B5733 - BUSINESS AND CORPORATE STRATEGY

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will: • Develop knowledge and critical understanding of the most relevant models and theories of competitive and corporate strategy; • Conduct structured strategic external and internal analyses considering both organizational performance, resources and capabilities, and the features of the competitive arena; • Identify and develop strategic options, applying appropriate models and frameworks, and evaluate their limitations; • Evaluate contemporary and ethical issues that may impact upon strategic choices; • Work collaboratively to develop, evaluate and present strategic recommendations to an international senior audience.

Course contents

This course will enable you to understand the prominent concepts and theories of competitive and corporate strategy. The study of the core elements of strategic management will be combined with the development of the skillset to apply strategy models and tools to case studies from different industries, such as finance and banking arena, including the emergent fintech and digital companies. Students will have the chance to develop their collaborative skills in a role game as consultants to advise the management of a corporation.

Readings/Bibliography

Required:

Anderson, L., Buengel, D., & Simpson, J. J. (n.d.). Strategic Management and Case Analysis: An Integrated Approach. Virginia Tech Publishing.

https://doi.org/10.21061/strategicmanagementandcaseanalysis

Chapter 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

 

 

Additional (not required):

Grant, R. M. (2018). Contemporary strategy analysis (Tenth edition). Wiley & Sons.

Teaching methods

This course is offered in a blended mode with face-to-face and online lectures.

Thematic lectures will be combined with discussions of case studies and a group work, which will lead to a final submission and presentation of the group project work.

In the project work, small teams of students will work as consultants offering advice to the management of an organisation in a major industry.

Assessment methods

Attending students

Quiz (50%):

• Slides on Virtuale
• Book chapters: Anderson, L., Buengel, D., & Simpson, J. J. (n.d.). Strategic Management and Case Analysis: An Integrated Approach. Virginia Tech Publishing. https://doi.org/10.21061/strategicmanagementandcaseanalysis. Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

Group work submission and presentation (50%):

• Slide deck submission
• Presentation
• Q&A with individual questions

Non-attending students

Quiz (50%):

• Slides on Virtuale
• Book chapters: Anderson, L., Buengel, D., & Simpson, J. J. (n.d.). Strategic Management and Case Analysis: An Integrated Approach. Virginia Tech Publishing. https://doi.org/10.21061/strategicmanagementandcaseanalysis . Chapter 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

Open questions (50%):

• Application to case study shared on the day
• Two theoretical questions from the book chapters indicated above and the slides

Teaching tools

The course will consist of interactive lessons, discussion of case studies and media material, and group activities.

Office hours

See the website of Giacomo Carli