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Cases

Ohjelma
Bike Lease Finland

Bike Lease Finland

Leasing and maintenance of employee bicycles, digital services.

Ohjelma
Excelence Solutions

Excelence Solutions

Consulting and data analytics, expert services and consulting.

Ohjelma
Finnish Timber Oy

Finnish Timber Oy

Ecological log buildings and construction site processes, project business.

Ohjelma
Green Scape

Green Scape

Customized green wall services for B2B clients, service business.

Ohjelma
Marine Craft

Marine Craft

Customized motorboats, project delivery, manufacturing industry.

Ohjelma
Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian Design

Leasing and maintenance of company bicycles, digital services.

Task

Comparison of Strategic Options



In this task, the student defines two different strategic options for a case company, such as growth vs. profitability or domestic vs. internationalization. They consider the benefits and risks of each option, compare them with each other, and finally make a recommendation on which strategy the company should pursue. The task practices strategic thinking and the ability to weigh the impacts of different options on the company's future.

Learning objectives

After completing the task, the student:
1. Can identify two realistic, distinct strategic options for the case company.
2. Can analyze and compare the benefits and risks of the options.
3. Can make and justify a strategic recommendation based on the selected options.

Step by step

  1. Comparison of Strategic Options

    Objective:
    The objective of this assignment is that the student is able to identify two different strategic options for the case company, compare their benefits and risks, and make a well-justified recommendation on which option the company should follow.

    Materials:

    • The case description of the case company you have chosen from the learning materials.

    • If you wish, you may make use of analyses you have prepared in earlier assignments (e.g. SWOT, goals and metrics).

    Assignment steps (instructions for the student):

    1. Choose the case company and define two strategic options
      Choose one case company.
      Decide on two different but realistic strategic options that could realistically be on the company’s agenda. Examples:

      • an aggressive growth strategy vs. a moderate strategy for improving profitability

      • focusing on domestic markets vs. internationalisation

      • broadening the service offering vs. focusing on a narrow specialisation .

      Briefly write (5–8 sentences) what these two options practically mean for the case company.

    2. Describe the benefits of both options
      Prepare for each strategic option a list of benefits (3–6 items per option).
      Consider for example:

      • how the option supports the development of revenue or profitability

      • how it affects the customer base and customer experience

      • what opportunities it opens up for the future (e.g. brand, competence, partnerships).

      Write a short verbal description of the benefits.

    3. Describe the risks and challenges of both options
      Prepare for each strategic option a list of risks and challenges (3–6 items per option).
      You can examine, among other things:

      • financial risks (investments, cash flow, costs of failure)

      • operational challenges (resources, processes, competences)

      • risks related to personnel and customers (workload, turnover, loss of customers)

      • uncertainties in the market environment.

      Briefly describe why each risk is possible specifically in the case of this case company.

    4. Compare the options with each other
      Write 2–3 paragraphs in which you compare the two strategies with each other.
      Answer, for example, the following questions:

      • which option is more ambitious and why

      • which one is more risky and in what sense

      • which one fits better with the company’s current strengths and resources

      • how different time horizons (short vs. long) affect your assessment.

    5. Make a recommendation and justify it
      Finally choose one of the strategic options that you recommend for the case company.
      Write a justification of about ½ page in which you:

      • summarise the reasons that led to your decision

      • explain why, in the chosen option, the benefits are in a better balance with the risks

      • briefly reflect on what requirements the strategy you recommend sets for the company’s management and personnel (e.g. competence development, investments, change management).

    Submission and assessment:

    • Submit a text of about 1–2 pages that shows:

      • the case company and the two chosen strategic options

      • the key benefits of each option

      • the key risks and challenges of each option

      • a comparison between the options

      • your own recommendation and its justification.

    • In the assessment, attention will be paid to how well:

      • the strategic options have been formulated to fit the case company’s situation

      • the benefits and risks have been identified in a diverse way

      • the comparison is consistent and the recommendation is well justified.

    • Recommended working time: about 60 minutes, individually or in pairs.

Tasks by audience and theme

University of applied sciences

Polytechnics and higher education studies.

68 tasks