This course focuses on some of the important current issues in strategic management. It will concentrate on modern analytical approaches and on enduring successful strategic practices. It is consciously designed with a technological and global outlook since this orientation in many ways highlights the significant emerging trends in strategic management. The course is intended to provide the students with a pragmatic approach that will guide the formulation and implementation of corporate, business, and functional strategies.
This course will use a combination of readings, case studies, lectures, invited guests, and will require the completion of an independent research project.
Required Textbooks:
Hax, and Wilde. The Delta Project: Discovering New Sources of Profitabilitly. Palgrave, 2001.
Hax, and Majluf. The Strategy Concept and Process: A Pragmatic Approach. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, 1996.
Other Readings:
Package of reading materials, including articles and cases. Each day's reading is listed in the course outline.
The requirements for the course and the contribution of each towards the final grade are as follows:
- One Independent Research Project leading to writing an individual paper. The paper is due on or before lecture 24. (30%)
- The development of a full business strategy following the framework discussed in Hax and Majluf, Chapters 3 through 8. This is a group assignment, limited to at most four persons per group. The assignment is due on or before lecture 17. (20%)
- Two case write-ups to be done individually. (15% each)
- Class participation and case discussions. (20%)
1. Independent Research Project
30% of the final grade will be for an individual (not a group) paper, due on or before lecture 24. You are welcome to review your topic with me during the semester.
The format of the paper should be text, exhibits, and a bibliography of sources used. The paper should be no more than 15 double-spaced pages of text and 10 exhibits, excluding the bibliography. Length is not a virtue and students should "spend the time to make the document shorter."
The paper should provide you with an opportunity to illustrate the application of one of the frameworks we developed in class to an industry or firm of your choice. You can use this study as part of your research for your own thesis.
2. Group Assignment for the Development of a Business Strategy
The students will select their own groups, limited to at most four people per group, to develop a full business strategy. The students will present a written report following the framework discussed in Hax and Majluf, Chapters 3 through 8. The students should also carefully review Chapter 12 of Hax and Wilde for this assignment. The report should address the following issues:
- The Vision of the Business (from the Delta Model)
- Mission of the Business (Chapter 4)
- Environmental Scan at the Business Level (Chapter 5)
- Internal Scrutiny at the Business Level (Chapter 6)
- The Formulation of the Business Strategy (Chapter 7)
- Economic Evaluation of the Business Strategy (Chapter 8)
They will receive a group grade. The teams should select a business of its own choosing to conduct this analysis. The project is due on or before lecture 17.
3. Cases
Two cases write-ups are required. In essence, your paper should demonstrate that you have carefully analyzed the case, and have a coherent view on how the company should proceed. Be clear and concise. Your writing style has an important impact on your ability to communicate your ideas. Case discussions should be about 3 pages, double-spaced, excluding exhibits. In guiding the case analyses you can follow the questions that are given for each case in your course outline.
4. Class Participation
Your active participation in the discussion in class is considered very important in this course. Prior preparation of the cases and assigned readings are essential. By making 20% of your grade dependent on your participation in class we hope to encourage you to feel responsible in making this course work.