Skip to main content

CIMA E3 · Strategic Level

C. Generating strategic options

This section equips you with frameworks and techniques to generate and evaluate strategic alternatives, including Porter's Generic Strategies, Bowman's Strategic Clock, and Ansoff's Matrix, while developing competency in forecasting and scenario planning to support robust strategic decision-making.

  • 16 lessons
  • 2 modules
  • 2.7h of video
  • ~15% of the exam
Start the first lesson → About the CIMA E3 course

What you'll learn

By the end of C. Generating strategic options.

  • Explain the concept of strategic options and their role in strategic planning
  • Apply Porter's Generic Strategies framework to identify competitive positioning alternatives
  • Analyse strategic choices using Bowman's Strategic Clock and Ansoff's Matrix
  • Evaluate the viability of strategic options against organisational capabilities and market conditions
  • Identify key drivers for change and apply forecasting techniques to anticipate future scenarios
  • Assess real options thinking to support flexible strategic decision-making under uncertainty

The lessons

16 lessons, module by module.

Generating strategic options

10 lessons
  1. 1 Generating strategic options - introduction 5m
  2. 2 Porter's generic strategies 15m
  3. 3 Bowman's strategic clock 9m
  4. 4 Ansoff's matrix 13m
  5. 5 Lynch's expansion matrix 20m
  6. 6 Joint ventures 10m
  7. 7 Strategic alliances 10m
  8. 8 Franchises 9m
  9. 9 International expansion 10m
  10. 10 Divestment 8m

Forecasting and scenarios

6 lessons
  1. 1 Forecasting and scenarios - introduction 6m
  2. 2 Drivers for change 12m
  3. 3 Forecasting 5m
  4. 4 Real options 11m
  5. 5 Game theory 12m
  6. 6 Scenario planning 9m

Questions

About C. Generating strategic options.

What does the Generating Strategic Options section cover?

This section covers frameworks and tools for identifying and evaluating strategic alternatives that organisations can pursue. It includes Porter's Generic Strategies for competitive positioning, Bowman's Strategic Clock for strategy-market fit analysis, and Ansoff's Matrix for growth direction planning. Additionally, it develops your ability to forecast future scenarios and apply real options thinking to support strategic decision-making in uncertain environments.

Is this section important for the E3 exam?

Yes, this section is fundamental to the E3 Strategic Level examination. The ability to generate, evaluate, and justify strategic options using established frameworks is a core competency tested extensively. Mastery of these tools and scenario planning techniques is essential for answering strategic option questions and case study scenarios effectively.

Ready to study CIMA E3?

Get through your exams.
Get on with your life.

The full CIMA E3 course, every section and lesson, with lifetime access.

See CIMA E3 pricing