The Financial Decision-Making module provides an understanding of basic finance and accounting concepts. It starts by giving an overview of financial statements, and then examines the basic issues relating to costs and financial management. The basic financing and investment decisions of a company within a value maximization framework are introduced, emphasizing the application of financial concepts and models to practical decision-making situations.

Financial Decision-Making is a highly topical module drawing from current global economic examples.

Objectives:

• Understand the relationship between finance and accounting, and the implications for financial decision-making
• Introduce the principles of financial management in value creation in any financial decision-making
• Understand the rationale behind operations of valuation  
• Appreciate the importance of financial markets
• Establish the links to different industries

Instructor: Petya Platikanova, Associate Professor, Esade Business School

This module provides an understanding of how strategic marketing can be crucial in driving growth by being or becoming customer centric. In the module, we utilize a customer-centric framework from planning right through to execution and follow up. We will dive into what strategic marketing really is about, how to ask the right questions, and how to integrate marketing into strategy and execution. The content has a very concrete and operational practical approach.

The module helps you guide your organization to become customer focused. The customer-centric strategic framework utilized is based on the instructor’s own client organizations’ experience of what works and what does not. We will define what the strategic identity of an organization is to help you to become purpose driven. The OKR and SMART methods are used in the execution and performance follow-up phases.

Objectives:

• Make sure that your organization really is customer centric - if not, you will know what steps need to be taken
• Understand what needs to be done in any transformation (whether becoming digital or customer focused) when executing the plan
• Learn what strategic marketing is all about and how it affects business value as part of core business strategy

Instructor: Nermin Hairedin, Senior Advisor, Aalto University Executive Education

This module focuses on the fundamental issues in strategy planning and will give you the skills needed to develop the long-term viability of your organization. It provides you with both conceptual knowledge and frameworks for strategic management. In this module, the choices and actions through which managers can create value for shareholders and improve the competitiveness of their company will be examined. Particular attention is paid to three interrelated elements of strategic management: leadership and people, competition and business environment, and organization and capabilities. The module focus is on digitalization as an overarching megatrend that continues to drive strategic change in numerous industries.

Objectives:

• Understand and use the key concepts and contemporary frameworks in strategic management
• Diagnose a company’s internal capabilities and organization, the competitors, and key changes in the business environment
• Understand the key strategic challenges posed by increasing digitalization and globalization across industries in both manufacturing and services
• Design and assess realistic and effective strategy implementation efforts
• Grasp the main strategic and structural approaches available to multinational corporations
• Understand the limitations of strategic analysis and strategic planning and appreciate the role of experimentation and venturing as strategic tools

Instructor: Henri Schildt, Professor, Aalto University School of Business and Aalto University School of Science

The Leading Change and Transformation module focuses on developing awareness and skills in how to lead and coach yourself, your team, and your organization through change. Numerous tools are introduced and practiced, enabling you to lead and implement change with confidence in your place of work. The module enhances understanding of individual and behavioral preferences regarding change, and how these influence responses to change and the overall approach in leading change.

Objectives:

• Understand the difference between change and transition
• Understand your personal change preferences and how they impact your approach to change leadership
• Develop the competencies and capacities necessary for effective change leadership
• Gain new tools and perspectives for leading yourself, others, and organizations through change
• Receive peer coaching and feedback on your own change leadership challenge
• Develop a concrete personal development plan for future change leadership

Instructor: Christel Berghäll, Certified Executive Coach, Step Beyond Oy