’s world – where digitalisation is pervasive across all industries – the ability to understand how digital technologies might shape a company’s future is imperative. And that’s where I hope that my passion for digital technologies paired with my Master’s degree in international strategic management will come in handy.

If you have read through all of this and are still not sure what to expect from the programme, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn!”