55804 - Business Strategy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has the knowledge of concepts, and is familiar with the techniques, related to the strategic management. In particular , the student is able: - to use the appropriate conceptual tools, available to managers, to analyze industries and to operate in the markets; - to apply theories and tools useful to understand how to manage companies across different industries, - to understand and support the strategic decision making both for business strategy and corporate strategy.

Course contents

Module 1: Business Strategy (Prof. Carlo Boschetti)

• Strategy and its meanings
• Business Definition
• Firm strategy and the role of external factors
• Firm strategy and the role of internal factors
• Value proposition and sources of competitive advantage

Module 2: Corporate Strategy (Prof. Mariachiara Colucci)

• The industry life cycle
• Corporate strategy
• Vertical integration and the scope of thefirm
• Diversificationstrategy and the management of the multibusiness corporation
• Current trends in strategic management

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1 and 2:
Robert M. Grant. Contemporary Strategy Analysis 7th Edition - L'analisi strategica per le decisioni aziendali Il Mulino 2011(IV ed. italiana). (excluding the following chapters: 2, 7, 12, 15)

Slides will be deployed during the lectures. They will not be circulated as they just represent a way to facilitate the understanding of the textbook.

Teaching methods

Module 1 and 2:

• Lectures on the topics included in the syllabus
• Deployment of business cases in order to apply the concepts and tools of the theoretical lectures
• Guest lectures (organized as seminars) on behalf of practictioners, depending on the availability

Assessment methods

Written exam (with multiple choice tests).

Office hours

See the website of Mariachiara Colucci

See the website of Hermann Graziano