37459 - Business Strategy

Learning outcomes

This course aims at introducing the student to the main strategic issues at the business level. At the end of the course the student knows what a strategy is and how a competitive advantage can be achieved through the analysis of the industry and of the internal resources and capabilities. He/She understands the importance of business models, including the role of organizational structures and technological innovation. The student is able to define a business strategy and to evaluate a business strategy by situating the business in its context

Course contents

1) The concept of profit

1.1 - Economic Profit and rents

2) Analysis of industry structure

2.1 - The five forces model

3) The concept of competitive advantage

3.1 - The competitive advantage of cost leadership

3.2 - The competitive advantage of differentiation

3.3 - Competitive strategies

4) Sustainability of competitive advantage

4.1 - The Resource-Based View of the firm

Readings/Bibliography

Besanko, D., Dranove, D., Shanley, M. and S. Schaefer. (2012). Economics of Strategy. 6th Edition. Wiley.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

The exam tests:

• the knowledge and the understanding of the models and the concepts presented in the lectures;
• the capability of using models and concepts to analyse, and deal with, economic and organizational phenomena.

The exam is a written test of both theoretical understanding and problem solving capability. Specifically, the test includes:

• Questions with multiple choice;
• exercises;
• questions with open reply often requiring short essays.

The exams will be offered in June, July and September. Students who fail the exam can access the following session of exam.

To seat for the exam students need to register on Almaesami within reported deadlines. Students who are not able to register within the deadline are requested to promptly refer to both the school secretary and the teacher. The teacher takes the final decision on whether accepting or not students without regular registration.

The results of exams are published on Almaesami, usually within a week from the date of the exam. To register the credit for the exam, students need to approve the received mark by sending to the teacher an authorization by email with the following information:

1. name and surname,
2. registration number,
3. date of the exam, 
4. name of the exam,
5. mark received.

It is possible to see the exam by appointment with the teacher by sending an email to: edoardo.mollona@unibo.it.

 

Teaching tools

Teaching tools are the book and the slides of the lectures, which are available on the teacher's official website.

To meet the teacher, please make an appointment using the following email: edoardo.mollona@unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Edoardo Mollona