Abstract:

Strategic Management subjects are complex due to their multi-disciplinary nature, requiring the introduction of participatory methodologies that encourage reflection and criticism from students. Furthermore, the European Higher Education Area has entailed a change in the curriculum of the diverse degrees making up the higher education system in Europe. In this context, Strategic Management subjects have been evolving, changing their methodology and evaluation systems.

In order to improve teaching in these subjects, we develop a project and describe in this study the experience in using a methodology based on the analysis of firms' real cases by groups of students. Students must select a firm and interview its CEOs or high executives in order to obtain information to develop the strategic process that is included in the subject: the analysis and the formulation of a strategy. Practical classes are carried out by tutorial sessions in which the teacher helps students in the development of the final project they must hand in and defend orally in front of the class and, in some cases, to the CEO of the firm they analyse. In the oral presentation to the class, all students should adopt a role; students who defend their project should act as firm's consultants, and the other groups adopt a role of different stakeholders of the firm and pose some questions about the strategic process introduced. In the presentation to the firm, students explain the main results and also hand in the full project to the company.

Keywords:

Learning methodologies, Strategic management, Undergraduate, Role-playing.